A recent national poll conducted after President Biden announced he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris shows a close race between Harris and former President Donald Trump. Trump leads at 46% support among registered voters, while Harris stands at 45%. Independents back Trump over Harris by a margin of 46%-32%, with one in five undecided. In a multi-candidate field, Harris and Trump are tied at 42%, with other candidates lagging behind.
Following Biden’s endorsement of Harris, there has been a surge of support for her from Democratic governors, senators, House members, and other party leaders. Biden suspended his campaign after a poor performance in a presidential debate with Trump, amid questions about his mental and physical ability to serve another term. The decision to drop out of the 2024 race was supported by 87% of Americans, with only 12% believing it was the wrong move. While some top Republicans have called for Biden to resign, 68% of those polled, including 47% of Republicans, believe he should finish his term.
Both Harris and Trump have unfavorable ratings in the poll, with Harris at 40%-44% favorable/unfavorable and Trump at 43%-49%. Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Trump’s running mate, has a 28% favorable rating. When it comes to a running mate for Harris, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are top choices among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. The survey had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Overall, the poll reflects a tight race between Harris and Trump, with both candidates facing challenges in terms of approval ratings. Harris has seen a boost in support following Biden’s endorsement, while Trump remains a formidable opponent with strong backing from independents. The decision by Biden to suspend his campaign has reshaped the 2024 race, prompting calls for his resignation but also attracting support for him to finish his term. As the campaign progresses, both candidates will need to work to improve their favorability ratings and appeal to undecided voters.
