As the November 5 US presidential election approaches, Republican candidate Donald Trump has gained a slight lead over Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, according to a new Wall Street Journal poll released on Wednesday. The survey, conducted between October 19 and 22 among 1,500 registered voters, revealed Trump leading Harris by 47% to 45%, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
The poll suggests that recent negative campaign ads and the candidates’ public performances have eroded some of the positive perceptions of Harris. Many voters initially formed favorable opinions of her after she took over as the Democratic nominee from Joe Biden in July. However, Harris now faces her worst job approval ratings as vice president, with 42% of voters approving and 54% disapproving of her performance. This is the lowest rating she has received in the three WSJ polls conducted since July.
Despite this, the race remains tight, with both candidates facing challenges. While voters tend to favor Trump’s policies, particularly on the economy and immigration, they continue to question his personal qualities and stability. In terms of handling the economy, Trump has expanded his lead over Harris, now favored by voters by 12 points, up from an 8-point advantage in August.
The state of the economy and rising cost of living have become critical issues for voters. According to the survey, 70% of respondents believe the cost of living is on the wrong track, and 60% feel the economy itself is headed in the wrong direction. Additionally, 65% of voters express dissatisfaction with current immigration policies.
Trump, 79, who holds the distinction of being the oldest nominee for president in US history, also leads Harris in handling immigration, another issue where voters prefer his approach. The poll underscores the economic concerns and immigration anxieties that continue to shape voter opinions in the final days of the campaign.
However, the race remains volatile. A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week showed Harris with a marginal lead over Trump at 46% to 43% nationally. This six-day poll, which concluded on Monday, also reflected the public’s discontent with the state of the economy and immigration policies, although it acknowledged that voters generally favor Trump’s stance on these issues.
As of now, nearly 25 million voters have already cast their ballots through early in-person voting or mail-in ballots, according to data from the Election Lab at the University of Florida.
With both Trump and Harris continuing to campaign hard in battleground states, the outcome of the election remains uncertain, with key issues like the economy, immigration, and personal leadership qualities playing pivotal roles in shaping voter preferences.