On the eve of the momentous vote, Trump and Harris make their final push in Pennsylvania

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both claimed confidence in victory as they campaigned across Pennsylvania on Monday, the final push in a high-stakes and closely contested U.S. presidential race.

The campaign has featured unexpected twists: two assassination attempts, a felony conviction for former President Trump, and Democratic Vice President Harris’ unexpected ascent as the presidential nominee after President Joe Biden, 81, withdrew from the race under internal party pressure. Over $2.6 billion has been spent on voter persuasion efforts since March, per analytics firm AdImpact.

Polls indicate a virtual tie between Trump, 78, and Harris, 60. Although the official winner may not be determined for several days after Tuesday's election, Trump has already signaled plans to contest any loss, as he did in 2020.

Both candidates converged in Pennsylvania on the eve of Election Day, urging undecided supporters to vote. Pennsylvania, the largest among the seven battleground states, could play a decisive role in the Electoral College outcome.

Trump held a major rally in Pittsburgh, delivering his "final closing message" in the campaign’s last hours. “We've waited four years for this,” he said, framing his campaign as a comeback after his 2020 defeat to Biden. He emphasized economic issues, claiming that a Harris presidency would spell economic hardship.

"A vote for Trump means cheaper groceries, higher paychecks, safer streets, stronger communities, and a brighter future," he declared.

Meanwhile, Harris addressed supporters in Allentown, promising to represent "all Americans" if elected. She appealed directly to the city’s large Puerto Rican community, some of whom were offended by remarks from a comedian at a recent Trump rally. Harris also visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in Reading and went door-to-door, greeting residents.

"With one day to go, I wanted to stop by and ask for your support," Harris told one voter and her husband.

Both campaigns showed confidence. Harris’ team reported that volunteers had canvassed hundreds of thousands of doors across swing states. The campaign noted that undecided voters appeared to be leaning toward Harris and that early voting was strong among key demographics, particularly young voters and people of color. Tom Bonier, CEO of the Democratic analytics firm TargetSmart, said the data showed high enthusiasm among Democratic-leaning groups, especially women, with no comparable surge among young men, a demographic the Trump campaign targeted.

Gender Gap

The Trump campaign noted early voting patterns showing more women voting than men. This is critical given Harris’ 50% to 38% lead among female voters in an October Reuters/Ipsos poll, while Trump led men 48% to 41%. Elon Musk, a prominent Trump backer, urged men to vote via his X social media platform.

Trump’s campaign outsourced much of its voter outreach to external groups, including one run by Musk, focusing on mobilizing supporters who don’t typically vote, rather than undecided individuals. Musk recently received a Pennsylvania court’s approval to continue his $1 million voter incentive, after facing legal scrutiny over its legality.

In Reading, Trump vowed to keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports as supporters waved "Women for Trump" signs, while reiterating his position that abortion legislation should be a state decision. He also pledged to "protect women, whether the women like it or not," referencing the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended nationwide abortion rights.

One Trump campaign official was optimistic, suggesting they could carry North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona, but acknowledged that winning a key Rust Belt state like Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania would be crucial. Republicans were also reportedly encouraged by early voting in Nevada and North Carolina’s western counties, despite recent hurricanes.

Senior adviser Jason Miller stated, "The numbers show that President Trump is poised to win. We’re feeling positive about our standing."

False Fraud Claims

Trump and his allies, who claim his 2020 defeat was due to fraud, have laid the groundwork to challenge the result if he loses again. He has promised "retribution" if elected, expressed intentions to prosecute political rivals, and labeled Democrats as "the enemy from within."

Harris' campaign dismissed Trump's fraud claims, with legal advisor Dana Remus stating, "Voters choose the president, not Donald Trump."

Arizona officials debunked an online video alleging Republicans were removed from voter rolls, calling it false.

Trump spent the last campaign day in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan before returning to Florida to cast his ballot and await results. Harris scheduled five Pennsylvania stops, including cities visited by Trump, and planned to end the day with a rally in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, featuring appearances by Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Oprah Winfrey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paraphrasing text from "Reuters" all rights reserved by the original author.