Democrats are starting to sweat over the latest polling numbers, which suggest that the race for the White House is tightening in all the critical swing states. Kamala Harris may have had a slight edge over Donald Trump after Joe Biden decided to bow out of the upcoming election, but that lead is shrinking faster than anyone on her team would like. The so-called “honeymoon period” she enjoyed after stepping into the spotlight seems to be fading, and with it, her advantage over Trump.
Now, just a few weeks into October, the race has tightened into a dead heat. Trump has closed the gap, and the odds are starting to shift in his favor. In fact, some bookmakers are now predicting that Trump could very well be the next president-elect. So much for the Democrats banking on an easy victory with Harris at the helm.
CNN recently reported on polling data from three key swing states—Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. These states are pivotal for both Trump and Harris, especially Pennsylvania with its 19 electoral votes. While Michigan and Wisconsin have been reliable Democrat strongholds in recent elections, Harris’s lead in all three states has now shrunk to just over one point. It’s a far cry from the comfortable margins Democrats were hoping for.
To put it in perspective, back in 2016 and 2020, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden both held leads of seven or eight points at this same stage of the race. And we all know how that turned out. Trump ended up outperforming the polls both times, making these latest numbers an ominous sign for Harris’s chances. The reality is setting in for Democrats: the “sure thing” they thought they had isn’t looking so certain anymore.
Adding insult to injury, CNN also found that Democrats are more likely to be upset if Trump wins than Republicans would be if Harris pulls it off. A ten-point difference in emotional investment, according to the poll. And if you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve probably already seen the meltdown starting to unfold as these tight polls hit the airwaves.
