One of the most closely contested US elections in recent times enters its final two weeks on Tuesday, with Republican Donald Trump pitching Latino voters and Democratic rival Kamala Harris appearing on national television.
Both campaigns are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a final drive for undecided voters who could tip the scales in their favor, with polls showing the candidates deadlocked ahead of Election Day.
About 18 million Americans have already voted by mail or in person, accounting for more than 10% of the total in 2020, and turnout might possibly determine who wins the White House.
Whatever the outcome, on November 5, Americans will create history by electing either the first woman president of the world’s biggest superpower or the first convicted felon to the White House.
Some recent polls suggest to give Trump, at 78, the oldest nominee from a major party in US history, a modest advantage — but all within the margin of error.
The former president continues to refuse to acknowledge his 2020 election loss to departing President Joe Biden and is anticipated to dispute the outcome if he loses, perhaps throwing the United States into anarchy.
The Obama factor
Harris, the vice president who entered the race in July when Biden dropped out, will speak with NBC on Tuesday.
The 60-year-old, who celebrated her birthday this weekend, will also send two of her party’s most popular representatives on the campaign trail: Barack and Michelle Obama.
The former Democratic president and first lady will attend at rallies in the coming days, perhaps alongside Harris, in three of the seven most closely contested swing states that will likely decide the election.
Trump, whose anti-migrant rhetoric is becoming harsher and more radical by the day, will participate in a roundtable discussion with Latino voters at one of his Florida properties.
The Republican will then fly to North Carolina, another swing state where he campaigned on Monday, for a rally supposedly focused on the economy.
He rarely keeps to the theme at his rallies, however, and has been chastised for a tumultuous few weeks, which have included rambling monologues and threats to weaponize the military against Democrats, whom he refers to as “the enemy from within.”
One recent broadcast town hall devolved into a strange, unplanned music session, with Trump abandoning election talk to play his favorite favorites while swaying on stage.
The Harris campaign has begun to focus on his mental and physical health for the presidency.
However, a flood of MAGA-capped followers continue to go to his rallies, persuaded that he is the victim of political persecution or that Democrats are making threats against him.
Democrats are also attempting to lure moderate Republicans alienated by Trump’s dark language and scandals.
Harris has pushed to position herself as a “joyful warrior” looking to turn the page on Trump’s years of anger and usher in a new era of American political leadership.
Harris will do an interview with Spanish-language TV network Telemundo on Tuesday, likely focusing on jobs, housing, and the cost of living.