Bitter rivals Kamala Harris and Donald Trump embark on a frenetic final campaign on Monday, each winning the must-win state of Pennsylvania on the final day of the tensest and most tumultuous US presidential election in memory.
Republican Trump promised to achieve an “overwhelming majority” in his quest for a dramatic return to the White House, while Democrat Harris said that “momentum” was on her side in her attempt to become the first female president of the United States.
But polls suggest a different story on the eve of Election Day — a complete stalemate in polls nationally and in the seven swing states where the outcome is expected to be decided.
Now, a race of dramatic twists and turns, including two attempts to kill Trump and Harris’ shocking late entry, is reaching its fiercest battleground.
Harris is scheduled to spend the entire day campaigning in Pennsylvania, which will culminate in a rally in Philadelphia, its largest city, with the participation of singer Lady Gaga. Trump will travel to North Carolina, Pennsylvania, then Michigan.
In a sign of how important Pennsylvania is to their chances of occupying the Oval Office, Trump and Harris will hold rival rallies in the industrial city of Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania is the largest swing state prize under the US Electoral College system, which awards influence in proportion to population.
“You’re fired”
Both sides say they are encouraged by the huge early turnout numbers, with more than 78 million people already casting their votes, about half the total number of votes cast in 2020.
The stunning closeness in the race for the White House in 2024 reflects a deep division in the United States, as it chooses between two candidates whose visions could not be more different.
Former President Trump has doubled down on his dark and violent rhetoric as he seeks a second term that will make him the first convicted felon and, at 78, the oldest major party elected nominee ever.
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris made a stunning rise to the top of the Democratic ticket after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July.
Harris hopes abortion is a major issue that could hurt Trump, especially among female voters, while Trump has focused on immigrants and the economy and called political opponents the “enemy within.”
They both embarked on a frantic winding journey through swing states, with raucous rallies and even an appearance by Harris on the popular TV show “Saturday Night Live.”
On the campaign trail Sunday, Trump told supporters he wouldn’t mind if journalists were shot, raised baseless claims of election fraud and spoke in gory detail of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
“Kamala, you’re fired, get out,” Trump told cheering supporters in Macon, Georgia.
Trump also said he “didn’t have to leave” the White House after he lost his 2020 re-election bid to Biden, then tried to overturn the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
Fears are growing that he will once again refuse to accept defeat.
“We have momentum”
For Harris’ part, after a series of encouraging recent polls, she told a raucous crowd in Michigan on Sunday, “We have momentum — it’s in our favor.”
The world is anxiously watching the elections, which could have profound consequences for conflicts in the Middle East and the Russian war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the final days of the election campaign saw both candidates offering high-profile alternatives.
Right-wing tech mogul Elon Musk has made controversial $1 million giveaways to registered voters, while Harris has relied on the star power of former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and singer Beyoncé.
But outgoing President Biden has been noticeably absent from the track since making the mistake of calling Trump supporters “trash” last week.
Biden will spend most of the last day of the campaign at the White House, while Harris will start her day with an event in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania.