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Kamala Harris's campaign faces significant challenges as the latest forecast from The Economist indicates she is in a tight race with Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. With less than a month until election day, the forecast positions Harris and Trump in a near tie.

According to The Economist's model, which combines state and national opinion polls with economic indicators, Harris is projected to secure between 196 and 367 Electoral College votes. Her median outcome stands at 270. Trump, on the other hand, is forecasted to gather between 171 and 342 Electoral College votes, with a median result of 268. The model is based on over 10,000 simulations, showing the likelihood of an Electoral College tie as less than one in 100.

This data reveals an improvement for Trump compared to previous weeks. Last week's forecast gave him a median of 264 Electoral College votes, while the one from two weeks ago placed him at 257 votes.

Additionally, Harris encountered a major setback with the release of a Quinnipiac University poll on Wednesday. The survey showed Trump leading by three points in Michigan and two points in Wisconsin, both key battleground states. However, Harris held a slight edge in Pennsylvania, leading by three points. This poll surveyed 1,007 likely voters in Michigan, 1,073 in Wisconsin, and 1,412 in Pennsylvania between October 3 and 7.

The Economist's predictions align with analysis from polling website FiveThirtyEight, published on Wednesday. FiveThirtyEight's data gave Harris a 53 percent chance of winning, a notable decline from the 64 percent chance determined on September 18.

Bookmakers have also adjusted their predictions, favoring Trump more over the past week. Odds from Sky Bet, William Hill, and 888.sport improved from 10/11 on October 2 to 4/5 on Thursday, indicating heightened expectations for a Trump victory.

In a bid to bolster Harris's campaign, former President Barack Obama made his first campaign appearance on her behalf on Thursday. Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Obama addressed male voters directly, urging higher turnout and implying that reluctance to support a female candidate might be impacting voter enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Trump delivered a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, comparing the city unfavorably to regions in China and warning that a Harris presidency would turn the country into "a mess" like Detroit.

Both campaigns are intensifying efforts as election day approaches, reflecting a highly competitive and unpredictable race.