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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Vice President Kamala Harris is leading former president Donald Trump in four key battleground states, according to new polls.
Surveys by The New York Times and Siena College found Harris is ahead by 4 percentage points—50 percent to 46 percent—in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. All of those leads are within the margin of error. The survey polled 619 registered voters in Michigan and 661 registered voters in Wisconsin from August 5 to August 8, and 693 registered voters in Pennsylvania from August 6 to August 9.
A separate YouGov Blue survey conducted on behalf of Carolina Forward showed Harris and Trump tied at 46 percent each among likely voters in North Carolina. The poll, which surveyed 802 voters between August 5 to August 9, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
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The poll results represent a significant upswing from President Joe Biden's numbers in the swing states—whose Electoral College votes could be key in securing the 270 needed to win the presidency. Pennsylvania carries 19 electoral votes, North Carolina has 16, Michigan has 15 and Wisconsin has 10.
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Harris entered the race in July after Biden exited following a much-maligned debate performance against Trump that magnified concerns about the 81-year-old's age and ability to win in November.
Polling by the Times and Siena College conducted after the debate showed Biden trailing Trump by 3 percentage points in Pennsylvania. Polling in May, before Biden's debate performance, showed him tied with Trump in Wisconsin, and trailing Trump in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Several polls in early July had Biden trailing Trump in North Carolina, while polls in late July showed Trump narrowly leading Harris.
In a memo on Saturday, the Trump campaign said the latest Times/Siena College surveys "dramatically understated" support for Trump among registered and likely voters.
"Once again, we see a series of public surveys released with the clear intent and purpose of depressing support for President Trump," pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Tim Saler wrote in the memo.
The Trump and Harris campaigns have been contacted for comment via email.
Harris has traveled to five battleground states with running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, over the past week. The tour began with a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday and then headed to Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada.
Harris, the first Black woman and person of Asian descent to top a major party's ticket, has generated fresh momentum among Democrats who were not enthusiastic about Biden's reelection bid.
But experts have cautioned that her campaign remains in its early days.
"Harris remains in her honeymoon period, and despite her ascent in the polls in key battleground states, she hasn't sewn up anything," Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek.
"Pennsylvania, in particular, will likely be a bitter fight until the end, with both candidates and their Super PACS making huge ad buys to vie for its coveted 19 electoral votes."
Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northeastern University, told Newsweek that recent polls suggest support for Harris "has been climbing and even besting Trump in key battleground states, but most estimates remain within the margin of error, implying uncertainty about the likely outcome at this moment."
He said: "It's clear Harris has considerable momentum, but views can still shift before Election Day. These polls are snapshots in time."
Democratic victories in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in November "would almost certainly clinch the White House for Harris, although it's wise not to start measuring the drapes prematurely," Panagopoulos added. "We still have a ways to go until Election Day, and anything can happen."
Update 08/12/24, 7:11 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include details about polling in North Carolina.
Update 08/12/24, 10:11 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include comment from Costas Panagopoulos.
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