The first poll to be conducted since US President Joe Biden announced he was not going to stand in the November election shows that his Vice President, Kamala Harris, is leading challenger Donald Trump.
Biden announced on Sunday that he was not going to stand as the Democratic Party’s nominee in the November election, and endorsed his deputy, Harris.
The poll conducted earlier this week by Reuters and Ipsos showed Harris with a two-point lead over Trump. The poll showed Harris with the support of 44% of respondents compared to the 42% who said they supported Trump.
When third party candidate Robert F Kennedy was included, then Harris’s support was at 42%, Trump’s at 38%, with Kennedy having the support of 8% of respondents.
The poll had a three-point margin of error.
A poll conducted last week before Biden dropped out of the race had Trump marginally ahead.
Of poll respondents, 59% agreed with the statement that Harris was “mentally sharp and able to deal with challenges”. Some 49% of respondents said the same of Trump while only 22% said that of Biden, who many observers believe has shown declining cognitive ability as he ages.