U.S. Presidential Election: Kamala Harris generates renewed enthusiasm
In the political landscape of mid-2025, recent polling data suggests a narrow race between Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and incumbent President Donald Trump.
According to The Economist/YouGov poll conducted between August 15-18, 2025, Trump's overall approval rating has declined, with a rising share of Americans strongly disapproving of him. The poll indicates that Trump's strong approval rating stands at about 23%, down from 34% earlier in the year, while strong disapproval increased to 47% overall and 83% among Democrats. The same poll estimates the 2024 presidential vote split at approximately 50% for Trump and 48% for Harris, suggesting a very close race between the two candidates.
Trump's support has notably declined among Republicans, with a decrease from 71% strong approval to 54%, indicating some erosion even within his base. On the other hand, Democrats express very high intensity opposition to Trump, with 83% strongly disapproving. The polling methodology included demographic and voter registration weighting to reflect the 2024 electorate with a margin of error around 3.5%.
Other polls, such as those from Reuters/Ipsos conducted around May 2025, show Trump's approval rating steady at about 42%. This seems higher than the August YouGov polls, indicating some variation between pollsters or possible recent declines.
It's important to note that no specific polls directly comparing Biden and Harris together against Trump for the upcoming 2025 or 2026 election were found. However, the 2024 vote shares indicate Harris as the Democratic candidate and Trump the Republican nominee are in a close contest.
Kamala Harris, who was officially designated as the Democratic US presidential candidate, has been setting fundraising records. Donations to her campaign reached 310 million dollars in July, shattering previous records. An increase of 170,000 young volunteers have joined her election campaign since Biden announced his candidacy. These young volunteers will be crucial for direct contact with voters across the country in the coming months.
The value of Harris's election result does not necessarily indicate a shift in voter sentiment. Instead, it has sparked a new enthusiasm among some voters, potentially stopping Donald Trump's re-election bid. While it's too early to declare a victory for Harris, the current polling suggests a possible win for the Democratic candidate.
General news outlets are reporting a tight race in the upcoming presidential election, with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and incumbent President Donald Trump neck-and-neck. Despite Trump's ongoing political struggles demonstrated by a declining approval rating, the landscape of politics remains unpredictable, as recent polls show a close contest between the two leaders.
