Vice President Kamala Harris saw her odds for the 2024 presidential election take a hit following her interview with CNN's Dana Bash on Thursday evening.
This interview marked her first time facing unscripted questions since securing the Democratic nomination. Harris, who had been the favorite, experienced a shift in the betting markets shortly after the interview.
Breitbart reported that the betting markets, which had favored Harris on Thursday, saw a significant change by Friday morning, with her odds tied with those of former President Donald Trump.
Before the interview, Harris was leading with odds of 10/11 (52.4 percent) on Thursday, making her the frontrunner.
However, by Friday morning, her odds had declined to 19/20 (51.3 percent), putting her neck and neck with Trump in the betting markets.
The shift in the odds wasn't just a minor fluctuation. Trump's odds, which had been at 21/20 (48.8 percent), improved to 20/21 (51.2 percent) according to Betfair. This gain put Trump in a stronger position than he had been earlier in the week.
This development has been met with optimism among Trump supporters, who now see a renewed possibility of a victory for the former president.
The market's reaction reflects a growing belief that Trump could tip the balance in his favor as the November election approaches.
William Kedjanyi, a betting analyst for Star Sports, highlighted this shift: “Vice President Harris is now tied at 19/20 with Republican candidate Donald Trump, drifting slightly from 10/11 yesterday. The Californian had been 5/6 in recent weeks, but she has failed to surge ahead of Trump in the market.”
Betting markets have been volatile throughout August, with the lead switching between the two candidates multiple times. According to Sam Rosbottom, a spokesperson for Betfair, “Before Kamala Harris’ sit-down interview with CNN overnight, the Betfair Exchange market had more or less been neck and neck.”
This constant back-and-forth between Harris and Trump in the betting markets has underscored the uncertainty surrounding the 2024 presidential election.
While Harris had maintained a slight edge earlier in the month, her recent performance in the interview appears to have created doubts among bettors.
As the election draws closer, the betting markets are becoming an increasingly important indicator of public sentiment.
Harris’s inability to pull ahead decisively in the betting markets, despite being the Democratic nominee, suggests that the race remains highly competitive.
Trump’s momentum in the betting markets has been building, especially following Harris's interview.
Rosbottom pointed out that “momentum is now with Trump, and he has become the odds-on favorite again after being backed into 21/20.”
This shift in odds is significant as it reflects a broader trend in public opinion and market sentiment.
While the interview was expected to solidify Harris's lead, it instead seems to have bolstered Trump’s position.
The reaction from the betting markets following the interview has sparked discussions about Harris's ability to maintain her lead in the face of increased scrutiny. With the odds now tied, both candidates are gearing up for what promises to be a closely contested election.
