Harris leads Trump by 8 points in Virginia poll ahead of debate

A recent poll conducted from September 4 to September 8 indicates that Vice President Kamala Harris is leading former President Donald Trump by eight percentage points among likely voters in Virginia. This shift comes after Harris replaced President Biden as the Democratic nominee, highlighting a significant change in voter sentiment in a state that Trump aims to flip after losing in the previous two elections. Notably, no Republican has won Virginia since George W. Bush's re-election in 2004. The poll reveals that Harris has strong support among female voters, with 55% favoring her compared to 37% for Trump. Additionally, she garners 73% of the Black voter demographic, while Trump leads among White voters without college degrees. The results also show that Harris performs well in suburban areas near Washington, D.C., and in Richmond, while Trump finds his strongest backing in rural regions of central and western Virginia. Mark Rozell, a political expert, noted that Trump lacks a significant advantage on any key issues in this poll, contrasting with national trends where he has some support on topics like the economy and crime. The poll indicates that 53% of Virginians view Trump unfavorably, while Harris maintains a net positive favorability rating. The findings suggest that Trump's path to the presidency may not include Virginia, as the state continues to lean Democratic. With independents making up 30% of the poll participants, their preferences could further influence the election outcome in this critical battleground state.