As the tight U.S. presidential race comes to a close, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump campaigned fervently across Pennsylvania and other critical battleground states on Monday, with both projecting optimism and focusing on mobilizing last-minute voters. Harris, 60, and Trump, 78, are in a dead heat according to polls, suggesting the winner may not be known for days after Tuesday’s vote. Trump, meanwhile, has hinted at potential legal challenges if he loses, recalling his similar actions after the 2020 election.
Harris, who ascended to the Democratic ticket’s top spot after President Joe Biden, 81, opted out of a re-election bid under party pressure, wrapped up her final day of campaigning with a star-studded event in Philadelphia, echoing her self-described "Rocky" underdog spirit. Joined by celebrities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey, Harris urged her supporters to show up at the polls, particularly addressing Pennsylvania’s large Puerto Rican community in Allentown after an incident involving a Trump supporter.
Trump, on the other hand, spent his last campaign day in North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, where he closed with a rally in Grand Rapids—marking what he said would be his final campaign rally if unsuccessful on Tuesday. Trump continues to promote his core issues, including stricter border policies, while highlighting his endorsement from high-profile figures like podcaster Joe Rogan and support from Elon Musk. The Harris campaign is seeing promising early voting turnout from younger and minority voters, while Trump’s campaign, which outsourced much of its voter outreach, is encouraged by strong numbers among men and early voters in key states.
Each side is preparing for potential post-election battles, with Trump’s team openly challenging election integrity and Harris’s legal team dismissing these claims, emphasizing that voters, not Trump, will decide the outcome. As both candidates rally their bases, the unprecedented 2024 election remains poised for a dramatic and uncertain conclusion.
