According to a recent CNN/SSRS poll released on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are virtually tied in the crucial states of Pennsylvania and Georgia, which are likely to play a determining role in the 2024 election. The survey reveals that Trump and Harris each have 47% support among likely voters in Pennsylvania, while in Georgia, the vice president holds a slight lead with 48% support, compared to Trump's 47%.

As the two states hold a combined total of 35 electoral votes, winning both could prove crucial for either candidate in securing victory, particularly given the narrow margins by which they were won by President Biden in the 2020 election. Four years ago, Biden secured Pennsylvania by a slim margin of just 1.2%, while he claimed Georgia with a razor-thin lead of 0.23%.

The poll also sheds light on the situation in other battleground states. In Michigan, Harris leads Trump with 48% to 43% support, while in Wisconsin, the vice president enjoys a larger advantage of 50% to 44%. Both gaps are outside the survey's margin of error, indicating a significant lead for Harris. Notably, the Michigan survey notes that 4% of likely voters intend to support independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently endorsed Trump but faces challenges in removing his name from the state's ballot.

Trump, on the other hand, holds a lead over Harris in Arizona, with 49% of likely voters supporting the Republican compared to 44% backing the Democrat. In Nevada, however, Harris maintains a narrow advantage, leading Trump by a margin of 48% to 47%.

The CNN/SSRS poll was conducted following the Democratic National Convention, which many viewed as Harris' first major opportunity to make an impression on voters. Despite this, the results indicate that she did not manage to establish a clear lead over Trump in these critical states. The upcoming debate between Harris and Trump, scheduled for September 10 in Philadelphia, presents the next major opportunity for either candidate to gain an advantage in the race.

The poll also reveals that a significant portion of likely voters, ranging from 11% to 15% depending on the state, remain open to changing their minds about their choice of candidate. In light of this, Republican groups are planning to invest more than $110 million in advertising in Pennsylvania and Georgia, surpassing spending in any other battleground state, according to a CNN analysis of ad expenditures.

Campaign adviser Brian Hughes expressed optimism about the Trump team's prospects in Pennsylvania and Georgia, citing polling averages that show the former president leading in both states. Hughes emphasized the strong momentum they feel on the ground, as the GOP unifies behind Trump and a growing coalition of Democrats and Independents join their cause.

The CNN/SSRS poll was conducted online and via telephone from August 23 to 29. The sample sizes for each state ranged from 613 to 967 likely voters, with corresponding margins of error ranging from 4.4% to 4.9%.