- Trump schedules interview and rally in Nevada.
- Trump and Harris hope to appeal to Hispanic voters.
- Both will be in North Carolina this weekend.
Washington: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump set off westward in their decisive race for the White House on Thursday, seeking to gain an edge on border security and attract important Latino voters days before the US elections.
Pop singer Jennifer Lopez will bring her star power to the stage for Harris in Las Vegas, as candidates compete in the seven swing states expected to decide the next president.
Meanwhile, Trump scheduled an interview in Arizona with the former president.Fox News Host Tucker Carlson and a rally in Nevada.
Both campaigns have been sidetracked in recent days following controversies stemming from a statement made by a speaker at a rally for Trump, who initially turned on Republicans before a devastating gaffe from President Joe Biden.
Harris made political gains from the comedian, who described the US territory of Puerto Rico as a “floating garbage island,” and won the support of Puerto Rican star Lopez, rapper Bad Bunny and singer Ricky Martin.
But she then found herself on the defensive after Biden appeared to call Trump supporters “trash,” prompting the Democratic nominee to say she disagreed with criticism of people based on who they vote for.
Trump, who called Harris’ allies “trash” at a public rally, was quick to pounce on the mistake with a publicity stunt when he climbed into a garbage truck at an airport in Wisconsin.
The 78-year-old will also visit New Mexico on Thursday — a surprise invitation because polls suggest the state will go to Harris by a comfortable margin.
“lock weapons”
Both candidates, campaigning in the West, hope to appeal to Hispanic voters and take credit on the crucial issue of immigration in the election.
Trump is betting that frustrations over the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policy will tip the balance in Arizona, which shares a border with Mexico, in his favor.
Biden defeated Trump in Arizona in 2020, becoming the first Democrat since Bill Clinton in 1996 to win the state’s electoral college votes.
Latinos have traditionally voted more Democratic, but recent polls show a marked trend toward Republicans.
Latest New York TimesThe Siena poll showed Harris had 52% support among Hispanic voters compared to 42% for Trump.
Both candidates will be in North Carolina this weekend as part of a blitz of hotly contested states, with Harris also visiting Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania before Election Day.
Speaking in Wisconsin on Wednesday, the vice president shared a message of unity that followed her “closing argument” speech the night before at a rally in Washington, D.C.
“People are exhausted and want the finger-pointing to stop,” she said. “It is time we start linking arms together as a people who rise and fall together.”
Trump – who has been convicted of 34 felonies for crimes related to the 2016 election – is widely expected to reject the outcome of Tuesday’s election if he loses.
The Republican is already exploiting popular checks by election officials to amplify his claims of widespread “cheating.”
More than 57 million Americans have cast their ballots via early or mail-in voting so far, more than a third of 2020’s total.