November 4, 2024, 7:00 PM GMT+6

Election 2024: Trump and Harris Campaigns Race to the Finish as America Holds its Breath

RALEIGH, N.C./DETROIT – In the shadow of a historic presidential election, candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are giving their final, impassioned push to drive supporters to the polls. Both campaigns are touting this contest as a turning point for the United States, with an electorate sharply split both nationwide and in the seven crucial battleground states that could determine the next president.

This election has been defined by extraordinary developments and high stakes. Trump, the 78-year-old Republican candidate, survived two assassination attempts and recently became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony in New York. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, 60, ascended to the Democratic ticket’s top spot in July after President Joe Biden, facing a wave of opposition within his party, withdrew his reelection bid.

Despite months of relentless campaigning and intense political turmoil, polls show the race remains tight. Both candidates are neck and neck nationally and in the swing states that will be crucial for an electoral victory. With over 77 million Americans having already cast their ballots, the final two days will be a critical test of each campaign’s get-out-the-vote strategy.

In the final stretch, both campaigns are saturating media channels with ads and deploying vast teams to knock on doors and make calls. Harris’ team claims their large-scale mobilization is making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of doors knocked in battleground states over the weekend. Jen O'Malley Dillon, Harris’ campaign chair, said, “We are feeling very good about where we are right now,” highlighting their internal data indicating an increase in early voting among core coalition members, including women, young voters, and people of color.

On the other side, Trump’s campaign has largely outsourced its door-to-door efforts to super PACs and political allies, who have focused on reaching “low propensity” voters—those who are less likely to vote regularly. This strategy aims to energize Trump’s base without heavily targeting swing voters.

Fraud Claims and Rhetoric Stir Debate

The former president has continued to claim without evidence that his 2020 defeat was due to election fraud, and his rhetoric has only intensified as the election draws nearer. Trump recently joked about gaps in his bulletproof glass at rallies, commenting, “I don’t mind that so much.” He has also warned of “retribution” and threatened to prosecute political opponents, calling Democrats the “enemy within.”

Meanwhile, Harris has portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy, emphasizing the critical role voters play in shaping the nation’s future. Speaking to a Detroit church on Sunday, Harris expressed optimism: “As I travel, I see Americans from so-called red states to so-called blue states who are ready to bend the arc of history toward justice.”

Competing Visions for America’s Future

Polling suggests voters are deeply concerned about issues such as democracy and the economy. Trump believes his economic promises will propel him to victory, pledging to lower taxes, end inflation, and bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. In a Pennsylvania rally, he vowed, “We’re going to cut your taxes, end inflation, slash your prices, raise your wages, and bring thousands of factories back to America.”

Both candidates will make final appearances in key battleground states on Monday, with Trump visiting North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan before heading to Palm Beach, Florida, to await the results. Harris will campaign across Pennsylvania, focusing on competitive areas like Allentown and Philadelphia, the state seen as the crown jewel of the swing states, offering 19 of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory.

With so much at stake, both campaigns recognize the challenge ahead. Nonpartisan analysts estimate Harris needs 45 electoral votes from swing states to secure the presidency, while Trump would need approximately 51.

The nation now stands poised, awaiting the outcome of an election that has tested the resolve, security, and integrity of American democracy. Follow Running News Today on Google News for live updates and in-depth analysis as election results unfold.