Harris takes narrow 2-point lead over Trump in new national poll

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris holds a slim 2-point lead over her Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump, according to a poll released Thursday.

The Quinnipiac University survey found that Harris received support from 49% of likely voters compared to 47% who backed Trump. Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver each received 1% of the vote.

"Conventions done, debates in the planning, rhetoric getting rougher. There's a slight numerical difference, but it is essentially a tie as the presidential race roars toward November 5th," Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement.

The survey is the first of likely voters from Quinnipiac during the current election cycle. It found that among Democrats, 98% support Harris, while just 1% are opposed. Trump also sees wide support among his fellow partisans, with 94% backing him and 5% opposed.

It found strong differences among male and female likely voters with 58% of women supporting Harris and 57% of men supporting Trump.

Asked about former Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suspending his campaign and backing Trump, 64% of likely voters said it had no impact on their view of Trump. In all, 19% said it made them view Trump more favorably, while 15% said it had a net negative impact on their views of the ex-president.

"RFK Jr. -- his own presidential prospects in a nosedive -- bounces to Donald Trump's camp. But is he an asset or a liability? Independents, so critical to the outcome of the race, aren't exactly swayed by him to change their views about Trump," Malloy said.