Donald Trump’s recent week has been described as one he’d likely prefer to forget, potentially causing significant damage to his campaign, as noted by political analysts. In the meantime, Kamala Harris appears to be gaining traction as the frontrunner for the upcoming presidential election, according to leading bookmakers.
During a debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday, a CNN flash poll revealed that 63% of viewers felt Harris outperformed Trump. Adding to her momentum, she secured an endorsement from pop sensation Taylor Swift, prompting experts to predict a notable impact on the election.
Trump stirred controversy during the debate by reiterating unfounded claims that migrants were allegedly consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio. He stated, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” despite local officials clarifying that there were no credible reports supporting these claims.
This week also saw a significant drop in oil prices, with the national average for gasoline falling to around $3.25 per gallon. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal troubles continued as a federal appeals court dismissed his attempt to move the hush-money case out of New York state court. Trump has been convicted of falsifying business records related to payments to an adult actor, a charge he continues to deny.
The MAGA movement has also faced internal conflicts, highlighted by Marjorie Taylor Greene’s criticism of activist Laura Loomer for making racially charged comments about Harris, who has Indian heritage.
Mark Shanahan, a political scientist from the University of Surrey, commented, “Trump’s recent week has been quite damaging. Instead of dominating the headlines, he seems to be reacting to Harris.” He pointed out that as Harris benefits from signs of economic recovery, Trump’s campaign appears increasingly chaotic. He added that consistent weeks like this could hinder Trump’s chances for re-election.
Concerns about engagement among young voters also emerged, with Cassidy Reller from the University of Florida emphasizing that Taylor Swift’s endorsement could mobilize younger demographics. The fact that over 400,000 people registered to vote through her social media links underscores this trend.
Despite these challenges, Thomas Gift from University College London noted that polls remain close, suggesting that Trump still has a chance to bounce back. He cautioned against underestimating Trump’s political resilience and emphasized that the race is far from over.
The most recent polling from FiveThirtyEight indicates that Harris holds a slight lead over Trump, with 48.2% to 45.4%. However, given the Electoral College system, Trump could still win the election even if he loses the popular vote, as he did in 2016.
In slightly better news for Trump, his Georgia election interference case is currently tangled in delays. This comes after it was revealed that a key prosecutor had a personal relationship with someone involved in handling his case, leading Trump’s legal team to seek her removal.