Exclusive | Harris leading by 4 points nationwide but most likely voters trust Trump to handle inflation, immigration and jobs: poll

Vice President Kamala Harris is leading by four percentage points nationwide against former President Donald Trump, according to a new poll commissioned by The Post — but majorities of likely voters would prefer the Republican candidate to handle top issues such as inflation, immigration and jobs.The Leger survey found Harris beating Trump, 51% to 47% as the favored candidate among likely US voters — a four-point margin that has remained stable since the group’s August poll for The Post.The Republican nominee, however, edges out the Democratic nominee, 51% to 49%, when those voters were asked who is “most ready to lead” on Inauguration Day 2025.Harris is backed by majorities of likely voters in the 18-34 (57%) and 35-54 (53%) age ranges, while Trump commands 52% of the voters above the age of 55.Most women (56%) also support Harris, whereas most men (51%) favor Trump.But by the issues, likely voters preferred Trump by wide margins.On inflation and rising prices — the only issue that a majority of likely voters agreed was the most important problem facing the country today — most (54%) prefer Trump’s leadership to Harris’ handling of the issue (46%).On jobs and the economy, 57% said Trump would handle the problem better than the 44% who said Harris would.And on illegal immigration, a whopping 57% approved of Trump’s approach when compared with the stance of Harris.Just 43% wanted President Biden’s border czar to continue handling the issue.A majority also saw Trump as a strong leader (55%), whereas most saw Harris as reasonable (58%), honest (53%) and likely to unite the country (52%).Majorities of voters would also like to see Harris in the White House when asked who would do a better job handling guns (51%), civil rights and liberty (53%), quality of public schools (53%), democracy and fair elections (54%), the affordability of health care (54%), poverty, hunger and homelessness (56%) and climate change (58%).The vice president scored the hig...