Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made their final appeals on Monday, just hours before Election Day when voters will either select the first woman president of the United States or allow the Republican to make an unusual comeback that could shake the global landscape.
With surveys indicating a tie, Trump vowed to elevate the United States to “new heights of glory,” Harris declared that “the momentum is on our side” as the adversaries wrapped up their last rallies in key swing states for the 2024 election.
The Democratic vice president concluded on an uplifting note in Philadelphia, which is vital for winning Pennsylvania, delivering her speech on the steps made famous by the movie “Rocky.”
Harris remarked, “This could be one of the closest races in history—every single vote counts,” as notable figures like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey accompanied her.
At 60, Harris has often portrayed herself as the underdog, entering the race three months after President Joe Biden withdrew. Nonetheless, she expressed confidence in her victory.
In his closing rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, former President Trump was joined by several family members, although his wife Melania was noticeably absent.
Their concluding messages highlighted the significance of voter turnout in a closely contested election. Both campaigns expressed optimism about early voting, with over 82 million ballots already cast, but now they need to rally their supporters for Election Day.
An invigorated Trump stated that his followers can “position ourselves for victory, which we can easily achieve if we show up.”
Polling places on the East Coast will open at 6:00 am (1100 GMT) Tuesday, but in the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch, they commenced at midnight, resulting in three votes each for Trump and Harris.
In the final days of campaigning, the Republicans and Democrats have shared dramatically different messages.
While addressing a crowd in Reading, Pennsylvania, Trump painted a grim picture of a United States in decline and overwhelmed by illegal immigrants, whom he referred to as “savages” and “animals.”
On the other hand, Harris emphasised her opposition to Trump-supported abortion bans throughout the nation, a crucial stance for garnering votes.
However, she also adopted an optimistic, centrist perspective, calling for a “fresh start” following nearly ten years of Trump influencing U.S. political discussions.
At 78, Trump is the oldest major party nominee ever to run for the presidency.
Despite facing the consequences of criminal convictions and the controversy surrounding the violent attack by his supporters on Congress four years prior, when he refused to acknowledge the result of the 2020 election, he enters Election Day with significant advantages.
Trump has focused on voter worries regarding the economy and illegal immigration, while his aggressive language resonates strongly with his right-wing base.
Harris, who has had just three months to establish her campaign, has successfully energised the Democratic Party and sparked enthusiasm among younger voters and women.
The international community is watching closely, as the election’s outcome will have considerable consequences for conflicts in the Middle East and Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as efforts to address climate change, which Trump dismisses as a hoax.
The immediate concern is that U.S. democracy may be put to the test if Trump experiences a loss but refuses to concede, just as he did four years ago when his supporters stormed the Capitol.
With Trump having narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in July and authorities preventing a second alleged plot, the threat of violence is palpable.
Many businesses and office buildings are being boarded up in anticipation of potential unrest in Washington.