In a surprising turn of events, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the frontrunner in nearly all battleground states, according to a recent poll. With running mate Tim Walz by her side, Harris looks poised to take on former President Donald Trump and his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance, in the upcoming November election.

The latest average of national polls, compiled by FiveThirtyEight, reveals that Harris currently holds a 2.7-point lead over Trump. Despite Republican attempts to downplay her growing advantage as a honeymoon phase, it is evident that Harris has maintained her momentum ever since entering the presidential race.

While the race between Harris and Trump remains tight in national polls, the battleground states - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin - play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the election. Fresh research from the Cook Political Report indicates that Harris is leading in six out of the seven states, with Trump holding strong in Nevada.

Among these battleground states, Arizona stands out as Harris's strongest lead, considering that Biden won by just 0.4 percent in 2020. This represents a substantial swing in the polls since May when Trump led in six states and tied in Wisconsin in a Trump-Biden matchup.

However, it is worth noting that different pollsters report varying results in swing states. A recent YouGov/CBS poll conducted on August 2 suggests that neither candidate holds a significant lead in any of the battlegrounds. Despite minor variations, overall trends in battleground polls consistently highlight Harris's growing momentum and her ability to gain ground previously held by her predecessor.

The most recent YouGov/Economist poll conducted from August 11 to 13 reveals that Harris's lead has remained stable ever since the introduction of Tim Walz as her running mate. Both Harris and Trump saw a one-point increase from the previous week's poll, with Harris now at 46 percent and Trump at 44 percent.

Among independent voters, the race appears to be much closer, with 36 percent planning to vote for Harris and 37 percent for Trump. The leaning of independent voters varies significantly across national polls, considering their diverse perspectives and inclinations.

To further solidify her position as the Democratic candidate, Harris joined Tim Walz on the campaign trail. The latest New York Times/Siena College poll conducted during this time indicates a four-point lead for Harris in crucial swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, showcasing a notable shift from Biden's performance during the election.

Trump's core supporters, including male voters, the 45-64 age group, and white voters with no college education, remain loyal. However, within the group of white voters with no college education, Harris appears to have made gains compared to Biden's performance. Harris's strongest support comes from young voters, female voters, and Black voters, where she enjoys a significant 68-point lead.

Despite Harris's progress in both national and battleground polls, one challenge that her campaign faces is a possible "personality gap." A previous NYT/Siena poll revealed that while Harris polled stronger than Trump on characteristics such as intelligence, presidential temperament, and caring about "people like you," respondents still viewed Trump as a stronger leader.

Furthermore, a recent Redfield and Wilton/Telegraph survey demonstrated conflicting results. Battleground voters aligned more with Democratic policy positions on issues like the economy and policing. However, they still "trust Trump more" than Harris on these very same issues, highlighting the complexity of voter perceptions.

As the campaign progresses, the gap between party alignment and candidate favor may narrow, given that Trump has had eight years to broadcast his policy positions to voters. However, the ever-changing landscape of the presidential race leaves room for potential shifts between the current polls and November's ballots.

While it is too early to gauge the impact of Tim Walz's selection on voters' choices, the initial response has been generally positive with a +5 overall approval rating, according to a Morning Consult poll conducted from August 9 to 11. Conversely, JD Vance, Trump's running mate, has proven divisive. A late July poll indicated that Vance had the lowest approval rating of any vice-presidential nominee in history. Republicans remain split on whether Vance was a good pick, with a third of non-MAGA Republicans saying they were undecided.

Walz, with his established track record and lengthy political career, is not yet widely known to the national electorate compared to other vice-presidential hopefuls. Nevertheless, as Harris solidifies her position as the Democratic presidential candidate, much could change between the current polls and the November election, taking into account the unprecedented uncertainty that has characterized this summer's presidential race.