US elections: With just 6 weeks left, Kamala Harris pulls ahead of Trump in fundraising by threefold

Vice President Kamala Harris has raised over three times the funds of former President Donald Trump in August, bolstering her campaign's financial standing as the 2024 presidential race heats up. Recent filings with the Federal Election Commission reveal that the Harris campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hold $286 million, compared to Trump and the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) $214 million.
In August, Harris’s campaign and the DNC raised an impressive £361 million, providing a substantial cash advantage as the election approaches. By early September, her campaign reported $404 million in available funds. Conversely, Trump’s campaign announced a combined total of $130 million raised in August, resulting in $295 million on hand.
Both candidates are anticipated to spend upwards of £1 billion each on their campaigns, aiming to secure critical swing states. These fundraising figures, closely monitored for indications of electoral momentum, do not include funds raised by external groups supporting either candidate.
What do the polls say?
Recent polling data indicates a tight race between Harris and Trump, especially in key swing states like Pennsylvania. Following their first presidential debate, polling results show Harris and Trump nearly tied at 49% among Pennsylvania voters, with a poll from the Philadelphia Inquirer showing Harris at 50% and Trump at 46%. This survey highlights a gender divide in support, particularly among Black voters, where 72% of older Black voters back Harris, while 21% of younger Black men favour Trump.
Polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also indicates a slight uptick in Harris’s favourability since July, after President Biden exited the race. Currently, around 50% of voters have a positive view of Harris, compared to 40% for Trump, whose unfavourability rating stands at 60%.
Despite a general sense of pessimism among voters about their choices, the poll suggests that voters are more likely to believe Harris would make a good president, with 50% expressing this sentiment compared to only 36% for Trump.