Poll: Nevada a virtual tossup in presidential race; most voters trust Trump more on two key issues: the economy and border security

By Dan McCaleb
The Center Square

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are virtually tied in Nevada, according to a new poll.

According to the American Greatness/TIPP poll of 736 likely Nevada voters conducted from Sept. 23-25 in conjunction with TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics, Harris holds a slim 49.2% to 47.9% advantage over Trump in a head-to-head matchup, well within the poll's 3.7% margin of error.

When voters are given a choice that includes third party candidates Cornel West (Independent) and Jill Stein (Green), Harris' leads shrinks to 48.8% to 48.1%.

"Yes, the race is too tight. Democrats have a razor thin edge," pollster Raghavan Mayur, president of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, told The Center Square. "But most important, Trump polls better than Harris with independent likely voters, 53% to 42%."

Among the top two issues on voters' minds, the economy and illegal immigration, Mayur noted that Nevada voters trust Trump more.

On growing the economy, 48% of those surveyed trust Trump more to Harris' 44%. On reducing inflation, 47% trust Trump more while 43% trust Harris more.

On border security, a significant majority, 56%, trust Trump more while just 34% trust Harris more. And on improving national security, 50% trust Trump more to Harris' 41%.

"Trump wins on key issues: he is seen as stronger on the border by 22 points, growing the economy, and fixing inflation," Mayur said.

Harris, who was named "border czar" by President Joe Biden in 2021, visited the southern border for just the second time during her tenure as vice president Friday in Arizona. She has publicly taken a tougher position on border security issues since she replaced Biden on the Democratic ticket. 

“I believe we have the responsibility to set rules and enforce them at our border and I take that job seriously,” Harris said, The Center Square reported.

A significant majority of Nevada voters don't think her new, tougher position on border security is genuine.

Harris now says she supports building a border wall, a stance she repeatedly criticized when Trump built a wall during his term as president. But just 30% of those surveyed said her flip-flop on the issue is genuine, while 57% said Harris now supporting partial construction of a border wall is politically motivated ahead of the November election. 

"Nevadans realize Harris has been the VP and a key part of the Biden-Harris administration," Mayur said. "They see that disassociating from Biden on the border is disingenuous."

Under the Biden-Harris administration, more than 12.5 million foreign nationals have illegally entered the U.S., a record number for any administration by a large amount, The Center Square first reported.

On Harris' now saying she no longer wants to ban fracking, 49% of Nevada voters don't believe her to just 28% who do.

​Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square. He welcomes your comments. Contact Dan at dmccaleb@thecentersquare.com.

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