Harris and Trump Anticipate Triumph as Polls Indicate Tight Race

In the final, nail-biting hours of an intensely contested US presidential election, both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are confidently projecting victories as they crisscross Pennsylvania in their last-minute campaigns.

This election cycle has been nothing short of tumultuous, featuring shockwaves like two assassination attempts against Trump and his felony conviction. On the other hand, the spotlight unexpectedly shifted to Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden, 81, stepped aside from his re-election run under significant pressure from party members.

According to AdImpact, an analytics firm, a staggering $2.6 billion (€919 million) has been funneled into influencing voters since March. This staggering amount reflects the high stakes of this election.

However, as it stands, opinion polls indicate that the race is neck-and-neck between the two candidates. With Trump’s age at 78 and Harris at 60, the results might take a few days to unveil, although Trump has already hinted at contesting any potential loss, much like he did back in 2020.

Pennsylvania is pivotal; it accounts for the largest number of Electoral College votes among the seven key battleground states poised to shape the election’s outcome.

During an event in Pittsburgh, Trump captivated a large audience at an arena, delivering what his campaign dubbed his ultimate closing pitch right before Election Day.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for four years,” Trump said, highlighting his ambitious comeback after the defeat he faced in the 2020 election against Biden. He utilized his Pittsburgh speech to amplify economic themes, arguing that Harris would lead Pennsylvania into economic despair if she were to win.

“We’re going to take Pennsylvania, and when we do, it’s game over,” Trump proclaimed as he celebrated an endorsement from popular podcaster Joe Rogan.

Meanwhile, in Allentown, Harris expressed certainty about her victory and vowed to be a representative of “all Americans.” This appeal was particularly poignant for the city’s substantial Puerto Rican community, especially in light of remarks from a comedian at a Trump rally that had incited outrage.

Kamala Harris hitting the campaign trail in Pennsylvania.

Later in the day, Harris engaged in grassroots efforts, knocking on doors in Reading and conducting a brief rally in Pittsburgh where pop sensation Katy Perry electrified the event. She was set to culminate the day with a star-studded event in Philadelphia.

“Tomorrow is the big day, and we’re riding a wave of momentum,” Harris asserted in Pittsburgh.

“We recognize it is time for a younger, refreshed leadership in America… Trust me, we will take this,” she rallied, inciting enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

(Above: Oprah Winfrey brings Kamala Harris on stage at her final rally in Pennsylvania)

Harris’ campaign team disclosed that their volunteers had canvassed hundreds of thousands of doors this past weekend across battleground states.

Internal data from her campaign indicates that undecided voters are breaking in their favor. Furthermore, there’s an uptick in early voting, particularly among young voters and people of color—key demographic pillars of her coalition.

Tom Bonier, head of the Democratic analytics firm TargetSmart, emphasized that the early voting figures reflect significant enthusiasm among Democratic-leaning demographics, notably women. However, he pointed out an absence of similar enthusiasm from young men, a demographic that Trump has aggressively courted.

The Gender Gap

Officials from Trump’s campaign reported they were keenly observing early voting trends indicating a higher turnout among women compared to men. This is crucial, as an October Reuters/Ipsos poll had shown Harris leading Trump 50% to 38% among female registered voters, while Trump held an edge among men, leading 48% to 41%.

“Men need to show up and vote!” wrote Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of Trump, on his X social media platform, urging his followers to act decisively.

The Trump campaign has largely delegated its voter outreach initiatives to outside organizations, including a venture run by Musk, which has concentrated efforts on engaging supporters who traditionally might skip elections rather than undecided constituents.

A Pennsylvania ruling allowed Musk to maintain his $1 million voter giveaway initiative, which a local prosecutor labeled an illegal lottery.

Trump assured supporters in Reading that he would stand up for women “even if they don’t appreciate it,” advocating that decisions around abortion belong to individual states. Following his earlier consolidation of a conservative majority on the US Supreme Court in 2022, this statement reflects his commitment to that fight.

During his rally in Reading, he also reiterated his promise to keep transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, while supporters waved vibrant pink “Women for Trump” signs behind him.

Stay Updated: Explore the Latest US Election Stories Live, as They Unfold.

On the final stretch of this campaign, a Trump campaign official relayed optimism about winning North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona; still, they acknowledged that to secure the White House, winning at least one of the Rust Belt battlegrounds—Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania—remains crucial.

Republicans have seemingly thrived in early voting across Nevada and have been buoyed by strong turnout numbers in storm-battered parts of western North Carolina.

“The figures show Trump is on track to victory,” claimed senior advisor Jason Miller to the media, projecting confidence in their position.

False Claims of Fraud

Trump and his allies have spent the past months laying the groundwork to question the election results, echoing his groundless allegations from 2020 about widespread fraud.

He has promised retribution if re-elected, hinted at prosecuting his political adversaries, and painted Democrats as the “enemy within.”

However, Harris’ campaign team maintained that Trump’s allegations of fraud will falter. “The voters, not Donald Trump, choose the president,” asserted Dana Remus, a legal advisor for Harris’ campaign.

Arizona’s chief elections official debunked a viral online video claiming that Republicans were being stricken from voter rolls as untrue.

(Above: Trump displaying some moves on stage during a rally in Michigan)

As the final campaign day unfolded, Trump made stops in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan and was set to return to his Palm Beach residence to cast his vote and anxiously await the election’s outcome.

On her end, Harris had a busy slate, planning five campaign stops in Pennsylvania, including readings and Pittsburgh, two hubs where Trump also rallied the troops. She was scheduled to wind down her day with a grand finale rally outside Philadelphia’s iconic Museum of Art, showcasing celebrities like Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Oprah Winfrey.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

Axadle international–Monitoring

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