With Election Day approaching, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris leads the presidential race by a slim margin, holding 48% support to Republican rival Donald Trump's 47%, according to recent polling. The race remains close, especially in key swing states where the lead fluctuates. Trump currently holds a slight edge in Pennsylvania and Nevada, while Harris maintains a lead in Wisconsin and Michigan. Since August, Harris has consistently led in these battlegrounds by two to three points, particularly in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. New Democratic female voters outnumber their Republican counterparts in several of these states, though new Republican male voters are also turning out strongly. Pennsylvania, a pivotal state with high electoral value, has seen over 100,000 early ballots cast, a turnout that surpasses President Joe Biden's 2020 margin over Trump. Harris's path to victory could hinge on reclaiming Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—historically Democratic states that swung to Trump in 2016 before Biden won them back in 2020. In North Carolina and Nevada, the large proportion of new independent voters adds further unpredictability, as their preferences could influence the outcomes in these and other swing states. Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina have seen tight races since August, with Trump currently holding a slight lead in each. Harris's entry into the race shifted the dynamics significantly; when Biden withdrew, he was trailing Trump by around five points across the seven swing states, including a 4.5-point deficit in Pennsylvania. Election Day is set for November 5, but early voting has already seen over 68 million ballots cast. According to data from the University of Florida's Election Lab, about 1 million more Democrats than Republicans have voted early, with 13,015,856 Democrats and 12,135,666 Republicans casting ballots in person or by mail. — Agencies
