In the wake of a heated debate in Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris has widened her lead over former President Donald Trump, according to a new Morning Consult poll. Conducted shortly after the debate aired on ABC, the poll revealed that Harris now holds a 5-point advantage over Trump, up from the 3- and 4-point leads she held in previous surveys.
As of Wednesday, 50 percent of likely voters indicated they would vote for Harris if the election were held today, compared to 45 percent for Trump. This slight but significant shift suggests that Harris’s debate performance resonated with voters, while Trump’s support has waned, dropping by one point from 46 percent prior to the debate.
The Morning Consult poll also highlighted Harris’s growing appeal among independent voters, a crucial demographic in the upcoming election. She leads Trump in this group, securing 46 percent of independent support compared to Trump’s 40 percent. While the majority of Harris’s support comes from Democratic voters, her ability to sway independents could prove decisive in a close election.
Debate analysts noted that Harris’s performance may have been instrumental in bolstering her numbers, although the pollsters themselves remain cautious. “It’s too early to say whether Harris’ debate performance is the key driver of our latest head-to-head numbers, as our short-term trends suggest she was already building momentum ahead of Tuesday’s televised match-up,” analysts at Morning Consult wrote.
The Tuesday night debate saw Harris and Trump clash over pivotal issues such as abortion rights and immigration policy. Harris was widely seen as the winner of the debate, successfully baiting Trump into emotional outbursts and forcing him to repeatedly address conspiracy theories. Trump’s failure to maintain composure, coupled with his refusal to make eye contact with Harris, may have weakened his standing among undecided voters.
For Harris, this was a critical opportunity to solidify her policy positions and distinguish herself from her opponent. The debate allowed her to not only present her policy agenda but also demonstrate her ability to remain calm under pressure, contrasting sharply with Trump’s more combative demeanor.
With less than two months remaining before Election Day, this latest poll indicates that Harris may be gaining crucial momentum at a critical juncture in the race. As both candidates continue their campaigns, the fallout from this debate is likely to shape the narrative in the coming weeks.
The Morning Consult poll surveyed at least 3,317 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Credit: The Hill
