As of now, polling data from multiple sources presents a close race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump following their recent debate for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Polling results show that while Harris slightly outperformed Trump during the debate, the overall election outcome remains uncertain.
A CNN post-debate poll highlighted that 63% of debate viewers believed Harris had the stronger performance, while 37% sided with Trump.
This has given Harris a modest boost in favorability, with her rating rising to 45% from 39%. Trump’s favorability rating, on the other hand, remained stagnant at 39%, with 51% of viewers viewing him unfavorably.
Despite these shifts, the debate did not significantly alter voters’ intentions, as 82% stated that their decision remained unchanged.
On a national scale, Harris currently holds a narrow lead over Trump. According to an aggregation of national polls, Harris has a 2.8-point lead over Trump. This trend has been consistent since late July 2024, though Trump’s numbers have inched slightly closer.
One significant finding is that while Harris saw gains in favorability, Trump remains the more trusted candidate on economic issues. A snap poll indicated that 55% of respondents believe Trump would handle the economy better than Harris, who secured just 35%.
While Harris has emerged from the debate with a stronger public perception, polling experts suggest that the race is still close, and the impact of the debate may not drastically change the trajectory. The nation remains deeply polarized, and both candidates have more campaigning ahead to sway undecided voters(
In summary, as of the latest polling data, Harris has a slight edge over Trump, but the competition remains tight, particularly on economic issues where Trump maintains an advantage.