Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both predicted victory as they campaigned across Pennsylvania and other battleground states on Monday, the last frantic day of an exceptionally close US presidential election.
The campaign has seen dramatic developments, including two assassination attempts and a felony conviction for Republican former President Trump, along with Democratic Vice President Harris’ unexpected rise to the top of the ticket after President Joe Biden, 81, withdrew his reelection bid amid pressure from his party.
According to AdImpact, an analytics firm, over $2.6 billion has been spent to influence voters since March.
Despite the twists, opinion polls indicate that Trump, 78, and Harris, 60, are virtually tied. The outcome may remain uncertain for days following Tuesday’s vote, although Trump has already indicated he will contest any defeat, mirroring his actions in 2020.
On Monday, both candidates rallied in Pennsylvania, urging supporters who have yet to cast their ballots to make their voices heard on Election Day. The state holds the largest share of Electoral College votes among the seven battleground states anticipated to determine the election’s outcome.
In addition to Pennsylvania, Trump campaigned in North Carolina and Michigan on the campaign’s final full day before returning to his home in Palm Beach, Florida, to vote and await election results.
Harris made five campaign stops in Pennsylvania, including visits to Reading and Pittsburgh, where Trump also campaigned. She concluded her day in Philadelphia with a star-studded event at the “Rocky steps” of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, famous for its iconic scene from the movie “Rocky.”
Despite the support of high-profile celebrities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey, who energised the Philadelphia crowd prior to her arrival, Harris referred to herself as the underdog, ready to “climb to victory” like Rocky.
“The momentum is on our side,” Harris declared to a crowd that chanted, “We will win.” She added,
“Tonight, then, we finish as we started, with optimism, with energy, with joy,” predicting one of the closest elections in US history.
In Allentown, Harris reached out to the city’s significant Puerto Rican community, who were angered by a comedian’s remarks at a Trump rally last week. She also engaged in door-knocking in Reading and held a brief rally in Pittsburgh, where pop star Katy Perry performed.
Trump led his fourth and final rally just after midnight in a packed arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, continuing a tradition of holding his last event in the city for three consecutive presidential elections. He emphasised his signature issues, such as enhancing border security, while criticising the economic performance of the Biden-Harris administration.
This rally could also mark the end of his campaign career, as Trump has stated he does not plan to run for president again if he does not succeed in Tuesday’s election.
“This is the last one,” Trump said, estimating he has conducted 930 rallies since launching his first campaign in 2015.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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