Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in a tight race in the battleground states of Georgia and North Carolina, according to new CNN polls by SSRS. In Georgia, Trump leads Harris 48% to 47%, while in North Carolina, Harris leads Trump 48% to 47%. Trump has won North Carolina twice in the past, but the state has been close in recent elections, with former President Barack Obama being the only Democrat to win there in the last 20 years. Both states have 16 electoral college votes, making them crucial in deciding the next President.
Trump and Harris are both campaigning heavily in North Carolina, recognizing the state’s importance. Recent polls show a narrow lead for Trump in North Carolina, with a CNN/SSRS poll showing Trump at 47% and Harris at 43%. President Biden narrowly won Georgia in 2020, becoming the first Democrat to carry the state in almost 30 years. The polls indicate that voters in both states have largely made up their minds, with a majority having already cast their ballots. Harris has a seven-point lead among early voters in Georgia and a six-point lead in North Carolina.
In both Georgia and North Carolina, the majority of Harris supporters are voting to support her rather than oppose Trump, while most Trump voters are primarily supporting him rather than opposing Harris. Harris leads among Black likely voters by a significant margin in both states, as well as voters with college degrees. Trump has a strong lead among White voters without college degrees, particularly in Georgia where he leads 81% to 15%. The White House’s response to Hurricane Helene has been met with mixed reviews in both states, with approval ratings varying.
The gubernatorial race in North Carolina sees Democrat Josh Stein leading Republican Mark Robinson, according to the polls. The surveys were conducted online and by telephone in late October, with 732 voters in Georgia and 750 in North Carolina. The margin of error is 4.7% among likely voters in both states. The results show a tight race between Trump and Harris, with both candidates focusing on key demographics and issues in an effort to win over voters. The outcome in these battleground states could ultimately determine the next President of the United States.
