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Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Initial reaction from swing states

By Chris Williams
Published  July 30, 2024 4:59pm EDT
2024 Election
Fox TV Stations

‘Battleground’ episode 8: The fight for America's future, 100 days out

In this episode of Battleground, we analyze the impact of Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket. With key issues like abortion rights in Arizona and the Arab American vote in Michigan, we provide the latest polling data and insights from the campaign trail. Join S.E. Cupp and special guests for an in-depth look at this high-stakes race.

The race for the White House was thrown into a frenzy after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection, hoping to pass the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris has enough committed delegates and is poised to become the Democrats’ likely nominee for president. 

But how does Harris now stack up to former president Donald Trump, who had been leading in several polls before Biden dropped out?

Swing state reactions

  • "There's really been a groundswell of support for VP Harris here in Georgia and across the country since she moved to the top of the Democratic ticket in Georgia," FOX 5 Atlanta's Deidra Duke told S.E. Cupp on "Battleground."
  • "Harris is inextricably tied to an unpopular administration and will be on defense on key issues like inflation and immigration," Cornell University professor Douglas Kriner said.
  • "I think she’s doing it," political strategist and Democrat Patti Solis Doyle told Politico. "I think she is being forceful in her prosecution of Trump. I think she’s offering a hopeful view of the future. I think she’s doing the politics right."

Harris has undoubtedly revved up energy within the Democratic Party, but many political insiders say her chances of winning will come down to how various swing states vote. 

Does VP Kamala Harris have what it takes?

UCF Professor & Political Analyst Dr. Larry Walker joins LiveNOW from FOX to discuss whether or not Vice President Kamala Harris has what it takes to compete against Former President Donald Trump. The Democratic National Convention is set to take place in August.

RELATED: Could Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Here’s what the polls say

Early Harris-Trump matchup poll results

  • A Detroit News WDIV-TV survey, conducted after President Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, found that Trump and Harris are tied with 41% support in Michigan, while 6% of Michigan voters remain undecided.
  • In a FOX News poll, Harris and Trump are locked in a tie at 49% to 49% in Pennsylvania. In Wisconsin, Harris received 49% support to Trump’s 50%.
  • According to Forbes, Trump is up by two points in Georgia (48% to 46%), with 7% undecided, in an Emerson poll of 800 registered voters (margin of error 3.4%), after Trump led Biden by six points in the group’s previous poll.
  • In Arizona, Forbes also reported that Harris is down by five points (49% to 44%) among the 800 registered voters surveyed (margin of error 3.4%), with 7% of voters undecided, while Trump led Biden there by seven points earlier this month.

This story was reported from Los Angeles.