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Kamala Harris has suffered a drop in the polls for the first time since becoming her party’s presidential candidate.
A New York Times poll showed Donald Trump leading Ms. Harris 48 percent to 47 percent among likely voters nationally.
The fall in popularity comes on the eve of a critical televised debate with Donald Trump on Tuesday night.
This is the first major poll to show a drop in support, which the New York Times believes could be the end of the honeymoon period and a “euphoric August” for the vice president.
The poll reduces Ms. Harris’ lead in the overall poll average to 2.5 percent, and just 0.3 percent in the key swing state of Pennsylvania.
Analysts warned that the new poll was an outlier so far. However, it is likely to fuel fears within the Harris campaign that it could be a sign of things to come.
“The honeymoon is officially over,” Trump spokesman Jason Miller triumphantly told Politico after the poll was published.
The poll also found that 28 percent of likely voters said they needed to know more about Ms. Harris, while only 9 percent said the same for Trump – a significant result because Ms. Harris accused of being light on policy.
The poll comes as both candidates prepare for Tuesday’s debate. Ms. Harris is reportedly hanging out in a Pittsburgh hotel in intense preparation on a mock stage with a “resident” Trump adviser in a distinctive blue suit and long tie.
Trump’s preparations are more improvised, with no standing in but helping to refresh his policy record and asking questions.
On Sunday, Pete Buttigieg, the US transport secretary, said Ms Harris’ main task was to “make sure Americans understand the difference in visions and are reminded that they already agree with her on the issues that matter most to them”.
He said: “That will be challenging. It will take almost superhuman focus and discipline to deal with Donald Trump. It’s not a normal offer.”
On the other hand, Republican Senator Tom Cotton told CNN that most Americans view the race as between “a president who served in office and brought good times to America and Kamala Harris, a liberal from San Francisco, who brought America is exactly what you see. in San Francisco”.
Cotton dismissed the support for Democrats from George Bush’s vice president Dick Cheney as “the developer of electoral politics.” What was important, he said, was the candidates’ records.
Senior US Republicans urged Trump to stick to a disciplined policy script on Tuesday and warned he could damage himself if he indulges in personal attacks.
Senator Lindsey Graham wrote in an op-ed in the New York Times last week that “every day the candidates trade insults[is a good day for Harris]because it’s one less day she has to blame the failures of the Biden-Harris administration.” to protect.”
“I think — I pray — it can be brought under control,” Republican strategist Tricia McLaughlin told Politico. “If Trump feels like he’s backed into a corner and if he feels like he’s three-on-one, that could be a problem.”
After a wide-ranging fight over debate rules, Trump has accused the ABC News host of being “dishonest” and “the worst”.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said he assumed that Ms. Harris would “come in very aggressive, and she’ll try to bait him, and she’ll get very angry, and she’ll get personal and she’ll try to relax”.
He added: “I think, hopefully, what he will do is a man who has been a real president – and she’s kind of a semi-vice president – and a man who knows all the world leaders, and a man who has gone through a great deal, and to be calm and steady and stick to the real differences.”
However, Trump recently disagreed with that approach, saying he was “entitled to personal attacks” on Ms Harris and joked at a rally that he should “fire” advisers who told him to clear of personal insults” against his opponent.
Trump is now a veteran of seven presidential debates, and Harris debated only once – when she dissed Joe Biden for his support of racist school busing, during the race to become the Democratic candidate in 2019. She was on eviction spell by Trump debate team adviser. and former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard about her record as California attorney general.
Former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said that Ms. Harris would be tasked with the 90-minute debate. “There is no unplowed ground when it comes to Donald Trump. It’s all said and done.”
Conway warned that if Ms Harris repeated “the same shopaholic soundbites” she would be seen as a “cable news brainchild, not a boss”.
He added: “America is still getting to know her, and while that has helped her in the short term, it is a risk for her in the long run.”
The New York Times poll shows that what some Democratic consultants have warned is a “sugar high” support for Mr. Harris may be wearing off. The poll also indicates a wide gender gap, with women trailing Harris by 11 points (53 percent to 42 percent), and men favoring Trump by 17 points (56 percent to 39 percent). Ms. Harris also has an advantage among black and Latino voters and young voters break 8 points in her favor.
James Johnson, co-founder of polling firm JL partners, said Ms. Harris’s position was adversely affected when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided to withdraw from the race last month.
Mr Johnson said: “The honeymoon is over for Harris.
“Harris’ peak was a week before the DNC. There was relief when she took over from Biden and managed to energize people who were not impressed with him, but since RFK dropped out of the race, encouraging voters for Trump and his position, [Ms Harris flagging in the polls] it is a trend that is happening.
“I want to see more details from her. Some voters are concerned not to see her doing an interview.”
Mr Johnson said Tuesday’s debate between the two candidates will be a pivotal moment in the race.
“The debates are really important”, he said. “It all hangs on Tuesday.”
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