Quick Hit:

A New York Times/Siena College poll released Sunday shows former President Donald Trump holding a narrow lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Trump leads 48% to 47%, moving ahead of Harris, as both candidates prepare for their upcoming debate on Tuesday.

Key Details:

• The poll, conducted from September 3rd-6th, shows Trump leading Harris 48% to 47%, with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.

• 28% of likely voters say they need to know more about Kamala Harris, compared to only 9% for Donald Trump.

• Trump holds a commanding 13-point lead over Harris on the issue of the economy, while Harris has a 15-point advantage on abortion.

Diving Deeper:

According to a new New York Times/Siena College poll released Sunday, Trump and Harris are locked in a close race as the 2024 presidential election nears. Trump leads Harris 48% to 47%, a difference within the poll’s margin of error. The poll, conducted between September 3rd and September 6th, comes just weeks after President Joe Biden exited the race, leaving Harris to lead the Democratic ticket.

The poll highlights a significant challenge for Harris: 28% of likely voters say they need to know more about her policies and positions, while only 9% say the same of Trump. This suggests Harris’s performance in the upcoming debate could be critical in shaping opinions, particularly for undecided voters.

Trump, meanwhile, continues to be viewed as the candidate who can deliver the change many voters are seeking. More than half of respondents (51%) said Trump represents “major change,” compared to just 25% who said the same about Harris. This view may be crucial in a race where 60% of voters are looking for a shift away from the Biden administration.

Economic concerns also remain a focal point for voters, with Trump holding a 13-percentage-point lead over Harris on handling the economy. Harris, however, enjoys a 15-point advantage on the issue of abortion, an area where Democratic voters have been energized following recent Supreme Court rulings.

The poll was conducted by The New York Times and Siena College from September 3rd to 6, 2024, with a sample of 1,374 registered voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.