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Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the frontrunner in the latest USA Today/Suffolk University poll, marking a significant shift in the 2024 presidential campaign.
The poll, the first the group has conducted since the Democratic National Convention, shows Harris now has a five-percentage-point lead over former President Donald Trump nationwide.
The results underscore Harris’ growing appeal among key voting groups, including women, minorities and suburban voters, and cement her position as a strong candidate for the upcoming election.
The poll, released on Thursday, underscores that Harris has managed to expand her base, especially in swing states where a tough fight is expected.
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 has a lead of 12 percentage points, and among minority voters, where she has a lead of 15 percentage points.
Trump criticized for visit to Arlington Cemetery, campaign video sparks outrage
While Harris is gaining in the polls, former President Donald Trump is facing a wave of criticism following a controversial visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
During the visit, Trump’s campaign team shot a TikTok video around the graves of fallen U.S. soldiers, a move that drew sharp criticism from veterans groups and the families of those buried in the cemetery.
The video, which was intended to honor the military, was widely condemned as disrespectful and exploitative.
Critics accused the Trump campaign team of using the celebratory setting for political purposes. Many called the video “insensitive” and “callous.”
The backlash comes at a time when Trump is already under scrutiny for his handling of military matters during his presidency, including his controversial comments about military leaders and veterans.
The visit to Arlington 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 when he said Kamala Harris should “go to hell” for her role in the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The remark, made during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, was criticized by political opponents and some military personnel as inappropriate and inflammatory.
Vance denies involvement in cemetery altercation amid growing tensions
Adding to the controversy, Vance has denied allegations that a member of the Trump-Vance campaign verbally abused and shoved a cemetery official during a wreath-laying ceremony for 13 U.S. service members killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan in 2021.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, the same day as Trump’s visit to Arlington.
The cemetery official reportedly tried to intervene when the campaign member began filming near the grave, leading to a heated exchange.
The Trump campaign dismissed the allegations as “fabricated,” but the incident further escalated tensions between the campaign and critics who accuse it of disrespecting the military.
Despite the controversy, the Trump-Vance campaign team continues to pursue its strategy and focuses on the crucial swing states in order to make up for the ground lost to the Harris-Waltz team.
The campaign focused on issues such as the economy, immigration and national security, while attempting to downplay the consequences of recent events.
