Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump are neck and neck in the race for the presidency, according to a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) poll. With less than a month to go before the vote, the poll illustrates a competitive contest in key battleground states.

The WSJ poll, released on Friday, reveals that Harris and Trump are within two percentage points of each other in six out of seven crucial states. Harris is leading in Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan, while Trump holds an edge in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Nevada. It's worth noting that although most of these results are within the margin of error, Trump has a more significant lead of five percent in Nevada.

The United States presidential elections are determined by electoral college votes rather than the popular vote. Each state is assigned a specific number of electoral college points based on its population size, with the majority of states allocating all their points to the candidate who wins the popular vote within that state. Thus, candidates focus their efforts on swing states, which can be pivotal in securing a win in the electoral college.

Historically, states like California and Vermont consistently lean Democratic, while states such as Oklahoma and Alabama are known Republican strongholds. The 2016 election saw Trump win the presidency by capturing most battleground states, despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton.

A Pew Research Center survey released simultaneously on Friday showed Harris leading Trump by one point nationwide, with 48 percent to Trump's 47 percent. Earlier in the year, polls had Trump ahead of Joe Biden, the former Democratic contender. However, since Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee, there has been a noticeable shift. A Morning Consult poll in September indicated Harris was ahead of Trump by 51 percent to 46 percent, but Trump has regained some support amid economic concerns and Middle Eastern instability.

Polls have occasionally been inaccurate in past elections. For instance, many polls leading up to the 2016 election incorrectly showed Clinton as the likely winner. Nevertheless, the consensus among various polls this year is that the upcoming presidential election will be highly competitive.

The November 5 election will also determine the control of the Senate and House of Representatives. According to a New York Times poll released Friday, the Democrats may face challenges in maintaining their narrow Senate majority. Currently, the Democrats control the Senate with 51 seats, including four independents who caucus with the party.

The Times poll suggests that Democrats could lose a key Senate seat in a Republican-leaning state. Republicans are likely to claim a seat in West Virginia, where Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is not seeking re-election. Additionally, Democratic Senator Jon Tester is trailing his Republican opponent by eight percentage points in Montana, a state Trump won decisively in 2016 and 2020.

Democrats also face tough battles to hold onto Senate seats in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona, and Nevada, while eyeing possible gains in Texas and Florida. A Republican-controlled Senate could pose significant challenges for Harris if she wins the presidency, affecting her ability to confirm judicial appointments and cabinet members.