In the latest poll conducted by The Wall Street Journal, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are shown to be in a tight race for the 2024 presidential election. This comes after President Joe Biden withdrew from the Democratic nomination, leaving Harris as the candidate to compete against Trump.

According to the poll conducted by Democratic pollster Mike Bocian and Republican pollster David Lee, Harris has seen a significant increase in enthusiasm among voters. While only 37% of Biden voters were enthusiastic about him in early July, now 81% of Harris voters express their enthusiasm for her, marking a noteworthy shift in support.

In a two-person race, Trump maintains a 2% lead over Harris. However, this lead falls within the 3.1% margin of error, indicating a closely contested race. When independent and third-party candidates such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are included in the poll, the gap narrows further, with Trump holding just a 1% lead over Harris.

Harris's rise in support can be attributed in part to her ability to galvanize Democrats and generate high levels of enthusiasm within the party. Her campaign has also experienced tremendous financial success, raising $100 million from over 1.1 million unique donors in a mere 24 hours after her announcement to run.

Despite the increase in support for Harris, the poll also revealed some positive news for Trump. Compared to a similar time in the 2020 election, Trump is in a better position this time around. Notably, Trump is favored by voters on key issues such as the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and crime, while Harris gains an advantage on the issue of abortion.

Political experts such as Wayne Lesperance, a veteran political scientist and president of New England College, acknowledge that the race has become a real and closely contested battle. A tied national poll would likely give Trump an advantage in the Electoral College due to the way the country's population is dispersed.

It is worth noting that Harris has yet to select a vice presidential candidate, and this decision could potentially shake up the numbers. Names like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper have been mentioned as potential choices.

In Michigan, Harris and Trump are currently in a dead heat according to a recent Fox News poll, with a three-point shift in favor of Harris compared to Biden's polling numbers in April. The poll also indicates that men favor Trump, while women back Harris. The age divide shows Trump with an advantage among voters over 45 years old and Harris with a lead among voters under 35 years old.

The race has also tightened in battleground states, providing encouraging news for Democrats who were concerned about the polling data suggesting a collapse in those states. In Minnesota, Harris holds a six-point lead, while Trump has a slight one-point advantage in Wisconsin. The two candidates remain tied in Pennsylvania.

Fox News surveys in these battleground states reveal that Trump is meeting or exceeding his 2020 vote share when pitted against Harris in a two-way race. Trump has greater support among voters who prioritize the economy and immigration as their top issues, while Harris gains support among voters who consider abortion a top concern.

Overall, the poll results indicate a highly competitive and closely contested race between Vice President Harris and former President Trump. As the campaign progresses and key decisions, such as Harris's choice of a running mate, are made, the race is expected to get even more intense.