Harris holds 3-point lead over Trump in national survey

Vice President Harris has maintained a lead of 3 percentage points over former President Trump nationally, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday.

The polls show 45 percent of voters in support of Harris compared to 42 percent in support of Trump.

Previous survey numbers from September showed Harris with a 3 percentage point lead over Trump: 46 percent support to 43 percent.

Both results were within the margin of error, and in an election that will come down to seven swing states, they offer only a glimpse into who could potentially win the November election. 

Reuters/Ipsos’s latest poll shows both candidates underwater when it comes to favorability, with neither earning more than 50 percent of voters' approval. Forty-six percent of those surveyed have a favorable view of Harris, while 42 percent said the same of Trump. 

The ex-president has a marginal lead over Harris on issues relating to the economy, unemployment and jobs. Forty-five percent of participants said Trump was more equipped to handle those sectors, while 40 percent of respondents sided with Harris.

The Democratic nominee was better ranked for handling political extremism and threats to democracy with a 5 point lead of 43 percent support compared to Trump’s 38 percent. She led by 14 points on the topic of health care.

Each candidate’s party members are avidly planning to show up to cast their ballot. Eighty-one percent of Republicans and 86 percent of Democrats said they were completely certain that they would vote in the general election.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 938 U.S. adults online nationwide, including 807 registered voters. Among these, 769 were considered the most likely to turn out on Election Day.

Among these likely voters, Harris held a 3 percentage point lead over Trump, with 47 percent support to his 44 percent. The poll had a margin of error of around 4 percentage points.