Harris rides momentum shift to lead Trump in recent polls ahead of DNC

Investing.com --  Vice President Kamala Harris is now ahead of Trump in the race for the White House after riding the significant shift in momentum in just three weeks since Biden dropped, but Democratic president nominee still has work to do to win over uncommitted voters. 

"Recent polls suggest that Harris is better positioned in a head-to-head contest against Donald Trump," UBS said, citing recent polls, after gaining more than 6 points in national polls, improving on Biden’s position by a "similar margin in some of the critical swing states."

The swing in momentum comes just three weeks after President Biden’s abrupt decision to "withdraw from the race in July and endorse his vice president altered the dynamics of the contest," UBS added.

While Harris has reinvigorated the Democratic base, firming up support in Democratic leaning states, former president Donald Trump's prospects in "some states that lean Democratic, such as Virginia and Minnesota, have dissipated in recent weeks," UBS added.

For both Trump and Harris, Robert F Kennedy, Jr. the independent candidate,  now "appears as less of a factor in the outcome," UBS said, as he "appears to have lost ground in the race."

The sharp turn of events that has pushed Harris onto the Democratic ticket has taken Republicans by surprise as they now have to switch tact to prepare critiques against her policy positions to sway public opinion. 

"The abbreviated campaign probably helps Harris as it allows less time for Republican critiques of her policy positions to alter perceptions," UBS said, though added that Harris still has to introduce herself and expand on her policies to win over uncommitted voters.

But this week’s Democratic National Convention "will give her an opportunity to do so, as will next month’s scheduled debate with Donald Trump," it added. 

Ahead of the DNC, which gets underway on Aug. 19-22 Harris unveiled her economic agenda in a speech Friday in Raleigh, N.C.. Harris outlined an economic plan focused on "creating opportunities for the middle class" and passing a Federal ban on "price gouging."

"I will work to pass the first ever federal ban on price gouging on food ... [Trump] wants to impose what is in effect a national sales tax ... at this moment when everyday prices are too high, he will make them even higher," Harris said.