In the wake of the intense debate held on Sept. 10, Vice President Kamala Harris has surged ahead, now holding a five-point lead over former President Donald Trump, according to a Morning Consult poll.
This marks an increase from her previous three- and four-point leads reported before the high-profile Philadelphia debate.
The latest poll reveals that Harris commands the support of over 50% of respondents if the election were held today, compared to Trump’s 45%. Notably, Harris also outperforms Trump among independent voters, securing 46% support versus Trump’s 40%.
Morning Consult analysts suggest that while it is still early to attribute Harris’ rise solely to her debate performance, the trend indicates she was gaining momentum even before the debate.
The analysis hints that Harris’ effective performance could continue to bolster her standing among voters.
In the immediate aftermath of the debate, Harris was widely regarded as the winner.
The debate saw Trump engaging in controversial tactics, including the promotion of conspiracy theories and aggressive behavior, which seemed to overshadow his performance. Harris effectively addressed critical issues such as immigration and abortion, demonstrating a strong presence on stage.
The Morning Consult survey, conducted just one day after the debate, included data from 3,317 likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.
Following their debate in Philadelphia—a significant moment for Harris to present her policy ideas independently of President Biden—Trump announced he would not participate in a third debate with Harris.
“We’ve done two debates, and because they were successful, there will be no third debate,” Trump told media outlets.
