Trump with slight edge over Harris in this crucial Western battleground: poll

According to the survey by AARP, Trump edged Harris 49%-47% in a head-to-head match up for the state's highly coveted six electoral votes. The Republican presidential nominee holds an even slimmer 47%-46% one-point margin over the Democratic Party standard-bearer in a full ballot with third-party candidates. The survey is the latest of likely voters to indicate a coin-toss race in Nevada.

The AARP survey, conducted Oct. 8-15 and released on Tuesday, indicates the former president holding a narrow advantage among independent voters. It also points to a large gender gap, with Trump up 18 points among men, while Harris leads women by 15 points.

Of note, the survey doesn't point to a large education divide.

"There is only a small educational attainment gap, with Harris up 6-points with voters with college degrees, and Trump up 5 among those without degrees," the survey's release highlights.

The poll indicates Trump with a seven-point lead among voters 50+, and a four-point advantage among those age 65 and older.

"With the presidential and Senate races so close, appealing to high-turnout older voters should be a major priority for all the campaigns," AARP Nevada State Director Maria Moore emphasized. "If candidates want to win in Nevada, they should focus on the issues that matter to older voters, from protecting Social Security to supporting family caregivers and bringing down the costs of necessities like food and housing."  

Nevada is one of seven swing states whose razor-thin margins decided Biden's 2020 election victory over Trump and are likely to determine if Harris or Trump wins the 2024 White House race.

The Silver State is not only a presidential battleground - it's also home to a crucial Senate race that is one of a handful that will decide if the GOP wins back the chamber's majority.

According to the poll, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen holds a five-point 49%-44% advantage over Republican challenger Sam Brown.