The Race Tightens: Harris and Trump Deadlock in Final Poll

The latest national poll by The New York Times and Siena College has revealed some worrying signs for Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate. Just days before the election, Harris is tied with her Republican counterpart, former President Trump. This is a turnaround from an earlier poll taken in October, where Harris led by 3 percentage points. The new numbers have sparked conversations about Harris possibly losing the popular vote to Trump. It's surprising because the Democrats have won the popular vote in four recent elections and seven of the last eight. The poll doesn't just show a deadlock; it also reveals some tough numbers for Harris. Only 28% of respondents think the country is on the right track. Since Harris is the current vice president, this is not great news. Moreover, the poll suggests that Harris might struggle in the tightly contested swing states. Both candidates got 48% of the popular vote. In early October, Harris was ahead with 49% to Trump's 46%. However, these changes are within the margin of error.On the brighter side, the economy remains the top issue for voters, and Harris is closing the gap with Trump on who can handle it better. Trump's lead on this topic dropped to 6 percentage points from 13 points in the previous poll. Harris is also viewed favorably by 48% of voters, a 2% increase since President Biden dropped out. Trump also has a 48% favorability rating. Among female voters, Harris leads with 54% to Trump's 42%. Among male voters, Trump has a big lead, 55% to 41%. Immigration, a key issue for Trump, is important to 15% of voters, up from 12% in the last poll. Trump leads Harris by 11 points on this issue. Only 41% of voters think Trump is too old for the presidency. Additionally, 15% of voters are still undecided, with Harris leading among this group. The poll highlights the tight race in key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. If Harris can hold onto these "blue wall" states, she has a good chance of winning the Electoral College. However, polling in all seven swing states—including Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina—is incredibly close. This creates uncertainty about the outcome of the election.