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Race Tied: Harris, Trump Split Evenly At 47% In Final CNN Poll
In the final CNN/SSRS poll ahead of the 2024 election, the presidential race remains a dead heat, with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump drawing 47% of support among likely voters.
The poll underscores the highly polarized nature of this year’s election, with both candidates maintaining steady support throughout a shortened and intense campaign.
Stable Support Throughout the Campaign
CNN’s polling has consistently shown a tight contest between Harris and Trump. In September, likely voters split at 48% for Harris and 47% for Trump, echoing today’s figures.
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Even over the summer, shortly after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris, the candidates’ numbers remained close. In that survey, Trump held a narrow edge with 49% support from registered voters, compared to Harris’s 46%.
This election marks a departure for Trump, who has not trailed outside the margin of error in CNN polling since Biden’s departure from the race.
In his previous campaigns, Trump regularly trailed his opponents by larger margins at different points in the election cycle.
Few Undecided Voters, Deep Commitment to Candidates
The poll shows that 85% of likely voters made up their minds early about which party they would support, with just 15% switching their choice along the way.
As the campaign draws to a close, only 2% of likely voters remain undecided, while another 9% say they could still change their minds. Voters who have locked in their decisions are nearly evenly divided, with 50% backing Harris and 49% Trump.
Those open to switching tilt slightly toward Trump and include a larger share of minor-party and independent candidates (38% Trump, 31% Harris, 30% other).
Motivation among voters also varies. Among those committed to their candidate, 70% are “extremely motivated” to vote, compared to just 27% among those who might change their minds.
Harris Leads Among Early Voters, Trump Gains Among Election Day Voters
The poll, conducted October 20-23, highlights a significant trend as early voting and absentee ballots are underway.
About 20% of likely voters report having already cast their ballots, and among them, 61% support Harris while 36% support Trump.
However, among those who have yet to vote, Trump holds a 50% to 44% edge.
Mixed Reviews of Biden Presidency and Public Mood
The election season is unfolding amid negative views on President Biden’s term and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction with the country’s direction.
Nearly half (49%) say they are worse off financially than a year ago, a notable rise from 41% who said the same earlier this year. Only 32% believe things in the U.S. are going well—a low not seen since 2008, when the country was in economic crisis.
Biden’s approval ratings are also underwater at 36%, while 64% disapprove. Among likely voters who disapprove of Biden’s performance, 19% say they will support Harris—a level of loyalty rare for vice presidents running for the top office.
Favorability Challenges for Both Candidates
Registered voters view both candidates unfavorably overall, with Harris holding a 41% favorability rating and Trump close at 41%, both with higher unfavorable ratings (52% for Harris, 54% for Trump).
The candidates’ running mates, JD Vance for Trump and Tim Walz for Harris, are less familiar to the public, with Walz viewed evenly (34% favorable, 34% unfavorable) and Vance viewed more negatively (33% favorable, 43% unfavorable).
Harris supporters are mostly motivated by a positive view of her (54%), though 45% are voting mainly to oppose Trump—a figure that has grown by 5 points since September.
Trump’s base is more consolidated, with 73% saying their vote is to support him directly rather than to oppose Harris.
Voter Opinions on Candidate Qualities and Issue Handling
Voters give Harris an edge on qualities like caring about people (43% Harris, 37% Trump), honesty and trustworthiness (41% Harris, 29% Trump), and putting the country’s interests above her own (45% Harris, 39% Trump).
Trump, however, holds a lead on delivering change (44% Trump, 38% Harris) and sharing voters’ vision for the country (43% Trump, 39% Harris).
Notably, 29% of voters believe neither candidate is honest, with those voters breaking for Trump 58% to 25%.
Harris, meanwhile, leads among voters who say neither candidate would bring necessary change (52% Harris to 23% Trump).
Voters remain divided on Trump’s temperament (56% cite it as a reason to vote against him) and the criminal charges he faces (51% cite as a concern).
Harris is viewed more positively on these fronts, with 45% citing her temperament as a reason to vote for her.
Trump’s record as president is seen nearly evenly as a reason to vote for (45%) or against him (43%), and he maintains a positive perception for his business record.
Key Issues Show Sharp Divides
Trump holds a strong lead on handling the economy (50% to Harris’ 37%) and immigration (50% to 34%), while Harris is more trusted on abortion (52% to 31%) and protecting democracy (45% to 41%).
Voters who see abortion as a deciding factor rose to 31% this poll, compared to 26% who view immigration the same way.
Demographic Divides and Congressional Outlook
Harris leads with women (50% to 44%), younger voters under 35 (51% to 41%), and people of color, including a wide 79% to 13% lead among Black voters. Suburban voters lean Harris by a narrow 52% to 44%, especially suburban women (55% to 41%).
Trump is supported by men (51% to 45%), white voters (55% to 41%), rural communities (64% to 31%), and those who did not vote in 2020 (50% to 40%). White voters without a college degree back Trump 62% to 34%, while those with a degree are nearly split.
Looking toward Congress, the poll shows no clear advantage, with 48% supporting the Republican candidate in their district compared to 45% for Democrats.
The CNN/SSRS poll was conducted online and by phone October 20-23, surveying 1,704 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points for the full sample and 3.1 points for likely voters.
A Memphis man was accidentally shot by his own dog after the pet jumped onto his bed and triggered a loaded firearm, police confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident occurred early Monday morning while the man was asleep alongside his female partner.
According to police reports, the couple’s one-year-old pit bull, Oreo, inadvertently discharged the weapon after getting its paw stuck in the trigger guard.
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The bullet grazed the man’s left thigh, causing a minor injury that was treated at a local hospital.
The victim’s girlfriend, who spoke to Fox 13 Memphis, described Oreo as a playful dog and recounted the shocking moment the firearm discharged.
“The dog is a playful dog, and he likes to jump around and stuff like that, and it just went off,” she said. Reflecting on the incident, she added: “Keep the safety on or use a trigger lock.”
Police have classified the case as an “accidental injury” and have not disclosed the type of firearm involved.
Although gun-related incidents are frequent in the United States, cases involving animals firing weapons are rare.
In a similar case in 2023, a Kansas man was killed when his German shepherd stepped on a hunting rifle.
A comparable incident in 2018 saw an Iowa man accidentally shot in the leg by his pit bull-Labrador mix.
Authorities are using the Memphis case as a reminder of firearm safety, urging gun owners to secure their weapons properly to prevent unintended discharges.
A deadly measles outbreak in the southwestern United States has claimed two lives and infected at least 228 people, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel advisory.
The outbreak has hit Texas the hardest, with 198 reported cases, while New Mexico has confirmed 30.
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Health officials say both fatalities involved unvaccinated individuals—a child in Texas and an adult in New Mexico who tested positive for measles posthumously.
The CDC has classified both as measles-related deaths.
As the outbreak continues to grow, the CDC is warning that more cases are likely. In a recent Health Alert Network advisory, the agency urged healthcare professionals and public health officials to take precautions.
“With the spring and summer travel season approaching in the United States, CDC emphasizes the important role that clinicians and public health officials play in preventing the spread of measles,” the advisory stated.
“They should be vigilant for cases of febrile rash illness that meet the measles case definition and share effective measles prevention strategies, including vaccination guidance for international travelers.”
Measles, a highly contagious disease, spreads through respiratory droplets and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
It causes fever, respiratory symptoms, and a characteristic rash but can also lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death.
Despite the effectiveness of the measles vaccine—providing 93% immunity after one dose and 97% after two—vaccination rates in the U.S. have been on the decline.
The CDC recommends a 95% immunization rate for herd immunity, but coverage among kindergartners fell to 92.7% in the 2023-2024 school year.
The outbreak’s epicenter is in a west Texas county with a large Mennonite community known for vaccine hesitancy.
Religious exemptions have been rising nationwide, contributing to lower immunization rates.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously promoted discredited claims linking the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism, has recently shifted his stance.
While he now encourages vaccination, he also continues to advocate for alternative treatments like vitamin A and steroids.
Health experts warn that emphasizing such treatments could divert attention from the urgent need to improve immunization coverage.
The last measles-related death in the U.S. occurred in 2015, when a Washington state woman with a suppressed immune system died from virus-induced pneumonia. Before that, the previous fatality was recorded in 2003.
A South Korean Air Force fighter jet accidentally released eight bombs outside a designated training range during a joint military exercise on Thursday, injuring several civilians and damaging buildings, officials said.
The Air Force confirmed that a KF-16 aircraft had mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs in Pocheon, a city located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of the heavily fortified border with North Korea.
The incident occurred around 10:00 am local time (0100 GMT) during a joint live-fire exercise involving the South Korean Air Force and Army.
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“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” the Air Force said in a statement.
Officials have launched an accident response committee to investigate the incident and promised compensation for damages.
According to South Korea’s National Fire Agency, the misfired bombs struck a village, leading to injuries and displacement among residents.
Four people were seriously wounded, while three others suffered minor injuries
The explosion also caused damage to a church building and sections of two homes.
Local residents described the moment of impact as a terrifying experience. A villager, identified only by the surname Park, told Yonhap News Agency that he was watching television when the explosion occurred.
“I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos,” Park said.
Even a senior center located about a kilometer away felt the impact of the blast. The director of the center, surnamed Yu, recounted the panic among the elderly residents.
“A sudden explosion shook the building. The windows shattered, and one of our teachers was injured and taken to the hospital,” Yu said. “Fortunately, none of the seniors were hurt, but they were so frightened that we sent them all home.”
The accident occurred as South Korea and the United States conducted joint live-fire drills in the area. The two allies are preparing for their large-scale annual military exercise, “Freedom Shield,” set to begin later this month.
The Korean Peninsula remains in a state of war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
The United States maintains tens of thousands of troops in South Korea as part of its defense commitment against potential threats from North Korea.
This is not the first time South Korea has experienced a military mishap. In 2022, a South Korean Hyunmu-2 ballistic missile crashed into a military golf course during a test, though it did not explode and no injuries were reported.
Authorities have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the accidental bomb release and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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