It is only second day after, President Joe Biden abandoned his re-election effort and passed the torch to his Vice President Kamala Harris, while the avalanche of donations and every senior party figure championing her candidacy is already setting her in an unassailable position, a new poll has been released showing Harris with a two percent lead over Former President, Donald Trump.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted on Monday and Tuesday after Biden exited the race, indicates Harris has 44% support nationally, compared to Trump’s 42%.

In a prior poll taken before Biden suspended his campaign, Harris and Trump were tied at 44%, within the margin of error.

The national poll indicates that Harris is experiencing a boost in support, likely due to the recent media coverage surrounding her candidacy and Biden’s endorsement.

Despite this, Trump’s campaign downplays the significance of Harris’s lead, attributing it to temporary media attention.

However, as per a report by Reuters, pollster Tony Fabrizio suggests that any increase in Harris’s popularity will likely be short-lived.

The poll highlights a broader context where Harris is perceived as more mentally sharp compared to Trump, with 56% of registered voters agreeing with this assessment of Harris versus 49% for Trump.

In contrast, only 22% of voters view Biden in a similar light. Biden’s decision to step down followed concerns about his performance in debates and his overall readiness to challenge Trump effectively.

Also read | What Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the US presidential elections means

Harris enjoys strong support within her party, with 80% of Democratic voters viewing Biden favourably compared to 91% for Harris.

Additionally, three-quarters of Democratic voters believe the party should unite behind Harris without further contest.

In a hypothetical matchup including independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harris leads Trump 42% to 38%, with Kennedy drawing 8% support. Kennedy, however, has not yet qualified for the ballot in many states.

Also read | Is Kamala Harris up to the Donald Trump challenge?

As Harris campaigns in key battleground states like Wisconsin, attention shifts to her choice of running mate.

The poll indicates limited public awareness of potential candidates for this position, with many voters unfamiliar with US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

The poll surveyed 1,241 US adults nationwide, including 1,018 registered voters, and was conducted online.