Kamala Harris transforms the presidential race and challenges Donald Trump in polls.

The race for the White House has transformed into a hotbed of unexpected dynamics and new protagonisms. President Joe Biden's recent decision to decline his candidacy for re-election has opened a surprising path for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has managed to reverse polling trends in less than a month, thus unsettling Donald Trump's campaign. In a turn that many considered unlikely, Harris has been able to gain the support of voters and position herself as the favored candidate within the Democratic Party. According to data collected by FiveThirtyEight, Harris is now presenting with 46.1% in national polls, surpassing former President Trump, who stands at 43.4%. This radical shift in public perception has revitalized morale within Harris's campaign team, especially considering that before Biden's withdrawal, Democrats were at a disadvantage by 3.2 points. "The deployment of the Democratic campaign has attracted continuous attention and achieved positive media coverage," points out Julian Zelizer, a professor at Princeton University. Harris has successfully captured interest in crucial states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, where polls indicate she could have a significant advantage. Despite this optimism, the campaign remains aware that U.S. elections are often decided by a narrow margin of votes in a few contested states. Nonetheless, the speed with which she has achieved this formidable change in the polls surprises analysts and opponents alike. One of the key factors in Harris's resurgence has been her ability to connect with a wide range of voters. With a diverse background that includes Indian and Jamaican roots, as well as her experience as California's Attorney General, Harris positions herself as a candidate representing multiple identities. "Kamala represents the full coalition of the different sectors that make up our party and our country," notes María Carolina Casado, director of Hispanic media for the Democratic campaign. Additionally, the choice of Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate has been a strategic move that has provided stability to Harris's campaign. Walz, with his experience in the House of Representatives and his connection with working-class voters, complements Harris by attracting an electorate that might be hesitant to support her directly. This balance between their backgrounds and geographical connections seems to strengthen the Democratic proposal in a complicated electoral context. Harris's leadership style, which is more approachable and spontaneous than her predecessor's, has also made a notable difference in public perception. Unlike Biden, whose interventions have been perceived as more rigid and scripted, Harris's personality has resonated with a base of voters eager for change. "Harris's joy is breaking the dark and threatening nuances of Donald Trump and his running mate," opines Eleni Kounalakis, California's lieutenant governor. This authenticity and focus on "freedom" as a call to action have revitalized the Democratic narrative. However, Harris's campaign also faces significant challenges. Certain aspects of the current administration, such as inflation and immigration issues, are topics that could negatively impact her proposal. Despite the advantage she has achieved, the campaign team is aware that this is a moment that could change rapidly, and that voter attention can be fleeting. Harris's ability to neutralize attacks regarding age, a criticism that has intensified toward Biden, has been another strong point in her campaign. Being considerably younger than both Biden and Trump, Harris has managed to turn the age debate into an advantage for her candidacy, dismantling one of the central arguments that Republicans had used against her. On the other side of the spectrum, the choice of JD Vance as Trump's running mate has generated more controversies than support among voters. Vance's past statements about Trump have raised doubts about his loyalty and weakened his image at a critical moment for the Republican campaign. Meanwhile, the contrast between the new Democratic ticket and the Trump-Vance duo has become a key reference point in discussions about the election. As the campaign progresses, Harris's team is aware that they must maintain the momentum and attention generated. The media "honeymoon" is a temporary phenomenon, and the reality of the electoral campaign will intensify as the Democratic National Convention and debates approach. David Polyansky, deputy campaign manager for the governor of Florida, notes that although Harris has eclipsed Trump in the media, this dynamic cannot be sustained indefinitely. The future of Harris's campaign will depend on her ability to maintain energy and emotional connection with voters in a rapidly changing electoral environment. Meanwhile, the rapid transformation of the presidential race reflects not only the vulnerabilities of the Republican campaign but also the extraordinary strength and adaptability that Harris has demonstrated in a surprisingly short time. The battle for the White House continues, and undoubtedly, the next chapter of this electoral story will be crucial in determining who will sit in the Oval Office next year.