New poll reveals which candidate has the edge on a key policy issue in the battleground states

New polling shows Vice President Kamala Harris leads on foreign policy nationally, but when it comes to the critical battleground states that will decide the election, former President Donald Trump has an edge. 

In the new poll by the Institute for Global Affairs, 53 percent of Americans nationally said the Democratic presidential nominee is more likely to pursue foreign policy that benefits people like them to Trump's 47 percent. 

52 percent also said she would be a strong leader who advance America's interests internationally compared to Trump's 48 percent. 

But when the poll zeroed in on swing states, the results were nearly reversed.

In the battleground states, 53 percent of Americans said the Republican presidential nominee is more likely to pursue a foreign policy that benefits people like them to Harris' 47 percent. 

And 54 percent also said he would be a strong leader who advance America's interests internationally compared to Harris' 46 percent. 

Nationally, Americans also viewed Harris as more likely to boost the U.S.' international reputation 53 percent over Trump's 47 percent. In swing states, Trump led on this 51 percent to 49 percent.

Foreign policy has not been a top issue on the campaign trail in the same way the economy and other domestic issues have, but it still comes up frequently in speeches and at events as the U.S. has played a key supporting role for allies with wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza.

When Americans were asked about the presidential nominees, 52 percent said it would be Trump who would send U.S. troops to an unnecessary war while 48 percent said Harris nationally. 

But those numbers also flipped in battleground states with 53 percent saying they believe Harris would send troops to an unnecessary war while 47 percent said Trump.

When it comes to foreign policy issues, the polling found a partisan divide on what Americans believe is the top issue. The number one foreign policy for Democrats was climate change. For Republicans, the top issue was immigration. Both ranked among top issues for Independents.

The war in Ukraine, rise of China and Israel's war in Gaza all ranked near the bottom among foreign policy issues for Americans with just over forty days to go before the election.

Trump led on immigration both nationally and in battleground states according to the polling. 51 percent to 49 percent nationally said Trump would reform the U.S. immigration system for the better over Harris. 

The gap widened in battleground states with 56 percent of respondents saying Trump would reform the system for the better to Harris' 44 percent. 

When it comes to foreign wars, more Americans believe Trump would end the war in Ukraine and Gaza. He has a two point lead on the issue nationally, but in battleground states he has a sixteen point lead. 

The polling did not get into how they believe the candidates would end the wars. 

When it comest to the U.S. military, more Americans nationally and in swing states believe military funding should be decreased rather than increased. But overall many believe spending levels should remain the same including 53 percent nationally and 50 percent in battleground states.

The U.S. has the top military spending in the world with $916 billion in 2023.