Harris' popularity surge largest in US political record since 2001, according to poll
Photo: Harris leads Trump by 5 percentage points (Getty Images)
US Vice President Kamala Harris is ahead of her Republican rival Donald Trump by 5 percentage points. Respondents have become more favorable to her since she became the Democratic presidential candidate, according to an NBC poll.
When asked about their attitude toward Harris since she became a candidate, 48% of the 1,000 registered voters surveyed said they had a positive attitude toward her, compared to 32% in July.
This is the biggest jump in the ratings of politicians surveyed by NBC since President George W. Bush's popularity surged after 9/11.
When asked about Trump, 40% of respondents said they had a favorable view of him, compared to 38% in July. The poll, conducted September 13-17, has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The results are broadly in line with other recent national polls, including one conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, which show a 47% to 42% Harris lead and a tight race ahead of the November 5 election.
A CBS News poll also found Harris ahead of Trump by 4 percentage points, 52% to 48% among likely voters, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
While the national polls provide important signals about the electorate's views, the winner will be determined by the electoral college vote in each state, with a few swing states likely to be decisive.
Harris is 59 years old, she is a former US senator and prosecutor and currently serves as Biden's vice president. She could become the first female president in the country's 248-year history.
