As the United States enters the final month of the most unpredictable presidential election in modern history, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are locked in a tense race that could reshape the future of the nation. Both candidates have framed the election as crucial for America’s future, with polls showing a neck-and-neck contest that is too close to call.
The 2024 race has unfolded with intense drama, as Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman to serve as vice president, replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee in a stunning turn of events. On the Republican side, Donald Trump, having survived two assassination attempts, is vying for an unprecedented return to the White House.
With just weeks to go, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Trump, 78, and Harris, 59, are offering voters vastly different visions for the future, while tensions are rising over concerns about election integrity, a potential repeat of the 2020 chaos, and pressing international crises.
In the final stretch, Harris and Trump—along with their running mates, Democratic Governor Tim Walz and Republican Senator J.D. Vance—are focusing their efforts on seven swing states that are likely to determine the outcome: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Harris is campaigning on a message of unity and progress with the slogan “We’re Not Going Back.” She pledges to protect abortion rights and build what she calls an “opportunity economy.” Her rise from California senator to vice president has been rapid, but she remains relatively unknown to many voters.
Trump, on the other hand, is running on a platform of hard-right populism, vowing to “Make America Great Again” and presenting himself as the only solution to what he describes as a nation in decline. Despite being the first convicted felon to run for president, Trump’s base remains fiercely loyal. His harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric, including claims that migrants are poisoning the country, is central to his campaign.
The election was turned on its head just three months ago. The race was originally set to be a rematch between Trump and Biden, 81, who was running for a second term. But during a disastrous debate performance, Biden faltered, fuelling concerns about his age and prompting him to step aside, passing the torch to Harris.
Harris quickly erased Trump’s polling lead, generating enthusiasm with her rallies and fundraising efforts. Trump, blindsided by Biden’s exit and facing a much younger opponent, suddenly found himself in a tighter race. His campaign was dealt another blow when he survived a shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania, an event that shocked the nation.
Despite her surge, Harris insists that she remains the underdog in the race, with polls predicting a nail-biting finish.
As the final votes are cast, the possibility of legal challenges and disputed results looms large. If the outcome is contested, it could take days or even weeks to resolve, meaning the 2024 election could stretch into January before a winner is declared.