Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by a slim margin of 46% to 43%, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, as the two remain in a tight race for the U.S. presidential election on November 5.
The four-day poll, completed on Monday, shows that while Trump had trailed Harris by six points in a September 20-23 Reuters/Ipsos poll, he is now favored on several economic issues.
Trump’s assertions about immigrants in the country illegally being prone to crime, which have been largely discredited, still resonate with some voters.
The poll, with a margin of error of about three percentage points, found the economy to be the top issue for respondents.
Trump was preferred by 44% of voters on handling the “cost of living,” compared to 38% for Harris.
About 70% of respondents said the cost of living was the most important issue, far ahead of concerns about the job market, taxes, or being “better off financially,” with Trump leading Harris in these areas as well.
However, voters favored Harris, 42% to 35%, on addressing income inequality between the wealthy and average Americans.
Immigration remains a key issue, with 53% of voters agreeing with the statement that “immigrants who are in the country illegally are a danger to public safety,” up from 45% in May.
Trump has frequently highlighted crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, despite research showing that immigrants are not more likely to engage in criminal activity than native-born Americans.
Harris has led Trump in all six Reuters/Ipsos polls since entering the race in late July.
The latest poll shows Harris ahead 47% to 45% among likely voters.
Additionally, voters trusted Harris’s mental sharpness more than Trump’s, with 55% saying she is “mentally sharp and able to deal with challenges,” compared to 46% for Trump.
While national polls provide insight into voter sentiment, the Electoral College ultimately determines the winner, with key battleground states expected to be decisive.
Polls indicate a close race in these critical states.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,272 U.S. adults, including 1,076 registered voters, of which 969 were considered likely to vote.