As Election Day looms on Tuesday, a recent poll reveals that Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are neck and neck in Pennsylvania.

According to a new exclusive YSL News/Suffolk poll, the race in Pennsylvania is extremely close, which is one of the crucial swing states that could influence the election outcome.

The poll reveals that both Harris and Trump are receiving 49% support from respondents. This survey was conducted among 500 potential voters between October 27 and October 30, with a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.

Additionally, a separate poll involving 300 possible voters in Erie County shows an equal split at 48% for each candidate. In Northampton County, another significant area in Pennsylvania, there is a slight preference observed.

In the recent county polls, 50% of respondents expressed their support for Trump, while 48% leaned towards Harris. It’s important to note that these results fall within a margin of error of 5.65 percentage points.

David Paleologos, who leads the Suffolk University Political Research Center, mentioned that the county and state data.

Data indicates that Pennsylvania is essentially a battleground state.

Paleologos noted, “All of our findings fall within the margin of error, it’s effectively a statistical tie.”

With 19 electoral votes at stake, Pennsylvania has the highest number among the swing states. This week, both candidates have been actively campaigning in the area. Trump held a rally in Allentown on Tuesday, while Harris made an appearance as well.

Harrisburg made headlines on Wednesday.

Biden secured Pennsylvania with a very narrow victory of just one percentage point in 2020. He managed to turn both Erie and Northampton County, which had previously been won by Trump in 2016.

This state is considered part of the “blue wall,”

A collection of states that leaned Democratic in previous federal elections shifted when Trump secured victories in three of them: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, during the 2016 election.

Voters who are undecided and those supporting third parties

The majority of voters in Pennsylvania have made their choices, yet the closely contested nature of the race means that even a small group of undecided voters could influence the election outcomes both at the state level and nationally.

Third-party candidates also hold potential sway. In Pennsylvania, there are two options outside of Trump and Harris on the ballot – Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver. They each received 1% or less support in the YSL News/Suffolk poll.

However, if the election in Pennsylvania is as tight as indicated by polls, a candidate with just 0.5% could influence the outcome for either Harris or Trump, according to Paleologos.

Jason Danner, 38, is one of the remaining undecided voters in Pennsylvania.

Although Danner believes Trump was a good president, he is worried about Trump’s use of “divisive” and “undemocratic” language and feels that he does not seem to uphold respect for the Constitution.

Conversely, he expresses concerns that Harris might perpetuate Biden’s existing policies.

Jason Danner, a 38-year-old undecided voter from York County, Pennsylvania, is a registered Democrat. When he finally casts his vote, he admits that he will probably choose Harris, but not with much enthusiasm.

“I’ve been voting for as long as I can remember,” Danner shared. “This is the first election where I feel so indifferent about it that I’m almost reluctant to participate because I’ve grown tired of the current political atmosphere.”

Sean Doyle mentioned that he intends to vote but will not select a candidate for president. Having voted for Biden in the previous election, he expressed his disappointment that Harris was not nominated through a fair primary process.

“We deserved a transparent primary, and it was denied to us,” he stated. “I can’t support a candidate whose party feels it’s acceptable to ignore the voters in this way.”

Doyle, a veteran with 12 years of service, identifies politically with the Libertarian Party but believes voting for a third party would be ineffective. In 2020, he ultimately chose not to support Trump after recalling negative remarks the former president made about veterans.

Although he appreciates some of the economic policies proposed by Democrats, he has grown increasingly “disillusioned” with them.

“I have observed diminishing progress in terms of support that actually benefits me,” he expressed.

The gender gap

On a national level, Harris has established a significant lead.

In Pennsylvania, the divide between genders in political support is significant, according to Paleologos.

Trump leads by 20 points among men in the state, achieving 57% support compared to Harris’s 37%. Meanwhile, Harris has an 18% advantage among women over Trump, securing 57% versus his 39%. This contrasts with Trump’s national lead of 16 points among men and Harris’s 17-point lead among women.

Paleologos remarked that “the real action takes place within married households.” He emphasized the importance of understanding how married women are voting.

Married men are finding it challenging to discuss the election within their households.

Kathleen Keshgegian, 42, emphasized that women’s rights played a crucial role in her decision to vote for Harris. “I have two daughters, and this is my top priority,” she expressed.

“I have ended a pregnancy, and without that choice, my life would be drastically different, probably for the worse,” expressed Keshgegian, a stay-at-home mother of three children aged 11, 8, and 6, residing in Oreland, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Keshgegian cast her vote for President Biden in 2020, believing he was the most suitable candidate. However, she expressed a desire for a leader who is younger and more aligned with the need for change in government, rather than the traditional figures. She feels a stronger connection to Harris, whom she perceives as more relatable, compassionate, and less polarizing.

Additionally, Keshgegian mentioned that Trump might have the potential to lower prices.

understands that some people might support him for those reasons. However, she finds it hard to accept what she perceives as his negative traits. “He’s impolite, he’s sexist. I’m fairly convinced he’s involved in criminal activities,” she expressed.

“I’d prefer to have less money than to endorse someone with his beliefs.”

This perspective varies among individuals.

Luanne McDonald, hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, shared her “mixed feelings” about the election and considers both Trump and Harris as “awful” candidates. As an independent voter, McDonald disagrees with Trump’s views on abortion and women’s rights but feels that Harris lacks strength and decisiveness.

She supported Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections and intends to do so again on November 5. For her, the top priorities are the economy and maintaining law and order, and McDonald believes that Trump is better suited to handle these issues.

“When he was president, I could buy a Babka at my Whole Foods; now I can’t afford it,” said McDonald, a former nurse, referring to a traditional Jewish sweet bread. “I’ve never felt financially constrained like this before.”

It’s not surprising that over 70% of individuals who assessed the current economic situation.

Many individuals indicated their preference for Trump, although Harris had an edge among those who considered the economy to be in fair, good, or excellent condition.

Eric Huhn, a 62-year-old voter, expressed his intention to support the Republican ticket from Trump down to the local candidates.

Eric Huhn, a 62-year-old resident and owner of a house painting and wallpaper business located in Chalfont, approximately 30 miles north of Philadelphia, has stated that economic concerns are his main focus. As a self-employed individual, he feels that government decisions regarding the economy have a direct impact on him.

Huhn is confident that the Republican party’s platform can meet these economic needs.

He believes that reducing energy costs will contribute to lowering the prices of goods.

He mentioned that the regulation would promote business growth. “I appreciate Republicans for their conservative views on spending and a limited government,” he stated.

Trevor Borchelt from Berks County, Pennsylvania, considers himself a Republican from the Reagan era who champions fiscal conservatism and moral accountability. However, he expressed that the party has drifted away from these principles.

Under Trump, Borchelt plans to support Harris on Election Day, emphasizing that “democracy” is his primary concern.

“I can agree with some of Trump’s policies,” said Borchelt, 44, while highlighting the former president’s tax strategies and pro-manufacturing initiatives. “However, if you fail to acknowledge the results of an election, you disqualify yourself from participating in a democratic process.”

Trump is currently dealing with several criminal trials related to his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and has not committed to accepting the outcome of the 2024 election.

Borchelt has never voted for Trump; in 2016, he cast his ballot for Libertar.