Harris and Trump neck-and-neck in polls as pivotal debate looms

According to surveys released today, the US presidential election remains close, two days before Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off in their first - and probably only - televised debate.

The most recent polls reveals that Trump retains the support of almost half of Americans, despite the Republican's historic status as a convicted criminal and his role in launching the extraordinary attempt to overturn his 2020 loss to Joe Biden.

The upcoming debate has heightened tensions across the political spectrum, with both campaigns intensifying their efforts to sway undecided voters. Political analysts are closely watching for any potential gaffes or standout moments that could shift the needle in this tightly contested race. The stakes are particularly high given the unprecedented circumstances surrounding this election, including Biden's unexpected resignation and Trump's legal troubles.

Harris, who just entered the campaign after President Biden abruptly resigned in July, has quickly turned herself from a little-known vice president to a viable contender.

However, surveys show she has not made a significant breakthrough, making the contest a tossup. According to a New York Times/Siena survey, 78-year-old Trump leads Harris nationally by 48% to 47%, which is comfortably within the margin of error.

US presidential elections are determined by aggregating the results of state-by-state races rather than an overall national popular vote, which means that a small number of swing states often determine the outcome.

According to the survey, Harris, 59, is marginally ahead in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania but deadlocked in four other swing states: Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona.

The razor-thin margins in these crucial swing states have prompted both campaigns to pour resources into targeted advertising and grassroots mobilization efforts. Political strategists from both parties are working overtime to identify and motivate potential supporters, with a particular focus on suburban voters and minority communities. The outcome in these battleground states could ultimately decide the fate of the election, making every vote count in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched and consequential elections in recent US history.

According to a CBS News/YouGov survey, Harris leads by one percentage point in Michigan and Wisconsin and is tied in Pennsylvania. The race is already chaotic, with 81-year-old Biden withdrawing due to age concerns, Trump almost avoiding an assassin's bullet at a rally, and fears growing that Trump may refuse to accept if he loses in November.

However, the most recent figures show that each contender has a relatively constant base of supporters, practically evenly splitting the country. The sole discussion between the two, slated for Tuesday on ABC News, might be a game changer.

As he faces a mixed-race woman hoping to become the first female president in US history, Trump will be under pressure to tone down his use of insults and intimidation.

Harris will need to use the large audience to engage with Americans in a way that she was unable to do as vice president and has had little opportunity to do throughout her super-condensed campaign cycle.

With Trump being the oldest presidential contender in US history, she is promoting an upbeat, forward-thinking message in contrast to Trump's apocalyptic warnings that the country will suffer irreversibly without him in the White House.

At the same time, Harris will have to figure out how to debate Trump, who frequently makes incorrect comments about almost every topic and enjoys getting under his opponents' skin.

Biden was completely unable to handle in his lone debate with Trump before withdrawing from the race. Trump has already used racist and sexist rhetoric against Harris in his talks, purposefully mispronouncing her name and labeling her as insane and a Marxist.

The heated rhetoric and personal attacks have raised concerns about the overall tone of the campaign and its potential impact on the nation's political discourse. Civil rights organizations and watchdog groups have called for both candidates to refrain from inflammatory language and focus on substantive policy issues. Meanwhile, social media platforms are grappling with the challenge of moderating election-related content, attempting to strike a balance between free speech and preventing the spread of misinformation.

Dealing with Donald Trump in a debate will require almost superhuman focus and discipline, Harris backer and current Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said CNN. Following the debate, the Harris campaign launched a barnstorming tour of battleground states, beginning in North Carolina and progressing to Pennsylvania.

Trump held a rally in Wisconsin yesterday, where he appealed to his primarily white, working-class audience with a dark speech, alleging that he is fighting a rogue regime in which Democrats have imported murderers, child predators, and serial rapists from all over the world.

On his Truth Social platform, he warned that once back in the White House, he would inflict lengthy prison sentences on all those he claimed were intending to cheat in November.

As the election draws nearer, concerns about election security and the integrity of the voting process have come to the forefront. State and federal officials are working to bolster cybersecurity measures and combat potential foreign interference. Voter rights groups are also ramping up efforts to ensure equal access to the polls, particularly in light of recent changes to voting laws in several states. The intense focus on election integrity underscores the high stakes of this contest and the deep divisions that continue to shape American politics.