Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Face Off in a Pivotal Pre-Election Debate

Harris' Lead Over Trump Narrows Ahead of Debate

The latest polls conducted before the presidential debate between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican contender Donald Trump show a very tight race, with Harris' advantage significantly narrowing in recent weeks.

According to a Marist Poll survey for NPR released on Tuesday, Harris would get 49% of the national vote and Trump 48%, a difference within the margin of error that represents a statistical tie. In August, Harris was three points ahead of Trump in the same poll, evidencing the tightening of the race.

Other recent polls also reflect a highly competitive landscape. A Siena College survey for The New York Times shows Trump leading Harris by one point. A Pew Research Center poll and a CBS News/YouGov survey reveal statistical ties in the vote intention. Even in key states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia, the differences are minimal.

The growth Harris experienced in the polls after assuming the Democratic candidacy seems to have stalled, while Trump's expectations remain firm. Just weeks away from the November 5th election, the competition is extremely tight.

Tonight's Debate in Philadelphia

Harris and Trump will face off tonight in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in their first and only televised presidential debate before the election. The debate, organized by ABC News, will begin at 9 pm Eastern Time and will last 90 minutes.

The rules establish that there will be no live audience and no opening statements, and moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis will be the only ones who can ask questions to the candidates. Each will have two minutes to respond, followed by one minute of rebuttal and surrebuttal. Microphones will be muted when a candidate does not have the floor.

A Pivotal Debate in an Exceptional Election Race

Tonight's debate is shaping up to be one of the most critical moments of the election campaign. Historically, presidential debates have had a limited impact, but 2024 is an exceptional election. The first debate on June 27th, unusually early in the election cycle, led President Biden to withdraw from the race.

For Harris, the debate represents a crucial opportunity to articulate her vision and agenda to millions of voters, especially for those who still need more information about her. Trump, on the other hand, will seek to remain calm while painting Harris as a liberal disconnected from voters' concerns.

With only eight weeks until Election Day and early voting imminent, both campaigns are preparing to intensify their efforts, especially in key states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Tonight's debate could mark a turning point in a tight and extraordinary election race.