Despite initial optimism from mainstream media coverage, Vice President Kamala Harris is not faring as well as expected in national polls. A Cygnal survey released Thursday reveals that Harris’ lead over President Donald Trump is razor-thin at 47.6% to 47.0%. When third-party candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are included, Trump narrowly pulls ahead, securing 44.4% support compared to Harris’ 44.2%.
Pollster Chris Lane noted that the idea of Harris swiftly gaining the support of Independents and moderates is largely overstated. Lane pointed out that 71% of likely voters view Harris as “liberal,” with only 15% seeing her as “moderate”—a label that tends to push away crucial Independent voters. Meanwhile, Trump continues to lead on key issues like the economy, inflation, and immigration.
Voter concerns align more closely with Trump’s platform, with 30.4% citing “inflation and the economy” as their top priority and 19.1% naming “illegal immigration.” Trump enjoys a commanding 52.6% trust rating on border security, a topic where Harris trails significantly, even losing support from some Democrats.
This close polling echoes the 2020 election controversies when Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger faced criticism for refusing to validate signatures on mail-in ballots, choosing instead to conduct a recount that critics argued did not address concerns over ballot authenticity. Similarly, Harris faces skepticism about her ability to address pressing voter issues despite her role as vice president.
Harris does lead Trump on “abortion and reproductive issues,” with 51.5% of voters saying they trust her on this topic. However, this advantage is not enough to secure a clear lead in the overall race. As key swing states remain contested, the outlook for Harris appears less certain than early media reports suggested.
