Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris in Sun Belt battleground states: Polls find

Recent polls show Donald Trump gaining traction in key Sun Belt states -- Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina -- against Kamala Harris, setting up a competitive election. Trump leads in Arizona and Georgia, while Harris narrowly trails in North Carolina.

In Short

• Kamala Harris trails Donald Trump in key battleground states
• Polls show Trump leading in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina
• Undecided voters are concerned over Trump’s character, Harris’s judgement

US Vice President Kamala Harris, the 59-year-old Democratic presidential candidate -- viewed as the front-runner in the tight presidential race -- is now trailing in three battleground states. Republican candidate Donald Trump, 78, is gaining ground, according to recent poll data that indicates he leads in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina.

According to the latest survey by The New York Times and Siena College, conducted between September 17 and 21, Trump is ahead in Arizona with 50% to Harris’s 45% and maintains a slight lead in Georgia at 49% compared to Harris’s 45%. In North Carolina, Trump holds a narrow edge with 49% to Harris’s 47%.

These poll results came after the apparent assassination attempt on Trump at his golf course, where the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was hiding for 12 hours and later got arrested.

“Whatever road we’re on right now just does not look like it’s going to end well,” said Tyler Stembridge, a Republican fire captain in Georgia, expressing concern about the nation’s future under current leadership, as quoted by The New York Times.

The surveys reveal a significant portion of voters are unsettled, with many agreeing that the country is in danger of failing.

While Trump’s campaign rhetoric resonates with some, a substantial number of undecided voters remain. In Arizona, 15% of respondents identified as undecided or not definitively leaning toward either candidate -- Harris or Trump.

This segment had previously favoured Harris but is now tilting slightly towards Trump, according to The New York Times.

Concerns over character are prevalent among undecided voters, with a third expressing worries about Trump’s personality and behaviour.

Samuel Russell, a 69-year-old pastor from North Carolina, voiced his discontent, stating, “The man is trouble. He lies through his teeth every day.”

On the other hand, 16% of undecided voters have raised concerns about Harris’s judgement and handling of the economy.

Nevertheless, a significant majority in these states lean toward liberal policies, with two-thirds supporting abortion rights and a majority backing the acceptance of transgender individuals.

The polling indicates that Trump remains a strong contender in these Sun Belt states, which are critical to both campaigns. The Sun Belt is a region of the United States generally considered stretching across the Southeast and Southwest.

Despite his controversies, Trump’s appeal endures among a segment of voters who feel his presidency positively impacted their lives.

The US presidential election is set to be held on November 5, with just 43 days left until American voters choose their next president.

If Kamala Harris wins the election and becomes President of the United States, she will make history as the first woman to do so.