Kamala Harris, the US vice president and Democratic presidential candidate, is increasing her lead over Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump, according to a poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Reuters. Harris is expected to vote in the November election with 47 percent of respondents, and Trump with 40 percent.
Accurate data shows that 46.61 percent of respondents would like to vote for Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump – 40.48 percent. This result is an improvement on her result from the previous survey by Ipsos commissioned by Reuters, conducted on September 11-12, when she had a five-point advantage (47 to 42).
Survey lasted for three days through Monday, with a margin of error of four percent.
When asked which candidate has a better handle on the economy, unemployment and jobs, 43 percent of respondents said Trump, while 41 percent said Harris. Trump’s 2-point lead in this area is comparable to his 3-point lead in an August Ipsos poll commissioned by Reuters, but well below his 11-point lead over Harris in late July.
The specifics of the American presidential election
The poll only signals certain changes in voter attitudes, but it cannot indicate a certain election result, because the candidate who gains greater public support does not always win the election.
Elections presidential in USA are indirect, not direct. This means that in each state, voters formally vote for electors of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or another candidate. In each state, the party wins a different number of electoral votes, and these are added up nationwide (the 50 states and the District Colombia) to 538. The majority required to win the race to the White House is 270 Electoral College votes.
The outcome of the presidential election is most often decided by votes in a dozen or so so-called swing states – states where Democrats and Republicans usually spend the most time during the campaign.
Main image source: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO