Election Day Approaches Amid Turbulent Campaign
As Election Day draws near, a chaotic presidential campaign that has been marked by a felony trial, the departure of the incumbent president from the race, and multiple attempts on candidates’ lives reaches its climax. Both leading figures are mobilizing their final efforts across key states that will likely influence the Electoral College.
On Monday, Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee and Vice President, will dedicate the entire day to Pennsylvania, which boasts 19 electoral votes—the largest bounty among the battleground states. She plans to visit various working-class neighborhoods, including Allentown, and will conclude her day with a late-night rally in Philadelphia, featuring performances by star personalities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee and former president, intends to hold four campaign rallies spread over three states. His schedule begins in Raleigh, North Carolina, before heading to Pennsylvania for events in Reading and Pittsburgh. Trump will wrap up his campaign as he did in his previous runs, with a final gathering in Grand Rapids, Michigan, late on Monday evening.
With approximately 77 million Americans having participated in early voting, both candidates are eager to galvanize as many supporters as possible for Election Day. Regardless of the outcome, it promises to be a historically significant event.
If Trump emerges victorious, he would make history by being the first incoming president to face felony convictions, following his hush-money trial in New York. This win would not only empower him to resolve pending federal investigations but also allow him to join the ranks of Grover Cleveland as one of the few presidents to serve non-consecutive terms.
On the other hand, Harris aims to break multiple barriers by potentially becoming the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent to occupy the Oval Office. Her candidacy arose after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race, which was triggered by a poor performance in a June debate, contributing to the tumultuous nature of this year’s electoral contest.
Trump has narrowly escaped two assassination attempts; one at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a would-be assassin fired a bullet, and another in September when a shooter set up a rifle while Trump played golf in Florida. Harris, at 60, has downplayed the significance of her historic candidacy, which became viable after Biden stepped back from seeking reelection amid rising concerns about his age.
Instead of focusing on her historic potential, Harris has positioned herself as a candidate for generational change. She highlights her commitment to abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that revoked constitutional protections for abortion, while consistently pointing out Trump’s involvement in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. In her quest to unite diverse groups, ranging from progressive supporters like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Republican figures like former Vice President Dick Cheney, she has labeled Trump as a threat to democracy and has even described him as a “fascist” late in the campaign.
As Election Day approaches, Harris has shifted her focus away from Trump, choosing instead to promise solutions and collaboration, and adopting an optimistic outlook reminiscent of her campaign’s early days. “From the very start, our campaign has not been about being against something; it is about being for something,” she stated during a recent event at Michigan State University.
On the other side, Trump is reigniting his familiar slogans of “Make America Great Again” and “America First,” framing his campaign around a strict immigration policy and pointed criticisms of Harris and Biden. He has slammed the Democrats for economic inflation and has pledged to usher in an era of prosperity, end foreign wars, and fortify the southern U.S. border.
Despite his populist vision, Trump often returns to grievances about his prosecution after the 2020 election and describes the country as a “failed nation.” He reiterated his claims of election rigging against him and mused about potential violence against journalists, while also expressing regret over leaving the White House in 2021. These dark remarks contrast with his slogans: “Kamala broke it. I will fix it.”
The battleground states are anticipated to play a critical role in determining the election outcome. Trump’s past victories in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 2016 later shifted to Biden in 2020. Additionally, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada will be key areas of focus in the upcoming election.
Harris’s campaign reports increased confidence, pointing to notable early voting trends, including a gender gap that favors them and a positive shift among last-minute voters. With over 90,000 volunteers mobilized, they have knocked on more than 3 million doors in battleground states. However, her team insists that she is still perceived as the underdog.
Conversely, Trump’s campaign is equally confident, asserting that his populist message will resonate with younger and working-class voters across diverse demographics. They believe that Trump can forge an unusual coalition of support amidst changes in the traditional Republican voter base, particularly as college-educated voters increasingly align with Democrats.