Vice President Kamala Harris overtakes former President Donald Trump for the first time since she entered the race in July, in the latest New York Times/Siena College poll as voters credit her with representing change and caring about people like them.
The recent poll, which is among the top ranked national polls, was conducted from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6 among 3,385 likely voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.4 points.
The recently-released study shows Harris with a 3-point lead over the former President, standing at 49% to his 46% among likely voters. Her lead is also maintained in a multi-candidate race, at 47% to his 44%. In that scenario, Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver each get 1 percentage point.
Although the race remains close, the newest poll also shows a stark difference with a mid-September New York Times/Siena poll, which showed Harris and Trump even at 47% each, after the two candidates met for the first— and probably only— time during the presidential debate.
Some of the reasons for the new figures may be due to increased support among older voters as well as disaffected Republicans, which 9% said they planned to support her, up slightly from 5% last month. She also seems to have made inroads convincing voters she is an agent of change.
The study shows that 61% of non-whites viewed Harris more as the change candidate, while 29% viewed Trump in that way. Among likely voters under 30, 58% saw the Vice President and Democratic nominee as representing change, while 34% said the same of the former president.
Age, a discourse that was most mentioned with President Joe Biden and may be slowly getting reignited with Trump's often-confusing speeches, may be another contributor to the question of change. Trump is not the oldest major party nominee for president in history and would be the oldest president ever if he wins and finishes another term at 82.
His recent rally speeches, as well as his performance during the presidential debate, have sparked quiet concern among pundits and some of his followers on hsi stability and health, particularly as he rambles, repeats himself, roams from thought to thought— some of them hard to understand, some of them unfinished, some of them factually inaccurate— according to a report by The New York Times.
"The age difference between the two candidates makes a huge difference on change," said Darry Knox, 58, a Democrat in Memphis who said he intended to vote for Harris. "They see the world differently. They look at the world differently, and they have different views about the world."
Harris was also seen as more honest and trustworthy as her campaign often promotes videos and memes of her laughing, joking and dancing. The poll found that 43% of likely voters— among 13% of Republicans— think Harris was more fun.
Nevertheless, Trump still holds some advantages, particularly leading the male vote by 11 points, as well as in top issues like the economy.
"As a businessman, I think Trump can see the bigger picture and he can say, 'Oh, maybe we can do this to help people,'" said Barabara Storesina, 65, a retired school secretary in Ohio. "whereas the Democrats and Harris, I don't feel that they care about the average person like me. They don't care about whether we're struggling or whether we need help with something."
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