Kamala Harris is closing in on Trump in new national poll

Washington DC - A new poll confirmed Sunday that Kamala Harris has drawn level with Donald Trump, transforming a White House race that the Republican had been increasingly confident he was going to win.

A new poll confirmed Sunday that Kamala Harris (l.) has drawn level with Donald Trump (r.), transforming a White House race that the Republican had been increasingly confident he was going to win.
A new poll confirmed Sunday that Kamala Harris (l.) has drawn level with Donald Trump (r.), transforming a White House race that the Republican had been increasingly confident he was going to win.  © Collage: PATRICK T. FALLON, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP

Harris, who is set to name her vice presidential pick imminently ahead of the rapidly approaching November 5 presidential election, has erased the growing lead that Trump was building before President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid.

According to the CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday, Harris has a 1% advantage over Trump nationwide – compared to Trump's previous five-point edge on Biden.

In the swing states that decide the Electoral College contest in US elections, Harris and Trump – who shocked the world with his 2016 presidential victory but was beaten by Biden in 2020 – are equal.

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These are considered good numbers for a Democratic candidate who parachuted into the race only last month, when Biden bowed to mounting concerns over his mental acuity and ability to serve a second term at 81 years old.

But Harris, who is Biden's vice president and the first Black and South Asian woman ever in the role, is in a sprint to prove herself to voters.

A big moment in that process will be when Harris announces her choice for running mate in a historic bid to become America's first female president. This could happen as early as Sunday or Monday.

Expectations are that Harris will pick a white man to balance the ticket – and likely a moderate Democrat who would help counterweigh attacks on Harris from Republicans that she is too far to the left.

Cover photo: Collage: PATRICK T. FALLON, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP

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