With two weeks left in the US presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are competing to win votes in key battleground states.
On Monday, Democratic nominee Harris won all three “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which traditionally vote Democratic and have played a key role in the victories of the past two Democratic presidents. I stopped by.
At the same time, Republican candidate Trump visited Asheville, North Carolina, raising concerns that polls suggest the devastating damage from Hurricane Helen could be hurting turnout in the race. I am doing it.
Here we take a look at the poll results, the main highlights of the previous day’s campaign, and what to expect next.
What’s the latest from the polls?
The latest voter poll released Monday by The Washington Post shows Trump and Harris tied in seven battleground states across the country, which could tilt in favor of either candidate.
A poll of more than 5,000 registered voters conducted by The Washington Post and the Schar School in early October found that 47% each were likely to support Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump.
Among likely voters, 49% supported Harris and 48% supported Trump.
The poll was conducted at a time when the average of Trump’s polls compiled by the website FiveThirtyEight was slightly higher than Harris’s, but the difference is so small that it is statistically a tie. It remains as it is.
As of Oct. 21, Ms. Harris was leading in national polls, with a 1.8 percentage point lead over Mr. Trump, according to FiveThirtyEight’s daily election poll.
However, in the key states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada (which hold a total of 51 votes in the 538-member Electoral College), the two candidates are effectively tied, with a difference of less than 0.5 percentage points. If either Trump or Harris wins all four states, they are effectively guaranteed the presidency.
What is Kamala Harris doing?
Harris’ first stop on October 21st was in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Speaking in front of a “party over country” banner, Cheney, the daughter of former vice president and Iraq war architect Dick Cheney, urged Republican voters dissatisfied with Trump to consider Harris instead. He called for support.
Trump called Cheney “stupid as a rock” and a “war hawk” in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday. The Cheneys are among the most prominent Republican supporters of Harris.
When asked why she supported Harris, Liz Cheney explained that it was important for conservatives to support a candidate who defends the “most conservative” principle of the United States: the U.S. Constitution.
“In this campaign, we have to choose between someone who has been loyal to the Constitution, someone who will continue to be loyal to the Constitution, and Donald Trump,” Cheney said.
US Vice President Kamala Harris attends a meeting with former US Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) hosted by Charlie Sykes (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Separately, Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former Republican President Gerald Ford, also endorsed Harris on Monday.
On Monday, Harris also acknowledged the influence of the campaign. When asked if she was sleeping in Michigan, Harris said: “To be honest, I always wake up in the middle of the night these days.”
But Harris said she tries to stick to a routine. I try to eat well. I love my family so I try to talk to my kids and husband every day. ”
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared on ABC’s The View, a daytime talk show hosted by women, to discuss some of President Trump’s comments about using presidential power to go after his critics. He described it as “a story about a dictator.” Waltz also appeared on variety show The Daily Show with Jon Stewart later Monday.
If you support country, democracy and the rule of law, there is a place for you in our campaign. https://t.co/3ebj7ky8NG
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 21, 2024
What was Donald Trump doing?
Trump spent the day in North Carolina. North Carolina is a battleground state that Trump has won twice, but as of Oct. 22, the race was less than 1 point between him and Harris, according to the FiveThirtyEight polling average.
“It’s unbelievable to see this, it’s a force of nature,” President Trump said after witnessing the hurricane damage in Asheville, which is along the convoy’s route. “We can’t do anything about it, but we have to hire a better crew.” He then offered his condolences to the storm’s victims.
He repeated the false claim that the federal government doesn’t have enough money for hurricane victims because it’s being used to help illegal immigrants.
“There was no money left to give to North Carolina,” he says.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2024
Asheville was severely damaged by Helen last month, and flooding washed away roads, homes and bridges across large swathes of North Carolina.
President Trump previously accused Harris of abandoning North Carolina and leaving hurricane victims “to drown.”
He also said (without evidence) that Democrats were trying to rig the 2024 election, and also said (again without evidence) that the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden, was ruined by massive voter fraud. claimed to have become.
President Trump has said he does not plan to take any time off until the November election. “I don’t want to take a day off. We have to win,” he added. Asked if he had witnessed any irregularities that called into question the integrity of the election, President Trump said, “Well, I haven’t.”
Donald Trump prays with Mike Stewart as he visits the site of Hurricane Helen in Swannanoa, North Carolina (Reuters)
However, both parties agree on one point
The message that Harris and Trump have in common is that people need to go vote.
President Trump took to social media platform Truth Social to remind his supporters in Michigan that today is the last day to register to vote in the state, while Democrats posted on called for votes.
In North Carolina, President Trump also urged voters not to let the storm deter them from voting. “You have to go out and vote.”
“Donald Trump knows he has a chance to win back the White House to ensure success among his base. He may not have been able to persuade new voters, but he has always supported him. We can’t afford to lose the support of our people,” said Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from Greenville, North Carolina.
As the election approaches, his supporters are also rallying behind him.
Trump supporter Kevin O’Carroll said, “I can tell you this clearly: If he doesn’t participate, this country will disappear.”
Early voting is underway in nearly every state across the country, just 14 days before Election Day on November 5th.
Michigan! Are you registered to vote?
The deadline is fast approaching!
Don’t miss the most important election of our lifetimes.
Visit https://t.co/vG0nP7EghA #TooBigToRig #SwampVote pic.twitter.com/4qnPvOZnNi
— Team Trump (text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) October 18, 2024
What will happen to the Harris campaign and the Trump campaign?
Obama plans to campaign with Harris
On Tuesday, Mr. Obama heads to Detroit in his latest attempt to excite voters about Ms. Harris.
The former president and his wife Michelle remain popular with Democratic voters.
Obama, who has been touring key battleground states, is scheduled to campaign with Harris in Georgia on October 24. He faced some criticism at a recent event in Pennsylvania, where some black men objected that he was not open to the idea of a female president.
Michelle Obama will join Harris in Michigan on October 26, making her first campaign appearance this election cycle.
Former US President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Tucson, Arizona (File: Go Nakamura/Reuters)
On Tuesday, President Trump will convene a roundtable of Latino business leaders in Miami, then return to North Carolina for the second day in a row to hold a rally in Greensboro.
“The Latino community knows that President Donald J. will vote,” his campaign website states.
Trump, like his rival Harris, is scheduled to visit Detroit this week, following his recent remarks at the Detroit Economic Club on October 10 in which he criticized the city’s current situation. In his remarks, the former president said that if Harris were elected, America would become like Detroit.
It was a great honor to host the 11th Hour Faith Leadership Conference tonight in North Carolina. thank you very much! pic.twitter.com/GDFXUWtxLq
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2024