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Politics Friday
Brian Bakst, Matt Alvarez and Ellie Roth

Politics Friday: Poll shows Harris with narrow Minnesota lead, but what else can we glean from it?

A side-by-side of
MPR News/KARE 11/Star Tribune Minnesota Poll puts Democratic nominee Kamala Harris ahead of Republican nominee Donald Trump in a race that is still close. But Trump’s prior enthusiasm advantage has disappeared.
Jeff Kowalsky and Spencer Platt | Getty Images

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A Minnesota poll in June showed the race to the White House was close.  

Then, a summer of historic political news unfolded with President Joe Biden stepping aside, and the Democratic Party nominating a new presidential candidate: Vice President Kamala Harris. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was later added to the ticket as Harris’ running mate. 

So, what do the polls say about a new Democratic up against Republican candidates President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance? The data says it’s still close.  

This week MPR News and other media partners released Minnesota Poll results since the Sept. 10 presidential debate. The poll, in partnership with MPR News, KARE 11 and the Minnesota Star Tribune, revealed a close race for president with Harris leading Trump by five percentage points. But the issue divide gives both candidates something to work with. 

Coming up Friday at noon, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and his guests talk about the poll results and what they suggest about the state of the election.  

Later in the hour, as Walz gears up for his first Vice Presidential Debate in New York, an expert weighs in how that matchup between Walz and Vance could influence the race.  

Guests:  

  • Craig Helmstetter is the managing partner of the APM Research Lab at Minnesota Public Radio. 

  • Rochelle Olson is a politics and government reporter with the Star Tribune. 

  • John Croman is a politics reporter for KARE 11.  

  • David Cram Helwich is director of forensics at the University of Minnesota.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.