MINNEAPOLIS— Analysts say national polls showing how close the race is between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are not key indicators ahead of the election.
Instead, they say you should focus on the polls in swing states, because the winner of the presidency is determined not by the popular vote, but by the Electoral College.
Professor David Schultz of Hamline University says nothing has really changed in national polling in recent months.
“Ignore all national polls,” he said. “What’s really critical to watch are the polls in the swing states, and they’re close.”
States such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin will likely decide the election, Schultz said.
Professor Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota said: “I think people need to relax a little bit with the polls… I think the most important thing to know is that this race is as close as we’ve seen. It could be another photo finish are as we saw in 2016 and 2020.”
Democratic strategist Abou Amara said the polls are important for both campaigns as they continue to make important decisions based on them.
“The polls determine almost every decision of the campaign,” Amara said. “Where you will campaign, who you will talk to, what messages you want to convey and the timing in which you will do that.”
Republican strategist Amy Koch says the national polls are meaningless.
“Trump has been leading in six of the seven battlegrounds,” she said. “If so, Trump will win this election.”
Esme Murphy
