**Trump Takes Commanding Lead in Betting Odds Over Harris**

In an eye-catching development, former President Donald Trump has surged to a double-digit lead in the betting odds over Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time since July. This significant lead is notable as it could indicate mounting momentum for Trump as the election approaches. Currently, Trump holds a 10-point advantage in the Real Clear Politics betting average, the largest margin any candidate has enjoyed since July 31.

The shift in betting odds comes amid internal efforts within Democratic circles to calm growing unease following a trend of recent polls leaning towards Trump. Speaking on the "Pod Save America" podcast, David Plouffe, a senior campaign adviser for Harris and former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, downplayed the concern. "I think the freakout is because there were a bunch of polls I'd say in the last month that showed a lead for Kamala Harris that was not real, it's not what we were seeing," Plouffe explained. He emphasized that the race has been essentially tied since mid-September and predicted no significant shifts for either candidate moving forward.

Despite Plouffe’s reassurances, the betting odds have continued to favor Trump, suggesting that the former president could be gaining tangible momentum outside of conventional public polls. Notably, Trump's advantage in the Real Clear Politics betting average hit over 48 points against President Biden on July 15 before President Biden’s announcement to withdraw from the race and Harris’ subsequent rise as the Democratic front-runner.

Harris momentarily took the lead in the betting odds on August 8, peaking at an 8.8-point advantage a week later. However, since then, both candidates have exchanged the lead multiple times, with neither achieving a margin as substantial as Trump’s current 10-point lead. Harris last held a lead on October 5, but Trump has since gradually gained more traction.

Bolstering his position, Trump recently touted his betting advantages, telling Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that the odds were "through the roof" in his favor. The Real Clear Politics betting odds average consolidates data from seven platforms—Betfair, Betsson, Bovada, Bwin, Points Bet, Polymarket, and Smarkets. As of now, none of these platforms report a lead for Harris, with Trump's strongest performance being a 12-point lead on Points Bet.

This latest movement in betting odds could signal a pivotal moment in the race, with Trump potentially capitalizing on his growing momentum as Election Day draws near.