CNN poll shows Harris with narrow leads over Trump in most battleground states

According to a survey from CNN, Harris is beating the former president in Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia

By Marin Scotten

News Fellow

Published September 4, 2024 12:58PM (EDT)

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at a Labor Day event at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan, September 2, 2024. (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at a Labor Day event at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan, September 2, 2024. (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

With just over two months until November’s presidential election, the race for Georgia and Pennsylvania continues as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris remain neck and neck among voters, a new CNN polls find. 

The poll, released Wednesday, found Trump ahead of Harris 49% to 44% in Arizona, while Harris is ahead of Trump 50% to 44% in Wisconsin and 48% to 43% in Michigan. In Georgia and Nevada, Harris narrowly leads 48% to 47%, while the two are tied at 47% in Pennsylvania.

An average of 15% of voters across each state said they were unsure of their final decision.

Georgia and Pennsylvania are crucial states for each candidates’ respective path to winning the required 270 electoral college votes to claim presidency, CNN noted. 

Pennsylvania has the most electoral votes available of all swing states, at 19, and Georgia is not far behind at 16 electoral votes.

“There are two pivot points for the election: Pennsylvania and Georgia. If Trump can win Pennsylvania or Harris can win Georgia, I think they are then overwhelming favorites to win the election,” Doug Sosnik, a Democratic strategist told the Wall Street Journal. “It’s still possible for Trump to win without Georgia, it’s still possible for Harris to win without Pennsylvania, but it’s a lot more difficult.”

With the stakes mounting, both candidates are pouring their efforts into both states. Harris spent part of the Labor Day holiday in Pittsburgh, where she is remaining to prepare for next week's debate, following a bus tour through rural Georgia.

Trump, meanwhile, is spending more on advertising in Pennsylvania and Georgia than in any other states, according to the political data firm AdImpact.


By Marin Scotten

Marin Scotten is a news and politics fellow at Salon.

MORE FROM Marin Scotten


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