Two US presidential candidates tie in popularity

Neither Vice President Kamala Harris nor former President Donald Trump has gained a clear advantage in the race for the White House in two crucial Southern battleground states in the US. 

In Georgia, likely voters are split with 48 per cent for Trump and 47 per cent for Harris, while in North Carolina, Harris leads slightly at 48 per cent compared to Trump’s 47 per cent. These results fall within the margin of error, indicating no definitive leader in either race, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Both states are fiercely contested in this year's presidential election. North Carolina, which narrowly backed Barack Obama in 2008, has leaned Republican in the last three presidential election. However, in 2020, it was where Trump achieved his narrowest victory margin. Meanwhile, Joe Biden won Georgia by less than 1 percentage point four years ago, marking the first Democratic win in the state since Bill Clinton in 1992. The latest results show little change from late-August poll in Georgia and late-September poll in North Carolina, both of which also indicated no clear frontrunner.

A significant 95 per cent of likely voters in each state report that they have already decided on their choice, leaving a small but potentially impactful group of undecided voters. More than half of the likely electorate in both Georgia (59 per cent) and North Carolina (52 per cent) claim they have already cast their ballots, with these voters slightly favouring Harris by a 7-point margin in Georgia and a 6-point margin in North Carolina.

Kamala Harris has the support of stars like Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé, while Donald Trump counts Kid Rock, Waka Flocka Flame, and Hulk Hogan among his supporters. As the 2024 campaign enters its final week, Democrats are leveraging their advantage in celebrity endorsements to support Harris, energize audiences, and encourage voter turnout. 

The campaign continued the momentum with a rally in Texas, showcasing performances by Willie Nelson and Beyoncé. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, has also gained from the celebrity push. Earlier in the month, singer-songwriter James Taylor performed at events with Walz in North Carolina. Additionally, Walz and Harris spoke at a Michigan event that included a five-song set from singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers.

“I come for Harris,” stated Ashley Oberheide, a local resident who attended the outdoor rally in Ann Arbor’s Burns Park. “I love that musical acts are getting behind her, but I am always here for Harris.”

She described Rogers as an “added bonus.” University of Michigan nursing student Audrey Hudson, who voted for the first time just days before the rally, shared her experience, saying it felt like “doing a civic duty combined with seeing an artist I love.” 

“I’m here to support Kamala and Walz as well but Maggie Rogers, I have loved her music since I was in middle school. She’s had a huge impact on me,” said Hudson, noting that she believes artists like Rogers resonate more with young voters and can influence their decisions at the polls. 

Ann Arbor resident Rachel Lieberman, 29, mentioned that the rally in her hometown was her third event supporting Harris and described Rogers as a “cherry on top” that could help energize the youth vote. “I think it’s all part of getting the younger generations mobilized to vote,” Lieberman said.

Harris and the Democrats are also focusing on more than just performances at events. Following comments by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who spoke at Trump’s rally and referred to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean,” the Democrat’s campaign gained public backing from well-known Puerto Rican celebrities, including rapper Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and artist Ricky Martin, who collectively have over 300 million followers across various social media platforms.

By Naila Huseynova