According to recent polls conducted in the past few weeks, Vice President Kamala Harris has seen a significant rise in her chances of defeating Republican rival Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. The polls indicate a remarkable turnaround since Harris announced her candidacy on July 19.

Initial predictions from a July 22 poll conducted by prediction market platform Polymarket, shared on social media platform X, had Trump leading with 64% of the vote against Harris' 29%. However, a subsequent poll on July 31 showed a smaller majority for Trump, with 56% of the vote compared to Harris' 45%. The latest poll released by Polymarket on August 10 now predicts Harris to win with 52% of the vote, leaving Trump with 45%. This staggering reversal indicates a 23% surge in Harris's chances since the survey on July 22, according to the prediction market platform.

The latest Polymarket poll also reveals that Harris is expected to win in four of the seven swing states: Michigan (62-38%), Pennsylvania (56-44%), Wisconsin (56-44%), and Nevada (54-46%). On the other hand, Trump is predicted to win in Georgia (54-46%), Arizona (54-46%), and North Carolina (64-36%).

A recent poll conducted by The New York Times/Siena between August 5 and 9 further supports Harris's growing popularity. The survey shows that crucial battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin currently favor Harris, with 50% of the vote compared to Trump's 46%. This marks a significant shift from earlier polls that either showed a tie or a slight lead for Trump when President Joe Biden was still on the Democratic ticket.

Despite the evident enthusiasm among Democratic voters and the reshaping of the electoral race due to Harris's candidacy, she continues to position herself as the underdog in the upcoming election. During a rally in Phoenix, Harris, along with her vice-presidential pick Tim Walz, reiterated their underdog status but emphasized their momentum and determination to face the challenges ahead.

Harris and Walz now face the task of appealing to undecided voters, particularly in swing states, within a relatively short campaign period. Meanwhile, Trump downplays the impact of Harris's candidacy, stating that her policies align with Biden's and that he has not adjusted his strategy in any way.

Despite Trump's dismissive comments, sources close to the former president acknowledge that Harris poses a more formidable challenge than Biden. However, they assert that his team's strategy has not yet undergone any significant changes in response.

Newsweek reached out to Trump's 2024 team for comment outside of standard working hours.