Kamala Harris’s announcement as Joe Biden’s successor was taken with praise from both the DNC and American democrats across the country. From July 22 until the end of the DNC in August, Harris’ polls were rising and even surpassing Donald Trump, a feat which Joe Biden had yet to do in key swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. But over the last few weekends, Harris’ polls have been falling. 

Between President Biden’s immediate endorsement, and support from key democratic leaders such as Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and 46 out of 51 democratic senators, Harris gained significant momentum in her campaign. This overwhelming backing from the party’s top figures, as well as the knowledge that Joe Biden was no longer at the top of the ticket, solidified her status as the Democratic front-runner and energized the Democrats across the country. This early enthusiasm contributed to her fast poll gains in the seven major swing states. 

But now that the Democratic National Convention has ended and the initial excitement has subsided, Harris’ campaign is facing new challenges. Many Americans still feel like they do not know Harris, even after her relentless campaigning these last few weeks. And despite her policies being widely available on her website, many voters remain uncertain about her plans to move America forward. Polls in the battleground states still show razor-thin margins, but her lead continues to dip. She has less than a one point lead in Pennsylvania, while Trump has less than a one point lead in North Carolina, Arizona and Georgia. 

While we still do not know the effect the debate will have on the election — it can take up to three weeks after a debate to see any significant shifts in public opinion — there is no doubt that the last month and a half will be an all-out sprint to the finish. With the debate, Taylor Swift’s endorsement and the overall unreliability of polls, there’s no way to know the true outcome until November 5.