Kamala Harris entered the presidential race just over two weeks ago as an underdog, but her polling numbers have been on the rise since then. However, the improvement may not be enough for her to secure a clear path to victory just yet. Despite President Donald Trump no longer being the clear favorite to win, Harris has not taken a significant lead either, leaving the race in swing states an extremely close and unpredictable one.

While the improved polling is a positive development for Democrats compared to President Joe Biden's previous numbers, it is important to note that national polls do not determine the final outcome; swing states do. The current state of play in these battleground states remains murky, making it difficult to gauge Harris's chances of success.

Recent polls from Bloomberg/Morning Consult have shown Harris taking a substantial lead in Michigan, along with smaller leads in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada. However, these same polls also indicated Trump's advantage in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, alongside a tie in Georgia. If these polls reflect the actual outcome, the entire election could hinge on Georgia.

Other recent swing state polls from Fox, Public Policy Polling, and Emerson have shown Trump maintaining narrow leads in most of these key battleground states. It is possible that these polls have not yet caught up to the positive momentum surrounding Harris nationally, and a new set of polls could potentially show her gaining a clear advantage in the swing states.

Harris certainly faces challenges in trying to prevent a repeat of the unexpected outcomes witnessed in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, where Trump outperformed expectations in crucial Electoral College states. Overcoming this hurdle will be Harris's main focus moving forward.

In the past two weeks, Democrats have experienced a surge of optimism, with Harris being embraced as the potential savior of their party. The process of transitioning from Biden to Harris has been relatively smooth, and her campaign has benefited from overwhelmingly positive media coverage. However, this honeymoon period may not last, as contentious issues and critical media scrutiny are inevitable for any presidential candidate.

During the 2019 Democratic presidential primary, Harris enjoyed a surge in popularity after her debate performance, where she confronted Biden over his past opposition to school desegregation busing. However, she struggled to sustain her momentum as the campaign progressed, facing challenges in articulating certain policy positions and dealing with internal conflicts within her campaign, ultimately leading to her withdrawal from the race.

While Harris has been successful in garnering support from within the party, attracting enthusiastic crowds, and raising a significant amount of campaign funds, there are still areas where she has yet to make an impact. She has not given any interviews or press conferences since Biden stepped aside, which has drawn criticism from Republicans. Additionally, her choice of a running mate could potentially generate controversy.

As the election unfolds, Democrats may hope to prolong the honeymoon period for Harris, but it is inevitable that challenging issues will arise, and media coverage may become less favorable. Harris's campaign prospects will heavily rely on her ability to navigate these storms and maintain a strong and resilient stance.