WASHINGTON — Recent polls indicate that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is holding a narrow lead over former President Donald Trump as the November 5 presidential election approaches.

A CBS News/YouGov survey conducted from September 18-20 revealed Harris leading Trump nationally with 52% to 48% among 3,129 respondents.

In crucial battleground states, Harris has a slight 51-49 advantage, up from a 50-50 tie last month. The poll suggests that improved economic sentiment and Harris's recent debate performance may have contributed to this shift.

An NBC poll, surveying 1,000 voters from September 13-17, showed Harris leading 49-44, marking a significant change from July when Trump held a 2-point lead prior to President Joe Biden’s exit. NBC also noted a 16-point increase in Harris's favorability since July, the largest gain for any politician in their polling since 9/11.

Even Fox News, traditionally aligned with Trump, reported a tight race in its poll of 1,102 registered voters from September 13-16, showing Harris at 50% and Trump at 48%. This reflects a notable shift from August when Trump led 50-49.

Other polls, including those by Napolitan News Service, Mainstreet Research, and Economist/YouGov, also reported Harris in the lead with margins of 50-47, 49-45, and 49-45 respectively.

However, not all polls reflect this trend. A Rasmussen survey of 1,855 likely voters had Trump ahead at 49-47, while a New York Times/Siena College poll of 2,437 likely voters indicated a tie at 47-47.

Analysts suggest that an apparent assassination attempt on Trump may have rallied some of his supporters, while economic improvements could be benefiting Harris.

With most polls showing results within the margin of error, both candidates’ leads remain uncertain, keeping the race highly competitive as election day approaches. — Agencies