By Joseph Ax
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The dizzying presidential contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris hurtled towards an unsure end on Tuesday as thousands and thousands of People headed to the polls to decide on between two sharply completely different visions for the nation.
A race whipsawed by unprecedented occasions – two assassination makes an attempt in opposition to Trump, President Joe Biden’s shock withdrawal and Harris’ speedy rise – remained too near name, even after billions of {dollars} in spending and months of frenetic campaigning.
Trump’s marketing campaign has instructed he could declare victory on election evening even whereas thousands and thousands of ballots have but to be counted, simply as he did 4 years in the past. The previous president has repeatedly mentioned any defeat may solely stem from widespread fraud, echoing his false claims from 2020. The winner might not be identified for days if the margins in key states are as slim as anticipated.
Irrespective of who wins the White Home, historical past shall be made.
Harris, 60, the primary feminine vice chairman, would turn out to be the primary lady, Black lady and South Asian American to win the presidency. Trump, 78, the one president to be impeached twice and the primary former president to be criminally convicted, would additionally turn out to be the primary president to win non-consecutive phrases in additional than a century.
Opinion polls within the marketing campaign’s closing days have proven the candidates operating neck and neck in every of the seven states more likely to decide the winner: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Reuters/Ipsos polling exhibits a big gender hole, with Harris main amongst ladies by 12 proportion factors and Trump profitable amongst males by 7 proportion factors.
The competition displays a deeply polarized nation whose divisions have solely grown starker throughout a fiercely aggressive race. Trump has employed more and more darkish and apocalyptic rhetoric on the marketing campaign path, whereas Harris has warned {that a} second Trump time period would threaten the very underpinnings of American democracy.
Management of each chambers of Congress can also be up for grabs. Republicans have a better path within the U.S. Senate, the place Democrats are defending a number of seats in Republican-leaning states, whereas the Home of Representatives appears like a toss-up.
The candidates spent the ultimate weekend barnstorming the swing states in the hunt for each out there vote. Trump staged his closing rally on Monday (NASDAQ:) night in Grand Rapids, Michigan, whereas Harris held twin rallies in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Greater than 80 million People had already voted earlier than Tuesday, both by way of mail or in particular person, in line with the College of Florida Election Lab.
DARK RHETORIC
Through the marketing campaign, Trump hammered first Biden after which Harris for his or her dealing with of the financial system, which polls present is on the high of voters’ considerations regardless of low unemployment and cooling inflation. However he confirmed a attribute lack of ability to remain on message, at one level questioning Harris’ Black identification and vowing to guard ladies “whether they like it or not.”
His unbridled strategy appeared designed to fireplace up his supporters, quite than develop his attraction. Much more than in 2016 and 2020, Trump has demonized immigrants who crossed the border illegally, falsely accusing them of fomenting a violent crime wave, and he has vowed to make use of the federal government to prosecute his political rivals.
Polls present he has made some good points amongst Black and Latino voters, regardless of the historic nature of Harris’ candidacy. Trump has usually warned that migrants are taking jobs away from these constituencies.
In contrast, Harris has tried to piece collectively a broader however difficult coalition of liberal Democrats, independents and disaffected reasonable Republicans, describing Trump as too harmful to elect.
She campaigned on defending reproductive rights, a difficulty that has galvanized ladies for the reason that U.S. Supreme Court docket in 2022 eradicated a nationwide proper to abortion.
Harris has confronted anger from many pro-Palestinian voters over the Biden administration’s navy and monetary help for Israel’s battle in Gaza. Whereas she has not previewed a shift in U.S. coverage, she has mentioned she’s going to do all the things doable to finish the battle.
After Biden, 81, withdrew amid considerations about his age, Harris sought to show the tables on Trump, pointing to his rambling rallies as proof he’s unfit. Her marketing campaign’s embrace of viral memes and a parade of celeb endorsements gained her traction with younger voters seen as a crucial voting bloc.
Trump countered the likes of Harris supporters Taylor Swift and Beyonce with Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who performed an more and more seen function as a surrogate and a high donor to Trump’s trigger.
Tuesday’s vote follows one of the vital turbulent half-years in fashionable American politics.
In Could, a New York jury discovered Trump responsible of falsifying enterprise data to cover hush cash funds to a porn star. 4 weeks later, Trump and Biden met for his or her solely debate, the place the incumbent president delivered a disastrous efficiency that supercharged voters’ present considerations about his psychological acuity.
In July, Trump narrowly escaped a would-be murderer’s bullet at a Pennsylvania rally, simply earlier than the Republican Nationwide Conference. Barely per week later, Biden exited the race, bowing to strain from Democratic leaders.
Harris’ entry into the race re-energized her occasion, and she or he raised greater than $1 billion in lower than three months whereas erasing Trump’s lead over Biden in public polls.
