Former President Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris in key swing states. A Monday poll from the New York Times shows him ahead in Arizona by five points, 50% to 45%. He has a similar lead in Georgia, at 49% to 45%.
In North Carolina, the race is closer, with Trump leading by just two points, 49% to 47%. The poll surveyed 2,077 likely voters between September 17 and 21.
Arizona and Georgia are critical battlegrounds. Both states went for President Biden in 2020. The new poll shows a significant swing in Arizona, where Harris was leading by five points in August.
Meanwhile, a recent Fox News poll shows Harris ahead by two points in a national matchup. This poll, conducted after several key events, suggests the race is tightening.
The national race saw a shift after the Democratic National Convention. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Trump, while Dick and Liz Cheney backed Harris. A debate between the candidates and a second assassination attempt on Trump also occurred.
Republican pollsters are optimistic about Trump's chances. Daron Shaw, a Republican pollster, believes that if Trump stays within two points of Harris nationally, he could win the Electoral College. The battleground states remain crucial to the outcome.