Washington: Kamala Harris has taken the lead over Donald Trump in three critical battleground states, according to new polls released on Saturday. The surveys, conducted by The New York Times and Siena College, show Harris leading Trump by a 50 percent to 46 percent margin in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

These states are crucial under the U.S. Electoral College system, and their outcome could determine the winner of the upcoming presidential election. The polls indicate a shift from previous surveys that had shown Trump either tied with or slightly ahead of President Joe Biden, who recently dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.

The polling data also reveals that while voters still favor Trump on issues like the economy and immigration, Harris holds a significant 24-point advantage on the issue of abortion. Her recent selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate has further energized Democratic voters, contributing to a surge in support.

The Harris-Walz campaign has been met with increased enthusiasm, particularly in Pennsylvania, where Harris's favorability has jumped by 10 points among registered voters in the past month. Voters also perceive Harris as more intelligent and having a better temperament to govern compared to Trump.

Despite various attacks from Trump and his allies, Harris's candidacy has gained strong support among Democrats, with voter satisfaction in the three Midwestern states increasing by 27 points since May.

The polls, conducted between August 5 and 9, surveyed at least 600 voters in each state, providing a snapshot of the current political landscape as the November 5 election approaches.