Recent polls indicate that Vice President Kamala Harris has experienced a significant surge in popularity as the 2024 presidential election campaign intensifies. Here are the key details:

Harris Takes the Lead

Harris is now leading former President Donald Trump in several national polls:

• An NBC News poll shows Harris ahead of Trump 49% to 44% among registered voters[5][6].
• A USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll has Harris leading Trump 48% to 43%[4].
• A CBS/Ipsos poll puts Harris ahead 52% to 48%[3].

While these leads are often within the margin of error, they represent a notable shift from earlier polling that had Trump ahead.

Record-Breaking Favorability Increase

Harris has seen a dramatic rise in her favorability ratings:

• Her favorability has increased by 16 percentage points in NBC’s polling since July[6].
• This marks the largest favorability increase for any candidate in NBC News polling since George W. Bush after 9/11[3][6].

Key Factors Driving Harris’ Momentum

Several elements appear to be contributing to Harris’ surge:

• Democratic Enthusiasm: About 78% of Democratic voters now express enthusiasm about voting with Harris as the nominee, up from 55% when Biden was the candidate[2].
• Demographic Shifts: Harris has made significant gains among Hispanic voters, Black voters, young people (18-34), and lower-income Americans[4].
• Perception of Change: Harris is being viewed as a candidate representing change, which is resonating with voters[6].

Battleground State Impact

While national polls show Harris leading, the race remains tight in key battleground states:

• CBS rates seven key swing states as tossups, with Harris holding a slight edge in most[3].
• Harris leads Trump by narrow margins in Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada according to some polls[2].

Challenges Remain

Despite her surge, Harris still faces hurdles:

• The economy remains a strong issue for Trump, though Harris has narrowed the gap[3].
• Some Republican voters who currently express hesitation about Trump may ultimately return to supporting him, as seen in previous elections[6].

As the election approaches, both campaigns are intensifying efforts to mobilize voters in key states. With early voting already underway in some areas, the race remains highly competitive and fluid[3][6].

Citations:
[1] https://www.270towin.com/2024-presidential-election-polls/
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/30/2024-us-presidential-polls-harris-enthusiasm
[3] https://fortune.com/2024/09/22/kamala-harris-favorability-polling-biggest-george-w-bush-9-11/
[4] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/29/kamala-harris-donald-trump-suffolk-usa-today-poll-results/74984967007/
[5] https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/a-new-nbc-news-poll-shows-vice-president-harris-ahead-of-trump-219902021723
[6] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-newly-popular-harris-challenging-trump-change-rcna171308
[7] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/live-blog/harris-trump-presidential-election-live-updates-rcna172152
[8] https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/09/23/2024-election-campaign-updates-harris-trump/