Harris leads Trump nationally in CBS News 2024 presidential poll, but it’s even across the battlegrounds.
When Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee, the party saw a major surge in enthusiasm from its voters. It pulled the party into an effectively with Donald Trump and Republicans, and it has continued to motivate Democrats to vote today.
She and Trump are even across the battleground states that will decide the Electoral College, and now Harris has a 3-point edge nationally.
The late-changing campaign has also opened an historic dynamic, a race within the race to define both and the key issues.
, for his part, keeps a lot of his advantages: he leads with people who say the is a major factor, and he leads with voters who say they aren’t doing as well financially.
Yet voters tell us it’s about more issues than that — , the state of democracy, the border among them — and the contest is marked by a pronounced gender gap between men and women and very different views of which candidate would help them.
Heading into the convention, many voters are still learning about Harris, creating a crucial test for the party this week. A third says they don’t yet know what she stands for. Most voters think her views are similar — but not entirely the same — as Joe Biden’s. And she’s somewhat — but not entirely — seen as connected to Mr. Biden’s economy.
Democrats have continued to close the gap with Republicans in expressing their intention to vote; today, they are effectively even with Republicans in saying so.Behind the gender-gap election
The gender gap has grown a little more and is approaching 2020 levels now. But it’s more than a vote break. It underpins very different priorities and perceptions.
First, women are more likely than men to see Harris as someone who “fights for people like you” a lot. And women are likelier to see Harris than Trump as fighting for people like them.
Second, views on gender equality efforts connect to voting.
People who think efforts at promoting gender equality between men and women are going too far in America today are voting overwhelmingly for Trump. That’s especially the case for men who think so.
Those who think efforts to promote equally aren’t going far enough or are about right are for Harris.
Third, women help Harris on the economy more than they did Mr. Biden.
Though still trailing Trump on the issue, Harris is doing 8 points better than Mr. Biden was in June among women who say the economy is a major factor for them.
