An exclusive poll by YSL News and Suffolk University indicates that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are nearly tied as they approach the final stages of the presidential campaign. The Democratic campaign is actively seeking to engage Latino and Black voters who show strong enthusiasm.

The results show Harris at 45% and Trump at 44%, indicating a tighter race compared to the previous poll in August, where Harris had a 5-point lead of 48% to 43% after the Democratic National Convention.

“I’m not really excited about either candidate, but if I had to choose, I’d pick Donald Trump,” shared Jacob Rossow, 24, a college student from Oklahoma City, expressing his indecision. “I feel he has clearer policies, while Kamala’s plans seem uncertain to me.”

This survey, which included 1,000 likely voters and was conducted via landline and cell phones between October 14 and 18, has a margin of error of roughly 3.1 percentage points.

The data revealed that a majority of voters, by a margin of 57% to 37%, believed Harris has not adequately outlined her specific policy plans. This concern was echoed by around 23% of her own supporters who are looking for more information.

Conversely, opinions were more divided regarding Trump’s clarity on his policies, with 49% saying he has communicated enough while 48% disagreed. Just 15% of Trump supporters expressed the need for more details.

Over the past seven weeks, Harris has lost support among Latino voters, who now favor Trump 49% to 38%. With Black voters, Harris maintains a strong advantage of 72% to 17%, although this drop is below the typical Democratic performance.

For the smaller groups of Latino and Black voters, the margins of error are around ±9 points, which may suggest a potential shift of up to 18 points either way. Other recent polls, however, indicate that Harris holds a stronger lead among Hispanic voters.

In the 2020 election, Joe Biden’s success was largely due to substantial support from these demographics, with analyses showing he received 92% of Black votes and 59% of Latino votes.

Trump has actively sought to appeal to Hispanic and Black voters, particularly men, highlighting economic issues and crime. His efforts to narrow the traditional Democratic advantage have raised concern within Harris’s campaign and led to critiques from former President Barack Obama, who called out Black men for potentially hesitating to support a female candidate.

In response, Harris has increased her campaign activities and advertisements aimed at Latino and Black voters in key states. Recently, she unveiled an economic policy plan for Black men, which includes initiatives for small-business loans and the legalization of recreational marijuana.

The candidates’ overall standings are also shaped by gender dynamics.

Trump is favored by men, leading 53% to 37%, while Harris is supported by women, holding a lead of 53% to 36%.

Who do voters see as a candidate for change?

The poll indicates some positive signs for Harris.

She slightly surpasses Trump as the candidate perceived as better suited to foster change, with 46% supporting her compared to 44% for him. This is significant amid widespread discontent with the current state of the nation. Additionally, she is seen more favorably by 48% to 31% as the candidate capable of mending political divides.

“I strongly disagree with Trump’s economic policies that involve tariffs, as I experienced firsthand the damage it did to agriculture during his previous term,” expressed Erin Parker, 52, from Tangent, Oregon, identifying as a registered Republican who leans independent. Supporting Harris was easy for her because she views Trump’s MAGA movement as “authoritarian” and detrimental to the nation.

“The fact that Harris actually has concrete policies is very important,” Parker added.

On various issues, Harris has a 20-point lead regarding abortion, 56% to 36%, and a 15-point lead on health care, with support at 54% to 39%.

However, Trump outperforms Harris by 3 percentage points, gaining 49% to her 46%, as the candidate seen as providing stronger leadership.

He is also viewed as more capable of managing the economy, which is the primary concern for voters, leading by 10 points, 53% to 43%. Trump holds similar margins on immigration and foreign policy, with 51% to 44% and 51% to 45% respectively.

“We need to get back on track for those struggling to afford groceries; people are maxing out credit cards just to keep food on the table,” stated Pamela Anderson, 78, a Trump supporter from Alabama. “Social Security provides some income, but with the current inflation, it’s barely enough.”

‘We have veered completely off course’

Many Americans are pessimistic about the trajectory of the country. By a 2-to-1 ratio, 61% believe the nation is “on the wrong track,” while opinions diverge on potential solutions.

“We are absolutely on the wrong track — completely off the rails,” said Rhonda Wax, 63, an individual who works…
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At a travel agency located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a worker reminisces about the economic and global stability during Trump’s presidency.

“Things are going downhill,” echoed Daniel Mori, a 45-year-old New Yorker in marketing who intends to support Harris. For him, economic issues and foreign policies are secondary. “Both political parties seem to be driving us further apart instead of working towards solutions for the country’s problems,” he observed.

Currently, there is more uncertainty compared to four years ago, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at that time. When voters were asked the classic Reagan question of whether they were better off than four years ago, 48% responded positively while 33% did not.

This sentiment feels optimistic compared to today, even with some positive economic reports regarding jobs and growth. Recent polling shows that 44% of respondents feel worse off now compared to four years ago, while 39% feel better.