In a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey, former President Donald Trump's once-dominating lead over Kamala Harris on key issues appears to be slipping away. The poll shows Trump with a slim 3% lead against Harris on employment and economic issues, with 43% of respondents favoring Trump compared to 40% favoring Harris. This is a significant decrease for Trump, who previously held an 11-percentage point lead over Harris on economic issues in last month's poll.

It is worth noting that Trump's 3-point lead falls within the poll's 4-percentage point margin of error, indicating a statistical tie between the two candidates on employment and economic matters. The survey also reveals that when it comes to crime and corruption, Trump and Harris are tied at 40%. This represents a significant gain for Harris, as she trailed Trump by five points in the previous July poll.

In an attempt to counter the enthusiasm surrounding Harris since Joe Biden endorsed her, Trump has taken measures to draw policy contrasts and highlight potential negative outcomes if Harris were to be elected. Earlier this month, Trump focused on crime and public safety in a rally in Michigan, expressing his support for law enforcement and promising increased backing for citizens.

In response, Harris has launched a new advertising campaign aimed at drawing attention to her plan to build 3 million new homes over four years. This plan aims to address inflationary pressures and stands in stark contrast to Trump's approach. In a minute-long ad released on Tuesday, Harris shares her personal experience of growing up in rental housing as her mother saved for a decade before being able to buy a home. The ad targets voters in swing states such as Arizona and Nevada.

Furthermore, Harris is proposing government assistance of up to $25,000 for first-time homebuyers as part of her housing plan. This proposal comes at a time when housing costs have contributed to inflationary pressures, with shelter costs rising by 5.1% over the past 12 months, compared to an overall inflation rate of 2.9% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Both Trump and Harris are actively engaging in efforts to sway voters with their policy positions and draw attention to their respective plans. It remains to be seen how these shifts in public sentiment on key issues will impact the candidates' overall standings as the election approaches.