Harris surges ahead of Trump in key battleground states: new poll

A recent New York Times/Siena College poll has unveiled a significant shift in the 2024 U.S. presidential race landscape. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has taken a surprising lead over former Republican President Donald Trump in three crucial swing states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The survey, conducted from August 5-9, shows Harris commanding a four-point advantage over Trump in each state, with 50% support compared to Trump's 46% among likely voters. This development marks a dramatic turnaround for the Democratic campaign, which had been struggling in the wake of President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race on July 21.

Harris's ascendancy to the top of the Democratic ticket has breathed new life into a campaign that was previously floundering. Her strong showing in these battleground states is particularly noteworthy given the recent challenges faced by the Biden administration, including widespread protests over U.S. support for Israel's actions in Gaza.

The poll's findings are bolstered by a separate Ipsos survey released on Thursday, which showed Harris leading Trump nationally by 42% to 37%. However, it's important to note that these polls have margins of error ranging from 3 to 4.8 percentage points, indicating that the race remains highly competitive.