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Some new polling data from firms that have been reliable in the past show former President Donald Trump on pace to potentially win a “landslide” electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Polling data from Trafalgar Group and Insider Advantage now indicates that Trump is positioned for a potential landslide victory in the 2024 presidential election. The latest polling shows Trump with a commanding lead in several key battleground states, suggesting a solid path to victory in November.
The updated electoral map projects Trump with 296 electoral votes, compared to Kamala Harris’s 226. Notably, Trump is making gains in swing states like Pennsylvania (+2.2), Michigan (+2.2), and Wisconsin (+1.1), which were pivotal in previous elections. These states, typically leaning Democratic in close contests, seem to be shifting in favor of the former president.
In Arizona and North Carolina, Trump leads by one point, while Nevada and Georgia remain highly competitive. Trafalgar’s data suggests a dead heat in Georgia, a state that has been hotly contested by both parties in recent elections.
The shift is further corroborated by Senate odds, indicating a 73% chance of Republicans regaining control of the upper chamber, a change that would significantly alter the political landscape in Washington.
#Updated Electoral Map Based on Trafalgar/Insider Advantage polling
🟥 Trump 296 🏆
🟦 Harris 226
——
Pennsylvania – 🔴 Trump +2.2
Michigan – 🔴 Trump +2.2
Wisconsin – 🔴 Trump +1.1
Arizona – 🔴 Trump +1
North Carolina – 🔴 Trump +1
Nevada – 🔴 Trump +1
Georgia – 🟡 Tie
——… pic.twitter.com/7Kwhf9SlKC— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) October 2, 2024
In addition to the polling data, political prediction markets are beginning to show increasing confidence in Trump’s chances. Polymarket, one of the largest prediction markets globally, currently indicates that Trump has a 49% chance of winning the presidency, a significant increase from previous months.
Despite her status as the current vice president, Harris appears to be losing ground, particularly in traditionally Democratic strongholds like Michigan and Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, policy issues continue to dog Harris. One of the overlooked portions of MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle’s softball interview last week with her involved the vice president’s struggle with a question about how she planned to “pay for” expanded child tax credits and housing subsidies.
Some political observers noted that Harris seemed to revert to pre-programmed talking points when Ruhle asked her to explain how she would finance the expanded credits and $25,000 up-front money for first-time homebuyers — without really answering the question.
“If you can’t raise corporate taxes, or if GOP takes control of the Senate, where do you get the money to do that? Do you still go forward with those plans and borrow?” Ruhle asked.
“Well,” Harris began before a brief pause. “…[B]ut we’re gonna have to raise corporate taxes.”
Continuing, Harris stammered, “And we’re gonna have to raise…“We’re gonna have to make sure that the biggest corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. That’s just it. It’s about paying their fair share.”
Corporate taxes were reduced during the Trump administration when the GOP-controlled Congress passed the biggest tax reform measure in decades. The corporate rate was reduced from 35 to 21 percent, while the vast majority of American earners also saw their income taxes cut. A 2021 analysis noted that the vast majority of Americans benefitted from the cuts, and most were middle- and working-class people.
Harris was also criticized for more “word salad” responses during her one previous sit-down interview late last month, which was held with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and conducted by CNN anchor Dana Bash.
Conservative activists and media outlets took to X to comment specifically on a clip from the interview where the VP discussed the reasons behind her evolving policy positions since assuming the Democratic presidential nomination.