America watches closely as Donald Trump overtakes Kamala Harris in the latest 2024 presidential race polls, signaling a pivotal shift.
At a Glance
- Donald Trump edges out Kamala Harris in the latest RealClearPolitics national average.
- Both candidates face tight races in critical swing states.
- Trump has a slight edge in the overall and battleground state projections.
- Harris holds onto narrow national leads in some forecasts.
Trump’s Lead in National Polls
Donald Trump recently overtook Kamala Harris in the national polling average, a critical development for the GOP as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The RealClearPolitics national average places Trump ahead of Harris for the first time since she became the Democratic nominee, with Trump garnering 48.4% to Harris’s 48.3%. This development hints at a significant shift in voter sentiment as the campaign season intensifies.
The tight race has drawn considerable attention, with RealClearPolitics showing Trump in a leading position in all seven key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Despite Harris holding small leads in some polls, Trump’s recent gains account for his favorable position.
Swing States and the Electoral College
In the battleground states critical to winning the electoral votes necessary for the White House, polls indicate tight races, with both Trump and Harris needing 270 electoral votes to secure the presidency. Harris is projected to have 276 electoral votes, while Trump is forecasted with 262, showing the volatility and competitiveness of the race. State polls remain unpredictable as both candidates campaign vigorously to capture these decisive areas.
“The closeness of the race bears repeating what has become something of a mantra here at 538 recently: A close race in the polls does not necessarily mean the outcome will be close,” stated G. Elliott Morris.
Cambridge polls suggest that while Harris maintains slight leads in Michigan and Nevada, Trump holds leads in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, with Georgia and Arizona tied. These states are critical to determining their electoral fortunes as Election Day nears.
National Averages and Projections
Despite Trump’s recent gains, national averages depict a competitive race. FiveThirtyEight’s national average positions Harris with a 1.4-point lead, but forecasts suggest Trump has a 54% chance of winning, highlighting the uncertainty looming over the election outcome. Surveys such as the Wall Street Journal reveal Trump leading Harris by 47% to 45%, adding further complexity to the political landscape.
Harris, meanwhile, sees Democratic enthusiasm bolstering her candidacy with slight leads in notable surveys, though her margins have diminished since late August. Analysts continue to closely monitor polling data as new developments and shifts in public opinion unfold in the final stages of the race.