In a hypothetical 2024 matchup, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as a potential frontrunner against former President Donald Trump, according to two recent polls. The surveys indicate that Harris holds a narrow lead over Trump, suggesting a potentially competitive election if they were to face off in November.

The first poll, conducted by NPR/PBS News/Marist, surveyed 1,174 registered voters. The results showed that Harris, considered a strong candidate to replace President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee should he withdraw from the race, would narrowly beat Trump by a margin of 50 percent to 49 percent. The second poll, conducted by ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos and polling 2,431 adults, also indicated a victory for Harris, with her leading Trump by three points overall (49 percent to 46 percent) and among registered voters (49 percent to 47 percent).

It is important to note that both polls were conducted before Biden's recent misstatements during a high-stakes NATO press conference. Biden mistakenly referred to Harris as "Vice President Trump" and accidentally introduced Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" before correcting himself. Despite these errors, Harris has expressed her unwavering support for Biden in the White House race and has given no indication of her desire to replace him as the Democratic nominee for 2024.

The NPR/PBS News/Marist poll additionally explored other potential Democratic candidates if Biden were to drop out. However, it revealed that neither Harris nor any other potential candidate would improve the Democrats' chances against Trump. The survey showed that Biden would still beat Trump by two points in a two-way presidential matchup (50 percent to 48 percent), while a previous poll conducted before the CNN debate had the two candidates tied at 49 percent.

In terms of other hypothetical matchups, California Governor Gavin Newsom took a two-point lead over Trump (50 percent to 48 percent), while Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer tied with the Republican at 49 percent. These findings indicate that Harris performs the strongest against Trump among the Democratic choices.

Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, commented on the poll results, highlighting that despite the turbulent political landscape, the race for the White House remains relatively unchanged. Miringoff emphasized the need for Biden to restore confidence among his party faithful and for Trump to approach the Republican convention with caution, avoiding positioning the GOP as too extreme.

In addition, the ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll revealed that Harris would outperform Trump among certain demographics. She garnered more support among women (52 percent to 44 percent) and Hispanics (56 percent to 40 percent). Although Harris also enjoys strong support among Black people (82 percent) and Black women (86 percent), these figures do not significantly differ from Biden's results within these same groups.

During a press conference at the NATO summit, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to staying in the 2024 race, stating that he has no intention of handing off to another generation. He emphasized the importance of finishing the job he started, highlighting the significant stakes involved.

While these polls provide a glimpse into a potential matchup between Harris and Trump in the future, it is important to remember that the 2024 election is still years away, and the political landscape is subject to change. As the race continues, candidates will need to navigate the challenges ahead and prove their ability to secure victory.