Vice President Harris Takes Republican Stance, Narrows Gap with Trump in Polls

Vice President Kamala Harris is picking up Republican tactics and gaining on former President Donald Trump in the latest presidential poll, according to pollster Frank Luntz. Speaking on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Luntz praised Harris for her focus on small businesses and her call to be a capitalist. He also noted how the Democratic Party emphasized freedom at their national convention. Luntz pointed out that Harris's statements could make her sound like a moderate Republican.The challenge now for Trump's campaign is to move away from personal attacks and focus on specific issues and claims, Luntz advised. Harris has started to make headway, particularly among older voters and Republicans, according to a recent poll by The New York Times and Siena College. This poll, conducted from September 29 to October 2, showed Harris leading Trump 49% to 46%, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2. 4 percentage points. In the previous poll from mid-September, both candidates were tied at 47%. This new poll also revealed that more respondents see Harris as the candidate of change, a first for the Times/Siena poll. Luntz has observed similar shifts in his focus groups of undecided voters. After President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, these voters moved away from him and towards Harris after her first debate with Trump.