Recent polls suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris’ early momentum against President Donald Trump is beginning to fade. Despite an initial surge in support, a Cygnal poll released Thursday shows Harris barely leading Trump by 0.6%, with third-party candidates tightening the race even further. When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is factored in, Trump actually leads Harris 44.4% to 44.2%.

Political analyst Chris Lane notes that Harris hasn’t made substantial gains with Independents and moderates, groups she needs to secure a decisive win. He explained, “The idea that Kamala Harris came into this race and Independents and moderates stumbled over each other to support her is simply not the case.” Harris is viewed as “liberal” by 71% of likely voters, which could push away swing voters.

On the issues that matter most to voters—such as the economy, inflation, and border security—Trump holds the advantage. Voter trust is solidly in Trump’s favor when it comes to handling these topics, with 52.6% trusting him more on illegal immigration compared to just 37.7% for Harris. Even among Democrats and 2020 Biden voters, a small but significant portion express more confidence in Trump on border issues.

These tight numbers are reminiscent of the 2020 controversy when Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger faced backlash for refusing to validate mail-in ballot signatures. Raffensperger chose instead to conduct a recount, a move that critics said did nothing to address concerns about ballot legitimacy. Harris now faces similar skepticism, with critics questioning her ability to tackle voter concerns effectively.

While Harris maintains a strong lead on issues like abortion rights, the overall race remains highly competitive. With swing states still up for grabs and polls showing narrow margins, Harris faces a tough road ahead.