With Election Day just days away, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are in a close contest, with voters divided on which candidate is more suited to upholding democracy and safeguarding national security.
According to a recent Gallup poll released Friday, over half of voters believe Harris would be better than Trump at defending democratic principles, with 52 percent favoring her in this area compared to 44 percent for Trump. Additionally, 54 percent of respondents think Harris would be more effective in fostering national unity, as opposed to 41 percent who support Trump in this regard.
Trump leads on national security
However, Trump leads when it comes to protecting the U.S. from external threats, receiving 53 percent support on national security compared to 45 percent for Harris.
These findings show strong partisan alignment. Most Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, 96 percent, consider Trump the stronger candidate for national security. Meanwhile, around 86 percent of Democrats prefer Harris in this area. Similarly, 96 percent of Democrats believe Harris is best equipped to uphold democratic values, while 89 percent of Republicans say the same about Trump. When it comes to national unity, 82 percent of Republicans favor Trump.
Harris ahead with a narrow national lead over Trump
The economy emerged as the top issue for voters heading to the polls, with slightly over 20 percent identifying it as their main concern. This issue resonates particularly with Republicans, 35 percent of whom rank it as a priority, compared to 7 percent of Democrats. In addition, 13 percent of registered voters named immigration and 9 percent named abortion as key issues. More Democrats than Republicans—14 percent to 8 percent—view preserving democracy as a primary concern.
The Gallup poll also indicates that most voters have solidified their choice, with 93 percent having made up their minds compared to 83 percent in a similar survey conducted in August.
Currently, a Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling index shows Harris with a narrow national lead over Trump, with 48.1 percent support compared to Trump’s 47.7 percent.
The Gallup survey, conducted between Oct. 14 and Oct. 27 among 933 registered U.S. voters, has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
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