Trump holds the lead in three key Sun Belt states, NY Times poll shows
According to a recent survey by the New York Times and Siena College, former President Donald Trump has a lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in three pivotal battleground states: Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia.
This poll, which was made public on Monday, took place from September 17 to 21 and included responses from 713 voters in Arizona, 682 in Georgia, and 682 in North Carolina. The margin of error in each state’s results ranges from four to five percentage points.
Participants in the poll highlighted their worries about the economy, abortion rights, immigration, and the overall trajectory of the nation. A majority of voters expressed unfavorability towards both candidates, with 50% regarding Trump and 51% viewing Harris as somewhat or very unfavorable.
In North Carolina, where no Democratic presidential candidate has won since 2008, Trump holds a slim 49-47 lead. However, in Arizona and Georgia—two states that barely went for President Joe Biden in the last election—Trump is leading Harris with a larger margin: 50-45 in Arizona and 49-45 in Georgia.
Both campaigns have been intensively focusing on these swing states since the presidential debate on September 10.
Harris has recently held two rallies in North Carolina and was seen in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday at an event promoting reproductive rights. She is expected to visit Arizona later this week, though her specific destination has not yet been disclosed.
In the meantime, Trump also conducted rallies in Tucson, Arizona, and Wilmington, North Carolina after the debate. He is scheduled to campaign in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday.
Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at YSL News specializing in Georgia politics. You can find her at @MayaHoman on X, formerly known as Twitter.