A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals Vice President Kamala Harris now leading Donald Trump by five points, with Harris at 42% compared to Trump’s 37% nationally, just under three months before the presidential election. This marks a notable increase from the previous poll in late July, which had Harris at 37% and Trump at 34%.
The poll, conducted from August 2 to 7 with 2,045 American adults, also showed independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. trailing at 4%, down from 10% in July.
Trump has reacted strongly to Harris’s rising popularity. According to the Washington Post, Trump expressed frustration, claiming it’s “unfair” that after defeating Joe Biden, he now faces Harris.
Despite Trump’s assertion that he “beat” Biden, he has never actually won against the current president, a fact he often referenced to justify his continued candidacy.
Richard Porter from the Republican National Committee noted the swift Democratic response to Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’s endorsement, which disrupted Trump’s campaign momentum. Since then, Trump’s campaign has struggled, especially after controversies involving running mate Senator JD Vance and ineffective attacks on Harris.
Trump’s dissatisfaction is evident in his complaints about media coverage. He criticized the press for allegedly exaggerating the size of Harris’s rallies while downplaying his own large crowds. Photos from recent rallies, such as one at Temple University, showed a fuller arena for Harris compared to Trump’s event, where parts of the venue were reportedly left empty.
