Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are in a tight race just days before their high-stakes presidential debate, with Trump holding a slim lead of one point, according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll. The survey, conducted between September 3 and September 6, shows Trump at 48% and Harris at 47% among likely voters.
The debate, scheduled for Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, will be Harris’s first, while Trump is preparing for his second, having previously faced Joe Biden in June. That debate proved disastrous for Biden, leading to his withdrawal from the 2024 race due to Democratic concerns over his ability to defeat Trump.
Harris has since gained momentum, benefiting from a surge in Democratic enthusiasm and impressive fundraising totals. In August, she raised a record-breaking $361 million, nearly three times the amount raised by Trump.
Despite Harris’s recent boost, last week’s average of national polls showed her with a 3.1% lead over Trump. However, the Times/Siena poll reflects a more competitive landscape, with 30% of likely voters believing “the United States is on the right track” and 60% disagreeing.
Don't Miss
The poll surveyed 1,695 registered voters and has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.
As the debate approaches, Trump has intensified his criticism of Harris, accusing her of evading media scrutiny. On his Truth Social platform, Trump lambasted Harris, stating, “The last thing we need for our Nation in Decline is another President who is not smart enough to answer reporters’ questions.” Additionally, Trump promoted a dubious claim from Tucker Carlson regarding voter fraud in Pennsylvania, seemingly laying the groundwork to challenge the election results if he loses in November.
Over the weekend, Trump rallied his supporters in Mosinee, Wisconsin—a key swing state expected to play a significant role in the upcoming election. During the rally, Trump suggested controversial ideas such as expanding the 25th Amendment to include the removal of a vice president, made misleading statements about transgender issues, and warned of a “bloody story” related to mass deportations of illegal immigrants.
