Former President Donald Trump's lead in the crucial swing state of Florida has narrowed significantly, according to a recent poll by USA Today, Suffolk University, and WSVN-TV. The survey, conducted from August 7 to August 11, shows Trump with only a 5-point advantage over Vice President Kamala Harris, with 47 percent of the votes compared to Harris's 42 percent. This lead falls within the survey's margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.

Florida has traditionally been considered a swing state but has leaned more towards the Republican party in recent years. The state voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis also secured a landslide victory in the 2022 gubernatorial election, defeating Democratic challenger Charlie Crist by 19 points and carrying 62 out of 67 counties.

However, the latest poll suggests that Republican support in the state might be waning. David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, expressed surprise at Harris's close proximity to Trump, stating, "What was an easy drive through the Sunshine State is drive with caution." He further added that Harris remains the underdog but has narrowed the gap more than expected.

Previous polls conducted from July 15 showed Trump maintaining a lead ranging from 6 to 10 points in the state, as reported by FiveThirtyEight. However, since President Biden announced his decision not to seek reelection last month, Harris has surged ahead nationally, gaining 7.3 points in the polls, making her the current frontrunner by 1.8 points over Trump.

In Florida specifically, Harris has gained significant ground, reducing Trump's once substantial lead. According to election forecaster Race to the WH, Harris has closed the gap by 9.6 points, bringing her within striking distance of the Republican nominee. Despite this progress, the same source still shows Harris trailing behind Trump by 8 points in the state (41.4 percent to Trump's 49.4 percent).

In terms of favorability ratings, the poll revealed that Trump has a higher favorability rating than both Harris and President Joe Biden in Florida. The former president enjoys the support of 50 percent of voters compared to Harris's 44 percent and Biden's 39 percent. Furthermore, the poll showed that more voters approve of Trump's record as president (55 percent) than Harris's vice presidential term (39 percent).

Nationally, Harris currently holds a slight lead over Trump, with FiveThirtyEight's poll aggregator showing a 2.4-point advantage for the Vice President. As the race for the presidency heats up, the narrowing margin in Florida raises questions about the Republican party's grip on the state.