Latest CNN poll says Vice President Kamala Harris, of Indian and African decent, may now have the best opportunity to capture the White House in next year's US presidential elections instead of President Joe Biden—Biden's approval ratings, once 81, significantly slid after what analysts described as a very poor debate performance against his Republican predecessor and opponents, former President Donald Trump, in Atlanta last week.
Sentiment has been building all week, in the wake of the debate, for 81-year-old Biden to step down and allow another candidate to take over the reins of their campaign as crucial elections near on November 5. The CNN poll, conducted by SRS, indicated that Trump, 78, held a six-point lead over Biden.
In a hypothetical match, the poll also says that 59-year-old Harris is strongly competitive with Trump. Forty-seven percent of the registered voters support Trump, while 45 percent are behind Harris—a statistical tie, considering the margin of error. According to the poll, Harris' relatively stronger performance against Trump is strengthened by broader support among women—50 percent favor Harris over Trump, compared with 44 percent for Biden against Trump—and independents, where 43 percent favor Harris versus 34 percent for Biden.
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, wouldn't comment directly on the results of the poll, deferring campaign matters to the campaign. She touted the president's accomplishments and claimed that he was gaining experience and wisdom with age.
Meanwhile, former First Lady Michelle Obama — now 60 years old — outpaced Trump by a full 11 points in an Ipsos poll, 50% to 39%. Her office dashed that earlier speculation in March, telling NBC News she would not run for president this year.
Read also | Decline of Australian Prime Minister's Attendance at NATO Summit
Read also | India Calls for UN Security Council Reform Amid Concerns Over Outdated Mandates
