USA: Kamala Harris Surges Ahead of Trump in Key Battleground States

Washington: United States Vice President Kamala Harris has gained a notable lead over former President Donald Trump as she heads into her major appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Recent opinion polls show Harris leading Trump by three to six percentage points in the race for the White House.

According to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, Harris leads Trump 49-45 percent among registered voters and 51-45 percent among likely voters in a two-way race. In a five-way race, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein, Harris maintains a lead of 47-44 percent among registered voters and 49-45 percent among likely voters. Another CBS News poll indicates that Harris holds a three-point national lead over Trump, at 51-48 percent. In key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina, the two candidates are evenly matched, each holding 50 percent of the vote.

Harris’s late entry into the presidential race has energized Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, particularly after months of declining polling numbers for President Joe Biden, who recently withdrew from his re-election campaign. As Harris campaigns across critical states like Pennsylvania, she emphasizes the need to earn voter support and acknowledges the challenges ahead.

The Democratic National Convention, starting Monday, will be an opportunity for the party to showcase unity and rally support. Despite the enthusiasm for Harris, the convention is expected to see protests over the Biden administration’s stance on the Gaza conflict, with some delegates calling for an embargo on U.S. arms sales to Israel.