Harris triumphs over Trump in betting markets for first time after picking Tim Walz as running mate

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President Kamala Harris has taken the lead in betting for the first time since rising to the head of the ticket.

According to the Real Clear Politics betting average on Thursday, August 8, Harris has a 50.7% chance of winning the presidency, while former president Donald Trump has a 47.9% chance.

Kamala Harris has been favored over Donald Trump for the first time since May

It was the first time since May 1st, when Joe Biden was still running, that Kamala Harris was the election's favorite according to the bookies.

Additionally, it was the first instance the Democratic ticket was preferred over Trump. The Real Clear Politics betting average on that day gave Biden a slim 42.3% to 42.2% advantage.

Trump has been separating himself from Biden ever since, and on July 15 he reached his highest percentage of support (66.2%), per Fox News.

Donald Trump's lead declined since Joe Biden's drop out from presidential election

However, in the weeks following Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the contest and support Kamala Harris, who swiftly secured the Democratic nomination, Donald Trump's margin progressively shrank.

Trump's dwindling odds reached their zenith on Thursday just a few days after Harris decided to include Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on her ticket, a move that the Harris team hopes would help her gain traction in pivotal Midwestern swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Kamala Harris' biggest lead came on popular platform Predictit

In every significant betting market that Real Clear Politics monitors, Kamala Harris was either leading or tied with Donald Trump on Thursday. Her largest lead came from the well-known Predictit platform, which is based in New Zealand and provides "shares" of political outcomes.

The change in the betting favorite coincides with Harris surpassing Trump in most national surveys, rising to the top of the Real Clear Politics polling average on Monday for the first time.

With that lead, the projected Democratic ticket is leading for the first time since September 11 of last year, when Biden led by 44.5% to 44.3%.

Internet mocks Kamala Harris despite taking lead for first time in betting market

Kamala Harris' overwhelming popularity among the bookmakers didn't seem to concern netizens.

One X user tweeted, "Funny how I don't see anyone literally betting money on her. Maybe because they have to spend their extra money trying to buy groceries."

Another wrote, "Any person who votes for Kamala is just plain stupid."

"This is a prime opportunity to bet on Donald Trump, as the odds are favorable despite the current points favoring Kamala Harris. If you were a betting person, now would be a good time to place your bets," remarked one.

"The betting market loves liars and cheats," wrote someone else.

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