Is the presidential race actually as close as current polls suggest?

Former President Donald Trump currently leads Vice President Kamala Harris by 0.3% in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls and by an average of 0.9% in the battleground states. Both results are well within the margins of error of the individual polls included in the averages. Thus, it’s appropriate to describe the current presidential race as neck and neck. Right?

If polls are the only indicator you’re looking at, that might be a fair statement. However, there are other ways to gauge where the candidates stand with the electorate.