The race for the White House has been marked by a tumultuous campaign season with felony trials, an incumbent pushed off the ticket, and multiple assassination attempts. Now, just before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are each racing across pivotal states in a last-ditch effort to sway voters.
Harris Focuses on Pennsylvania’s Electoral Prize
Vice President Kamala Harris will spend her final campaign day in Pennsylvania, which carries a critical 19 electoral votes. Harris is rallying in working-class areas such as Allentown and will end the day with a late-night event in Philadelphia featuring Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey. Her focus on Pennsylvania highlights its crucial role in determining the outcome of the Electoral College.
Trump’s Rally Blitz Across Three States
Trump has scheduled four rallies in three states on Monday, kicking off in Raleigh, North Carolina, followed by stops in Reading and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and ending with a late-night rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan—a traditional finale for his campaigns since 2016. Trump is determined to energize his base, aiming to convert every possible supporter in key swing states.
Massive Early Voting, Yet Both Campaigns Push for Last-Minute Turnout
With 77 million Americans having voted early, both Harris and Trump are pushing for millions more to cast their ballots on Election Day. The stakes are historic: a Trump victory would make him the first president-elect with a felony conviction following his hush-money trial in New York and would grant him authority over federal investigations involving him. If Harris wins, she would become the first woman, first Black woman, and first person of South Asian descent to occupy the Oval Office.
Campaign Twists: Assassination Attempts and Biden’s Exit
The campaign has seen unprecedented drama. Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and a second attempt was foiled in Florida. Harris ascended to the Democratic ticket’s top spot after Biden withdrew from the race following a faltering debate performance, making way for a fresh, generational appeal.
Harris’s Platform and Coalition
Harris has steered away from the historic significance of her candidacy, instead positioning herself as a leader for generational change. Her campaign has rallied around abortion rights, democracy preservation, and a broad coalition including figures from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to former Vice President Dick Cheney. Though initially critical of Trump’s past, Harris’s closing argument emphasizes optimism and consensus, encapsulated by her themes of “Freedom” and “the politics of joy.”
Trump’s Agenda: Border Security, Economic Revival, and Grievances
Trump has framed his campaign with promises to end inflation, secure borders, and lead an “economic golden age.” However, his campaign has also been punctuated by grievances over his prosecutions, including his attempts to challenge Biden’s previous victory. As he tours battleground states, Trump’s message has oscillated between promises of restoring America and accusations that Harris “broke” the nation, which he vows to “fix.”
Deciding States: Seven Battlegrounds Hold the Key
The election outcome hinges on seven battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which Trump won in 2016 but Biden claimed in 2020. The Sun Belt states of North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada are also in play. Harris’s team has expressed confidence, citing a large gender gap in early voting and a strong ground game with over 90,000 volunteers mobilizing voters. However, Harris aides maintain she remains the underdog.
Trump’s Push for a Broader Coalition
Trump’s team, meanwhile, is banking on his populist appeal to attract younger, working-class voters and to build a coalition that crosses racial and ethnic lines. They aim to forge a unique Republican base, even as traditional GOP groups, like college-educated voters, increasingly lean Democratic.
As Election Day approaches, both candidates are pushing their final messages in a razor-thin race that could come down to the wire across these critical states.
