US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face off for the first – and perhaps only – time, in a debate that could prove crucial in their race for the White House.
A recent U.S.-wide poll by The New York Times and Siena College indicates that (11:00 a.m. AEST Wednesday) could be an important moment.
Harris, the Democratic candidate, will have the opportunity to give more details about her political plans as she takes on Republican candidate Trump.
The survey, released Sunday, found that 28 percent of likely voters said they needed more information about Harris, while only 9 percent said the same about Trump.
This comes as several opinion polls indicate a very close race. Even a small boost for either candidate could prove significant.
A close race
According to the New York Times and Siena College poll, the candidates are effectively tied, with Trump up one percentage point, or 48 to 47 percent, over Harris. That difference is within the survey’s three-point margin of error, meaning a victory for either candidate in the Nov. 5 election is within reach.
A Pew Research Center poll released Monday also shows registered voters tied, with 49 percent saying they would vote for Harris if the election were held today. An identical share said they would support Trump.
An ABC News and Ipsos poll, conducted after the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and released September 1, found that Harris had a four percentage point lead among Americans planning to vote. This slight lead is roughly in line with polls conducted by ABC News, the Washington Post and Ipsos before the DNC.
Polls in the seven key states likely to determine the election winner have also consistently shown a razor-thin race.
Here’s how some expect the debate to play out — and the pressing questions on potential voters’ minds.
The debate
More Americans expect Harris than Trump to remain calm under pressure during a televised debate (45 percent versus 32 percent), while a larger share think Trump will more convincing (41 percent versus 33 percent).
This is according to a national survey of more than 1,000 American citizens conducted by YouGov and published on September 10.
The study found that the candidates were virtually tied when it came to who was the better debater (41 percent for Harris and Trump) and who was more likely to win the debate (39 percent for Haris and 38 percent for Trump).
Only about 11 percent of respondents said it was very, or somewhat likely, that the debate would change their minds, and 66 percent said it was not at all likely.
The majority of respondents want the debate to focus on inflation (58 percent), health care (51 percent) and border security (51 percent), followed by Social Security (47 percent). , taxes (45 percent) and abortion. (44 percent).
What are the issues that concern voters?
With less than two months until the November election, there are “big differences” on pressing issues between voters who support Harris and Trump, according to the Pew Research Center.
Its latest national survey was conducted among 9,720 adults, including 8,044 registered voters, from August 26 to September 2.
The survey finds that while some issues have long been pressing, others have become increasingly important since the 2020 presidential election.
Most respondents cited several issues as important to their vote.
The economy
Amid concerns about the state of the economy and inflation, 81 percent of registered voters said the economy would be very important in this year’s election.
About 93 percent of Trump supporters said the economy was a major issue (alongside immigration, 82 percent, and violent crime, 76 percent), compared to 68 percent of Harris supporters.
A majority of 55 percent of voters said they were very or somewhat confident in Trump’s good economic policy decisions, compared to 45 percent for Harris.
Health care
For 65 percent of all voters, health care is very important to their vote – including 76 percent of Harris supporters and 55 percent of Trump supporters.
Other top issues for Harris supporters include Supreme Court nominations (73 percent) and abortion (67 percent).
Supreme Court nominations
Supreme Court nominations are very important to 63 percent of all voters, including 73 percent of Harris supporters and 54 percent of Trump supporters.
Foreign policy
Foreign policy concerns 62% of all voters, including 70% of Trump supporters and 54% of Harris supporters.
Violent crime
Violent crime is a very important issue to 61 percent of all voters, including 76 percent of Trump supporters and 46 percent of Harris supporters.
Immigration
About six in ten voters (61%) said immigration was very important to their vote, an increase of nine percentage points from the 2020 election.
The issue is now much more important to Republican voters, with 82% of Trump supporters saying it is very important to their vote, up 21 points from 2020, according to Pew research.
That compares to 39 percent of Harris supporters in the 2024 election.
Gun Policy
Gun policy is a very important issue to 56 percent of all voters this year, including 59 percent of Harris supporters and 53 percent of Trump supporters.
Abortion
In August 2020, 40% of voters said abortion was a very important issue to their vote, according to a Pew study.
He said the importance of abortion as a ballot issue changed following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
Today, 51 percent of all voters say the issue is very important, including 67 percent of Harris supporters, compared to 35 percent of those who support Trump.
Voters trust Harris more than Trump to make good decisions on abortion policy (and to address race-related issues). They trust Trump more than Harris on economic, immigration and foreign policy.
Racial and ethnic inequality
Racial and ethnic inequality is a very important issue to 37 percent of all voters this year, including 56 percent of Harris supporters and 18 percent of Trump supporters.
Climate change
Climate change is also very important to 37 percent of all voters, including 62 percent of Harris supporters and just 11 percent of those who support Trump.
With additional reporting from Reuters
