Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris has taken a marginal lead over Republican Donald Trump following President Joe Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign and endorse her. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on Monday and Tuesday found Harris leading Trump 44% to 42%, a shift from the two-point deficit Biden had against Trump before his exit.
The poll came after the Republican National Convention where Trump accepted the nomination and Biden’s announcement endorsing Harris. Despite the lead, the difference is within the 3-percentage-point margin of error, indicating a close race.
The poll also highlighted perceptions of the candidates’ mental sharpness, with 56% of voters considering Harris mentally sharp compared to 49% for Trump and only 22% for Biden. Harris is viewed favorably by 91% of Democratic voters, compared to 80% for Biden.
In a hypothetical ballot including independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harris led Trump 42% to 38%. The survey included 1,241 U.S. adults nationwide, with 1,018 registered voters.
