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Harris outruns Trump in the latest poll showing the potential political shift

2024.08.17 18:47:14 Minseo Kim
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[Election Voting. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

Kamala Harris led former President Donald Trump in the latest U.S. presidential race survey, surprising both analysts and the public.

This unexpected result is an outcome of many events that have preceded in the past month.

On July 13, former President Donald Trump was shot on his ear in the middle of his speech.

The attack sent shockwaves across the nation and a quick spike to Trump’s approval ratings.

The image captured the moment when Trump holds up his fist after getting shot which provoked strong “Americanism” feelings among the public.

Because of this, a warning sign got turned on in the Democratic Party.

 

Amid these developments, questions about President Joe Biden’s suitability for a second term intensified, with concerns over his age and repeated speech errors leading to a speculation about possible dementia.

 

In this situation, Trump's approval rating, which rose due to the sudden shooting incident, proved disadvantageous for the Democratic Party.

 

Due to the ongoing controversy over his qualifications and under pressure from some within his party, Biden uploaded a post on his X account on the 21st that he would withdraw in the U.S. presidential election.

 

Biden said, “...it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” showing support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the next Democratic presidential candidate to replace him.

Harris quickly found herself at the forefront of a reshuffled political landscape.

Initially, many doubted her chances, with the prevailing belief that Trump would easily secure a return to the White House.

However, the recent poll showed that Harris was ahead of Trump.

 

Bloomberg reported that Vice President Harris received 48% of support in a virtual matchup against Trump’s 47% among 4,973 voters in seven major competing states.

 

By state, Harris was ahead in four out of seven states and tied in one state.

 

Other surveys have shown similar results as well, proving that the situation in the battleground states has changed dramatically in just one week.

 

Harris expressed her will to turn things around while campaigning in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was tied with Trump.

 

Georgia, once considered a lost cause for Democrats during the Biden-Trump race, is now showing signs of a comeback, particularly among young, Black, and Hispanic voters.

 

Bloomberg interpreted that Harris has succeeded in regaining the wills of Democrats supporters who were disappointed with Biden.

 

Harris visited Georgia and showed strong campaigns reflecting the changing momentum of the race.

 

On this day, Harris even provoked Trump by saying, “If you have something to say, look at my face and say it,” while staring into the camera.

 

She also emphasized her experience as a former prosecutor and maximized the contrast with Trump’s felony which has made the crowd chant, “Jail Trump.”

 

The New York Times remarked on the energy of Harris’s campaign, noting that it “exuded a powerful enthusiasm that could not be felt during President Biden’s campaign.”

 

Amid various events and a fluctuating battle over approval ratings, the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election have captured public interest.


Minseo Kim / Grade 12
Seoul International School