Harris is thriving, but Trump still remains in the race.

The Democratic Party is celebrating a successful four-day gathering in Chicago, where Vice President Kamala Harris galvanized support with her acceptance speech. However, Harris is focused on the challenges that lie ahead.

As she concluded her speech, Harris emphasized, “Now listen, we’ve got 75 days to go. Maybe for better and for worse, that’s the way I am. That was good, now we’ve got to move on.”

Party leaders are urging the need for vigilance amid the optimism, acknowledging that tougher challenges are imminent.

Former senior advisor to President Obama, David Axelrod, noted on social media, “Kamala Harris had a spectacular week, culminating in a remarkable month. But this is a closely divided country, and the race now will be a pitched struggle for every inch of terrain in the battleground states.”

On the other side of the political spectrum, Donald Trump attempted to regain attention by highlighting his endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Although Kennedy’s polling numbers have dwindled over the summer, Trump hopes to leverage this backing to strengthen his position in key states.

Trump’s pollster, Tony Fabrizio, stated, “This is good news for President Trump and his campaign – plain and simple.”

Kennedy also pledged to attempt to withdraw his name from ballots in ten swing states, although the feasibility of this remains uncertain. Election law expert Derek T. Muller noted that certain states, like Wisconsin, have stringent regulations that could complicate this effort.

Both candidates are gearing up to return to the campaign trail ahead of their first debate, scheduled for September 10 in Philadelphia. This will mark a significant moment as it will be the first debate between Harris and Trump, following President Joe Biden’s challenging performance in June that had a considerable impact on the race.

Republicans hope the upcoming debates will prompt Harris to defend her record, as she has adjusted her stance on critical issues, including healthcare and fracking, moving closer to the political center compared to her progressive positions during the 2020 Democratic primary.

Trump’s campaign has been vocally encouraging Harris to participate in a sit-down interview to scrutinize her evolving views. Meanwhile, Harris continues to thrive on the attention garnered from her high-energy rallies across the nation.

Historically, candidates have enjoyed a boost in polling following their conventions. Currently, polls show Harris with a slim 1.5 percentage point lead in national surveys, a notable shift from Biden’s prior challenges. However, this advantage is far from secure. For instance, in 1988, Michael Dukakis held a commanding 17-point lead before George H.W. Bush ultimately claimed victory.

Trump’s team has braced for Harris’s rise in polls, referring to this phase as her “honeymoon” period. Despite this, Trump has faced difficulties in launching a cohesive attack against her. He has been drawn into personal controversies, such as making racially charged comments about her identity and reigniting feuds with fellow Republicans, including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

In an effort to revive his campaign strategy, Trump has reinstated former 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, hoping to replicate the success that led to his previous upset. However, there remain questions about how effectively he can unify his message going forward.

One major concern for Harris is that Trump maintains an advantage on key metrics often decisive in elections. Currently, Biden’s popularity is waning, with 73% of Americans expressing dissatisfaction with the country’s trajectory, according to a Gallup poll.

While there are indications that Harris is making headway on economic issues, polling still shows Trump with a 9-point lead in trust regarding economic management. Additionally, he holds a 10-point advantage on immigration. Nonetheless, surveys suggest that voters generally view Harris more favorably than Trump.

With early voting set to commence in significant swing states like Pennsylvania on September 16—just a week following the first debate—both campaigns are aware that momentum cannot be calculated solely by the events of November 5.

Source: Business Insider