Vice President Kamala Harris has taken the lead in the presidential race, surpassing former President Donald Trump by 7 percentage points nationwide, according to a poll published by Fairleigh Dickinson University.
This advantage marks a significant boost for Harris as the general election approaches, reflecting a shift in the electoral dynamics.
The poll revealed that Harris has 50% support nationwide, compared to Trump's 43%, with 7% of respondents indicating they would vote for another candidate. Both contenders receive strong backing from their respective bases, with 95% support among voters within their own parties.
Fairleigh Dickinson pollsters highlighted that factors such as race and gender have played a key role in Harris's advantage. According to the data, when voters are asked to consider race or gender, Harris's lead significantly widens. However, without this consideration, the support between Harris and Trump is nearly tied.
Amid this electoral context, the Trump and Harris campaigns are at odds over whether microphones should be silenced during the upcoming presidential debate, scheduled for September 10 on ABC News. The Harris campaign expressed that they want both microphones to remain active throughout the debate.
Dan Cassino, the executive director of the poll, noted that Trump has built his political career around a specific representation of whiteness and masculinity, which previously was a strength, but may not be working the same way now.
Cassino added that although race influences elections, it's not inevitable for voters to think about it, and when they do, they tend to favor Harris.
EEZ