Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are running neck-and-neck in key battleground states.
New polls reveal a tight race in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, while Harris holds a slight edge in Michigan.
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion poll, released Thursday, highlights the intense competition in these critical states, which could determine the outcome of the 2024 election.
In Pennsylvania, Trump and Harris are deadlocked at 49% each among likely voters. The Keystone State, a crucial swing state with 19 electoral votes, has become the focal point for both campaigns.
Marist Institute Director Lee Miringoff explained the importance of Pennsylvania, noting, “Winning Pennsylvania doesn’t guarantee the White House but it goes a long way.”
The poll revealed that Pennsylvania women favor Harris by a 12-point margin (55%-43%), while Trump leads among men by 10 points (54%-44%).
Trump has a narrow lead of three points (51%-48%) among white likely voters, while Harris enjoys a 21-point lead among non-white voters (59%-38%).
However, Harris is trailing behind President Biden’s 2020 performance with non-white voters, a demographic in which Biden garnered 82% support.
Inflation emerged as the top concern among one-third of Pennsylvania’s likely voters, followed by preserving democracy (27%), immigration (15%), and abortion (11%).
In Wisconsin, Harris holds a razor-thin advantage over Trump, leading 50%-49%. A significant gender gap is evident, with women supporting Harris 56%-43%, while men back Trump 53%-45%.
Similar to Pennsylvania, Harris is struggling to match Biden’s 2020 support levels among voters of color, with only 56% of the demographic backing her, compared to Biden’s 73% in the last election.
Wisconsin voters also cited inflation as their top issue (32%), followed by preserving democracy (27%), immigration (17%), and abortion (10%).
Michigan stands out as the only state where Harris has a clear lead, with a five-point advantage over Trump (51%-46%).
Harris is particularly strong among non-white voters in Michigan, where she leads Trump 77%-21%, though still trailing behind Biden’s 2020 performance in the demographic.
A notable gender gap exists in Michigan as well, with Harris leading by 15 points among women (56%-41%) and Trump holding a slight edge among men (52%-47%).
The top issue in Michigan for a plurality of voters is preserving democracy (30%), followed closely by inflation (29%), with immigration (15%) and abortion (10%) rounding out the list of concerns.
The Marist poll surveyed 1,138 Michigan likely voters, 1,476 Pennsylvania likely voters, and 1,194 Wisconsin likely voters between Sept. 12-17. The margins of error are 3.4% in Michigan, 3.2% in Pennsylvania, and 3.6% in Wisconsin.
A separate poll by Emerson College Polling and The Hill adds further insight into the battleground contest.
The survey shows Trump leading Harris by one point in Arizona (49%-48%), Georgia (50%-47%), Pennsylvania (48%-47%), and Wisconsin (49%-48%).
On the other hand, Harris leads in Michigan (49%-47%) and North Carolina (49%-48%), with both candidates tied in Nevada at 48% each.
According to Emerson Polling, the economy remains the top issue for voters in all seven swing states.
Immigration ranks second in Arizona, while threats to democracy hold the second spot in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
In Nevada and North Carolina, housing affordability is the second most important issue for voters.
The 2024 race is shaping up to be another fiercely contested battle, with each candidate vying for supremacy in these pivotal swing states.