While the American Democratic vice president and candidate of her faction for the presidency Kamala Harris and her opponent, Republican ex-pres Donald Trumpare gearing up for their — possibly crucial — first showdown this week in Philadelphia, a national poll released Sunday showed they are heading into a highly lopsided matchup, virtually tied in voting intentions, with the tycoon holding a short lead.

According to this Sienna College/New York Times survey, Mr. Trump has 48% of voter intentions, ahead of Ms. Harris, who attracts 47%, but their one-percentage-point difference in the sample of likely voters is within the margin of statistical error (±2.8%). Among all registered voters, the difference is two points (48-46%) — also within the margin of statistical error (±2.6%).

The two rivals will face each other in the televised debate that will begin to be broadcast by the ABC News network tomorrow Tuesday at 21:00 (local time; at 04:00 Wednesday Greek time).

According to the paper, while Republican former President Trump has had a rough month following outgoing President Joe Biden’s much-vaunted decision to drop out of the race, his approval ratings have remained remarkably steady, a warning for Vice President Harris as she runs out of time. from two months until their showdown on November 5th.

A CNN analysis, based on various polls since the Democratic convention in August, also suggested a close contest, giving the 59-year-old vice president a lead over the 78-year-old former president (49-47%), but neither she nor he taking a clear lead. so far.

In any case, given the complicated US electoral system, the weight of national polls is rather limited. Most observers’ attention is focused on key states (including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania) that could decide the outcome.