By Burnett Munthali
A new national poll conducted after President Biden suspended his campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris has revealed a razor-thin margin between Harris and former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
According to the NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll released on Tuesday, Trump, who was recently nominated as the GOP’s presidential nominee, holds a slight lead with 46% support among registered voters. Harris, who secured her party’s nomination with backing from a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, closely trails at 45% support.
The one-point edge for Trump falls within the survey’s margin of error, indicating a statistical tie. Nine percent of respondents remain undecided, underscoring the volatility and uncertainty of the electorate at this stage.
Independents surveyed leaned towards Trump over Harris by a margin of 46% to 32%, with a significant 22% undecided. In a scenario including multiple candidates, the poll showed Harris and Trump deadlocked at 42%, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. polling at 7%, and minor party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West each at 1%.
“Despite recent developments, the presidential contest remains closely contested, reflecting a familiar pattern in American politics,” noted Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. “However, nuances in the data reveal significant numbers of undecided voters and potential shifts in voter preferences.”
With the race heating up and public attention intensifying, both Harris and Trump face critical challenges in securing voter support and navigating a highly competitive electoral landscape. As the campaign progresses, strategies to appeal to undecided voters and consolidate party bases will likely play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the upcoming election.
The poll underscores the fluidity of political dynamics and the unpredictable nature of presidential campaigns, setting the stage for a closely watched and fiercely contested race as November approaches.
