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 highest marks (60%) among likely voters concerned about access to abortion.

The two candidates tied when voters were polled on who would handle infrastructure better.

Harris and her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, both had higher favorability ratings than their Republican opponents.

At least 44% had a favorable opinion of Harris, but 41% had a favorable opinion of Trump.

Another 36% had a favorable view of Walz, while 25% had a favorable view of GOP vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).

Trump also had the highest unfavorable rating of the four, with 50% having a negative view of the 45th president, followed by 41% having a negative view of Harris, 40% having a negative view of Vance and 28% having a negative view of Walz.

When asked who would win the 2024 election, 40% of likely voters said Harris, 39% said Trump, 19% were undecided and 2% said someone else.

Another 43% of the voters cited more concerns in the event that Trump wins back the White House. Just 34% had the same concerns for Harris.

The Leger poll was conducted from Sept. 27 to 29 and surveyed 1,010 US adults in online surveys, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.08%.