The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Democrat Kamala Harris leading Republican Donald Trump by 45% to 41%, marking a significant shift in the U.S. presidential race. This poll, released on Thursday, highlights Harris’s growing appeal among voters, particularly women and Hispanics, just ahead of the November 5 election.

Harris’s 4-point lead represents an improvement from her 1-point advantage over Trump in a late July survey. The poll, conducted over eight days ending Wednesday and featuring a 2-point margin of error, indicates Harris's strong support among key demographics. She is leading Trump by 49% to 36% among both women and Hispanic voters. In previous polls from July, Harris had a 9-point lead among women and a 6-point lead among Hispanics.

Trump maintains a lead among white voters and men, similar to previous polls. However, his lead among voters without a college degree has decreased from 14 points in July to 7 points in the latest survey.

The summer has seen dramatic shifts in the presidential race. President Joe Biden, at 81, exited the campaign on July 21 following a poor debate performance against Trump. This decision prompted Harris to gain traction in both national and swing state polls. While national surveys offer insights into voter sentiments, the Electoral College's state-by-state results will ultimately decide the outcome.

In seven key battleground states—Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada—Trump holds a slight edge over Harris, leading 45% to 43% among registered voters.

Matt Wolking, a Republican campaign strategist, acknowledged the challenge Harris presents to Trump. He emphasized the need for Trump to maintain focus to avoid alienating voters who might be leaning his way due to dissatisfaction with Biden.

Since accepting the Democratic nomination, Harris has been actively campaigning in crucial states, including Georgia. A recent poll indicates that 73% of Democratic voters are more enthusiastic about voting in November following Harris’s campaign entry. While a March poll showed that 61% of Biden supporters were primarily voting to oppose Trump, 52% of Harris voters in August were motivated by support for Harris herself.

Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, noted that Harris’s candidacy represents a forward-looking choice for many voters, contrasting with Trump's focus on past grievances. She emphasized that Harris offers voters a vision beyond simply defeating Trump.

Trump supporters also show strong motivation, with 64% citing their backing of Trump rather than opposition to Harris as their main drive. On economic management, Trump is favored by 45% of voters compared to Harris’s 36%, a notable increase over previous polls.

However, Harris leads Trump 47% to 31% on abortion policy, an issue of heightened importance for Democrats after the conservative U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn the national right to abortion. With Trump’s record of nominating conservative justices, 41% of voters, including 70% of Democrats, express concern that the next president might impose a national abortion ban.

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