The Republican candidate in the upcoming US presidential election, Donald Trump, and his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, have been virtually tied in terms of popularity in recent weeks, according to the results of a survey conducted by The New York Times and Siena College.

Trump leads by one percentage point, 48 percent to 47 percent over Harris, the survey found, a margin of error of three points. That means either of them could win on November 5.

While Trump's campaign has suffered a relatively rough patch in the weeks since US President Joseph Biden withdrew from the race in July, the latest polls show his support is steady. The poll found that voters felt they needed to know more about Harris, while their opinions of Trump were largely set.

About 28 percent of voters polled said they needed more information about the Democratic nominee, while only nine percent said the same about Trump. The poll shows that Tuesday's presidential debate could be a pivotal moment in the candidates' campaign.