In a nationwide poll released on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris has surged ahead, taking a 4-point lead over former President Donald Trump. The poll, conducted by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Political Communication, Public Opinion Research Lab, and Mainstreet Research USA, comes just days after the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention.

According to the survey, Harris currently holds a 47 percent to 43 percent advantage over Trump among all registered voters. When focusing solely on likely voters, Harris extends her lead to 49 percent, while Trump trails at 45 percent.

The poll reveals a significant gender gap, with 53 percent of women and 45 percent of men favoring Harris as the Democratic nominee. Conversely, Trump garners support from 47 percent of men and 41 percent of women. Harris also enjoys a substantial lead among key demographics, including Hispanic voters (51 percent), Black voters (73 percent), and white voters with a college degree (57 percent). Trump, however, maintains strong backing from white voters without a college degree, with 59 percent favoring him.

Luzmarina Garcia, an assistant professor of political science at FAU, points out that since Harris took the reins as the party's top candidate, she has effectively appealed to women voters, leading to a more pronounced gender gap. Additionally, Harris has successfully reestablished the Democratic Party's advantage among minority voters.

The poll also highlights a significant shift among independent voters, with Harris now holding a double-digit lead over Trump. Harris secures 48 percent of support among independents, while Trump lags behind at 35 percent. This marks a decline for Trump, as the previous iteration of the poll showed a smaller gap between the two candidates among independent voters.

Dukhong Kim, an associate professor of political science at FAU, suggests that Trump's loss of support among independents could be attributed to the impact of the Democratic National Convention. This trend, if sustained, presents a challenge for Trump in maintaining an advantage in the upcoming election.

The survey was conducted from August 23rd to 25th among 929 registered U.S. voters. With a margin of error at 3.2 percentage points, the poll provides an early glimpse into the shifting dynamics of the presidential race as the general election draws closer.