Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as a frontrunner in the latest USA Today/Suffolk University poll, marking a significant shift in the 2024 presidential race.
The poll, the first conducted by the group since the Democratic National Convention, reveals Harris now holds a five-point lead over former President Donald Trump in a nationwide matchup.
The results underscore Harris’s growing appeal among key voting demographics, including women, minorities, and suburban voters, solidifying her position as a strong contender in the upcoming election.
The poll, released on Thursday, highlights Harris’s success in expanding her base, particularly in battleground states where the race is expected to be closely contested.
According to the data, Harris has gained ground among independent voters, a crucial group that could determine the outcome of the election.
Her lead is most pronounced among women, where she enjoys a 12-point advantage, and among minority voters, who favour her by a margin of 15 points.
Trump criticized for Arlington cemetery visit, campaign video sparks outrage
As Harris enjoys a boost in the polls, former President Donald Trump faces a wave of criticism following a controversial visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
During the visit, Trump’s campaign team filmed a TikTok video around the graves of fallen US soldiers, a move that has drawn sharp rebuke from veterans’ groups and the families of those buried at the cemetery.
The video, which was intended to honor the military, has been widely condemned as disrespectful and exploitative.
Critics have accused the Trump campaign of using the solemn setting for political gain, with many calling the video “tone-deaf” and “insensitive.”
The backlash comes at a time when Trump is already under scrutiny for his handling of military affairs during his presidency, including his controversial comments about military leaders and veterans.
The Arlington visit has also sparked a separate controversy involving Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. Vance, who has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s candidacy, made headlines this week after declaring that Kamala Harris should “go to hell” over her role in the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The remark, made during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, has been criticized by political opponents and some members of the military community as inappropriate and inflammatory.
Vance denies involvement in cemetery altercation amid growing tensions
Adding to the controversy, Vance has denied accusations that a member of the Trump-Vance campaign verbally abused and pushed aside a cemetery official during a wreath-laying ceremony for 13 US military personnel who died in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in 2021.
The incident allegedly occurred on Monday, the same day as Trump’s visit to Arlington.
According to reports, the cemetery official attempted to intervene when the campaign member began filming near the gravesite, leading to a heated exchange.
The Trump campaign has dismissed the allegations as “fabricated,” but the incident has further fueled tensions between the campaign and critics who accuse it of disrespecting the military.
Despite the controversies, the Trump-Vance campaign continues to press forward with its strategy, focusing on key battleground states in an effort to regain ground lost to the Harris-Walz ticket.
The campaign has emphasized issues such as the economy, immigration, and national security, while attempting to downplay the fallout from recent events.
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