CNN’s King Says Trump Leading Harris On ‘Key Issues’ In Battleground States
CNN's John King discussed why Vice President Kamala Harris seems to be trailing behind former President Donald Trump in crucial battleground states during a segment aired on Tuesday.
King highlighted that the economy remains a top concern for voters, and many still view Trump as the candidate best suited to handle this issue. This sentiment has persisted throughout the current election cycle, much as it did when President Joe Biden was still a candidate.
“The economy is the number one issue in all three states, not by huge margins, but 26%, 28%, 25%, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina. Immigration second in Arizona, abortion, third… immigration and abortion kind of trade almost in a tie for second and third when it comes to the other battleground states,” King said.
“So the issues economy and immigration, we know there are Trump’s issues and abortion is a Harris issue. So voters were asked in this poll who’s… what candidate best represents you on your issue? So it could be the economy for many voters, it might be something else, just generically who is the candidate you trust on your top issue?” he continued.
“And look at this… On just the generic top issue question, it’s narrow, but Trump leads in all three states, right? So people are saying, ‘I’m with him, he’s best for me on my top issue,’” King added.
King further elaborated, “Here’s what’s even more concerning. We know the number one issue is the economy, and just look at this. We’ve seen this repeatedly; this is just one poll. Don’t over-invest in any one poll, but this data aligns with other polls,” King said. “This is a recurring problem for the vice president — who’s best on the economy?”
“Trump by 14 points, leads in Arizona, Trump by 12 points, leads in Georgia, Trump by 13 points, leads in North Carolina. It’s the top issue, and Trump has a huge edge. That’s a problem for the vice president,” King emphasized.
The New York Times and Siena College released new polling that brings favorable news for Trump, showing that Harris’ early “enthusiasm gap” has faded.
According to the poll results, Trump now holds a five-point lead over Harris in Arizona, 50-45 percent, and leads similarly in Georgia (49-45 percent) and North Carolina (49-47 percent).
“The polls of these three states, taken from Sept. 17 to 21, presented further evidence that in a sharply divided nation, the presidential contest is shaping up to be one of the tightest in history,” the Times reported, referencing the polling data.
As King noted, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina are among the seven key battleground states where both the Trump and Harris campaigns have focused their efforts since Labor Day. Harris has displayed strength in several key Midwestern states, with Pennsylvania being especially vital for her presidential hopes, according to the report.
Arizona, a state narrowly won by Biden in 2020 by just over 10,400 votes, has become a critical battleground for Harris. In an August poll by Times/Siena, Harris held a five-point lead, but there are signs that Latino voters are shifting away from her. Notably, 10 percent of Latino voters remain undecided.
Trump is also benefiting from split-ticket voting: while Harris lags, Arizona’s Democratic Senate candidate, Rep. Reuben Gallego, currently leads GOP nominee Kari Lake.
“The polls found that voters in this region were increasingly concerned about their own futures and that of the country,” the Times noted.
“Whatever road we’re on right now just, to me, does not look like it’s going to end well,” said Tyler Stembridge, a 41-year-old fire captain from Centerville, Ga., who is a Republican. He voted for Trump in 2020 and plans to do so again, he told the outlet.