With the U.S. gearing toward heading into another presidential election, it’s the same old faces that dominate the political landscape. The current front-running contenders are former President Donald Trump for the Republicans and Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democrats. The question on everyone’s mind is, with the date of the election closing in, who will win? The following provides a detailed look at what the latest polls and surveys say about this high-stakes race.
Current polling trends
Recent polls have it as a very close race between Trump and Harris, with neither one gaining huge leads over the other as also detailed here, Who will win the US election? Here’s what the latest polls and surveys say between Trump vs Harris today, October 29 – Maximum rivalry. A national survey conducted by Gallup would put Trump at 48 percent, while Harris, on the other hand, garners 46 percent. This means one thing: this is a highly competitive election whereby both candidates have had some staunch bases of support.
While 85% of Democrats are concerned about Trump’s alliance with people having radical views and 69% of Republicans also fear the same for Harris.
Key battleground states
This election is likely to be decided by a handful of very close battleground states. In the state of Florida, known to be decisive in the previous elections, Trump leads against Harris 51-47%, a recent Quinnipiac University poll has revealed. In Pennsylvania, Harris presently leads with 49 percent against Trump’s 45 percent, and this really shows how the state may go either way.
Demographic insights
Moreover, demographic factors also play a significant role in voter preference. Harris leads by 60% in the case of voters within the age group of 18 to 29 years. This has been disclosed as per a survey undertaken by Pew Research Center. Trump leads a more significant percentage of 55% among voters over 65 years of age.
Economic concerns and voter sentiment
The economy remains a top concern for voters, and the electorate is still split between the two candidates. By the most recent estimate from a National Economic Council poll, 52 percent of those polled said they think Trump can manage the economy better than Harris, who ranked at 48 percent. Splits like that add meaning to the election based on economic policy.
Key issues and their impact
Adding to the economic issues are other major concerns like health care, climate change, and immigration as reflected in voter opinion. Harris has gained momentum amongst voters naming climate change their top concern; 58% said they would support her on the issue of climate change, a Sierra Club poll found. Meanwhile, 54% of the voters identified border security as a top concern like Trump’s immigration policies.
The role of independents
Independents are looked upon by many as the linchpin in close elections and presently break about evenly between the two candidates. In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, taken after the convention, 50% of independents were leaning to Harris and 48% to Trump. That virtual dead heat is another indication that independents can be unpredictable, and may very well prove to be the difference maker when determining this election’s outcome.
