VP Harris gains support in NC; leads Trump in new poll

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) — A newly released poll shows a swing in presidential support in a key battleground state.

In the first Emerson College Polling national survey released since President Joe Biden announced his decision to not run for re-election, Vice President Kamala Harris has shifted the lead in polls of likely North Carolina voters compared to former President Donald Trump.

The new numbers were published a day after former President Trump’s visit to Asheville.

“We have stupid people like Kamala and Joe running our country,” said former President Trump during a campaign event Wednesday.

Inside of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Trump spoke to a crowd of about 2,000 people focused the economy and inflation.

“If Harris wins this election, the results will be a Kamala economic crash. A 1929-style depression,” Trump said.

“North Carolinians know Donald Trump left our communities out to dry as president of the United States,” Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, said during a gathering a short distance from Trump’s event.

With a +/- 3% margin of error, the new Emerson College Polling shows Harris holds a 4% lead over Trump with likely North Carolina voters. 5% of surveyed voters were undecided.

The national poll only included those who indicate they are likely to vote, according to Emerson College Polling. Previous polls included all registered voters.

According to the publishing, with undecided voters’ support allocated, Harris continues to lead by four, 52% to 48%. The Emerson College Polling also found when third-party candidates are on the ballot, Trump’s support decreased by one point, compared to last month. With third-party candidates on the ballot, the survey showed both Harris and Trump’s support evenly decreased by two points- Harris at 48% and Trump at 44%.

Emerson College Polling found 4% of voters support Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Harris is leading or tied with Trump in six of seven battleground states, including North Carolina, according to a survey from the Cook Political Report Swing State Project.

“Kamala Harris has some momentum right now,” said political science professor, Dr. Gibbs Knotts. “She’s had some really good weeks, and I think we are starting to see that in the polls.”

While he looked at the polls in between classes at Coastal Carolina University, Dr. Knotts told 7NEWS the Tar Heel state is one of several that are highlighted to play a key role in the outcome of the presidential election.

“North Carolina is really one of those competitive states. Maybe not quite as competitive as Georgia and Wisconsin and Michigan, but kind of that next tier of swing states,” said Knotts. “I know that both candidates will spend a lot of time and a lot of money in North Carolina.”

Since last month, the survey revealed North Carolinian’s support for Trump decreased by two points among likely voters, from 48% to 46%, according to the Emerson poll. Harris outperformed Biden’s most recent numbers by three percentage points, at 50%. When third-party candidates were included, the numbers slightly changed.

Trump previously held a steady lead against Biden in nationwide polls before a new competitor entered the conversation.

“And now it’s like ‘Kamala, Kamala,’” Trump said during his speech Wednesday.

“We know it’s going to be a fight and everybody out here is ready to get in it with us and be able to pull out voters across our state,” said Clayton, backed by a team of supporters for Harris.

“He’s going to stay ahead in the polls. And he may beat Kamala Harris more than what he would’ve beaten President Biden,” said a guest speaker during Trump’s campaign event.

Because either candidate could win the state, both parties are focusing a majority of their campaign tactics on North Carolina and other swing states.

“It’s clear that the choice in November is left up to the voters of North Carolina. We lost this state in 2020 by 74,000 votes. It’s 42 votes for every precinct in North Carolina,” said Clayton.

“We know that the road to the White House this year runs right through this state,” Clayton added.

Ultimately, it’s not up to the hypothetical polls. The decision on who will be the next president of the United States will come this November.

“We don’t elect people based on polls,” said Knotts. “We elect people based on vote count. Don’t think that your candidate doesn’t have a chance and you’re not going to go out and vote or the polling is already in.”

“The country is really split right now. I don’t think anybody is going to blow anyone out. It’s going to be close and it’s going to come down to the swing states,” he added.

Former president Trump will be in Pennsylvania for a rally this weekend.

Vice President Harris will be in Raleigh Friday, where she’s expected to lay out her plan for the economy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.