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Kamala Harris and Trump deadlocked at 49 percent amid deep gender and issue divides, final NBC poll finds
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Kamala Harris and Trump deadlocked at 49 percent amid deep gender and issue divides, final NBC poll finds

2024 US Presidential Election: In the final NBC News national poll of the 2024 US presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are neck and neck, each securing support from 49 percent of registered voters. Only 2% of voters remain undecided, underscoring the polarized nature of the electorate ahead of the election.

Harris’ support has been boosted by growing Democratic enthusiasm, particularly on the issue of abortion, where she holds a 20-point lead over Trump. In addition, she is seen as the candidate who “looks more effectively at the middle class”. Instead, Trump is supported by voter dissatisfaction, with two-thirds of respondents saying the country is headed in the wrong direction, along with a positive retrospective view of his presidency compared to Joe Biden’s current performance. Trump maintains a double-digit lead over Harris on economic issues, including managing the cost of living.

The NBC News poll was conducted from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, polled 1,000 registered voters, and has a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points.

READ ALSO | US presidential election: Why winning Pennsylvania is crucial for Kamala Harris, Trump in the race for the White House?

2024 US presidential election: Gender, demographic, issue-based divides to decide fate of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

The poll shows a substantial gender gap, with women favoring Harris by a margin of 16 points (57%-41%), while men favor Trump by 18 points (58%-40%). This 34-point gender gap exceeds the 30-point gap recorded in October, showing the widening of the distinct demographic alignment. According to NBC, analysts Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates and Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies noted, “Each side is equally locked in and not moving and not moving.”

In an expanded poll that includes third-party candidates, Trump stands at 47 percent and Harris at 46 percent, with 7 percent either supporting other candidates or remaining undecided. In hypothetical scenarios, even minor changes in voter turnout among key demographics could change the outcome. A slightly higher turnout among men, white voters and voters without a college degree could give Trump a 50%-48% advantage. Instead, increased voter turnout among women, college-educated white voters and black voters could push Harris ahead 50%-47% according to the NBC News poll.

Both candidates show significant support from different demographics. Harris has overwhelming support among black voters (87%-9%), young voters under 30 (57%-41%) and white college-educated voters (55%-43%). Meanwhile, Trump leads among rural voters (75%-23%), white voters (56%-42%) and white non-college voters (64%-34%).

Issue-based differences are also stark: Harris leads on abortion by 20 points and has a nine-point edge on middle-class issues (51%-42%). However, Trump holds strong leads on economic issues, including managing the cost of living (52%-40%) and immigration, where he maintains a 25-point lead.

The poll underscores the challenging environment for Harris, with Biden’s approval rating at 41 percent versus 58 percent disapproval. When asked about their concerns, 41 percent of voters are worried about Harris continuing with Biden’s policies, while 40 percent are worried that Trump will replicate his first-term approach, the NBC News poll reported. Additionally, Trump’s job approval rating among voters is 48 percent, slightly higher than Biden’s.

A significant 54% of registered voters have already voted, and another 11% plan to vote early. Among early voters, Harris leads by seven points (53%-46%), a narrower lead than Biden had in 2020. In contrast, Trump holds a 16-point lead among voters who plan to vote on Election Day (56 %-40). %).

Regardless of the final outcome, 60 percent of voters believe the United States will remain divided after the election, reflecting the intense polarization evident in the poll results.