In a climactic conclusion to a U.S. presidential campaign marked by extraordinary events, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are making last-ditch efforts across key battleground states in the final hours before Election Day. The race promises a historic outcome, no matter the winner.
Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee, is set to spend all Monday rallying in Pennsylvania, a critical state with 19 electoral votes. Her campaign will traverse working-class areas, from Allentown to a culminating late-night rally in Philadelphia featuring star-studded support from Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey. Trump, the Republican nominee, will hold four rallies in three states, including multiple events in Pennsylvania, before ending his campaign in Grand Rapids, Michigan, mirroring his 2016 and 2020 strategies.
This election has been unusual, taking place against the backdrop of a series of high-profile incidents, including Trump’s felony conviction in a hush-money case, several assassination attempts, and President Joe Biden’s unexpected exit from the race. Harris, who ascended to the top of the ticket following Biden’s departure, is vying to become the first woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian to serve as U.S. president. Trump, meanwhile, seeks to become the first U.S. president convicted of a felony to win the White House and only the second to serve non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s.
As of Monday, over 77 million Americans have already cast their ballots early. Both candidates are pushing for high voter turnout among their respective bases on Election Day. Harris’s message centers on “generational change” and unity, and she emphasizes her advocacy for abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling reversing federal abortion protections. Harris is also focused on tackling issues ranging from economic inequality to safeguarding democracy, having previously described Trump as “a threat to democracy” and, in recent days, endorsing criticisms that frame his governance style as “fascist.”
Reflecting on her campaign’s ethos, Harris remarked on Sunday at Michigan State University, “From the very start, our campaign has not been about being against something, it is about being for something.”
Trump, reviving his “Make America Great Again” slogan, has centered his campaign on promises to end inflation, secure the U.S. southern border, and usher in an economic “golden age.” However, his campaign has frequently taken a darker tone, as he denounced perceived injustices, including his prosecution, and renewed his accusations of widespread voter fraud. In a recent rally, Trump told supporters, “Kamala broke it. I will fix it,” highlighting his intention to tackle the previous administration’s policies.
The election will hinge on outcomes in seven swing states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. Trump previously won several of these states in 2016 but lost them to Biden in 2020. Both campaigns have mobilized considerable resources; Harris’s campaign boasts over 90,000 volunteers and claims to have knocked on more than three million doors. Trump’s team aims to attract a diverse voter base, including young and working-class voters.
With unprecedented stakes, the U.S. election could redefine the global political landscape depending on which candidate emerges victorious in this historic, divisive contest.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
