Both candidates spent most of their time in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Winning this state and the votes from the state’s 19 electors is considered very important for both candidates. The state played a decisive role in both the 2016 and 2020 elections and may also do so this year.
While Harris spent Monday entirely in Pennsylvania – with election rallies in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, among others, Trump held election rallies in both Pennsylvania and two other swing states: North Carolina and Michigan.
Last effort
Donald Trump ended his election campaign in the same place where he ended the election campaign in both 2016 and 2020, Grand Rapids in the swing state of Michigan. The meeting lasted into the late hours of the night, and he promised to lead the United States to new heights.
“With your vote tomorrow, we can solve every single problem facing our country and lead America — indeed, the world — to new days of glory,” Trump told the crowd to thunderous applause.
Harris ended the day with a large election rally outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, by the steps made famous in the movie “Rocky.” For her final speech, she was introduced by Oprah Winfrey, and Harris had a final message for the approximately 30,000 supporters in attendance.
– Our fight is not a fight against nothing, but for something… Today we end as we started: with energy, optimism and joy.
Harris brought along both Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to shine at his very last public meeting of this election campaign.
– The United States in decline
For Trump, the last day of the election campaign started in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he used the election rally to talk about his strict immigration policy and once again lashed out at his political opponents.
However, there were many empty seats in the conference hall JS Dorton Arena, which has a capacity of 5,000 spectators.
One of those present, Ebony Coots, voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, but now it’s Trump that matters. However, she is not sure that he will win.
– You know, maybe I’m actually trying to go to another planet, says the 48-year-old about the prospect of Harris winning.
Trump has recently done everything he can to portray the United States as a society in decline, and which he will do everything to save.
Puerto Rico Focuses
Harris, for his part, has focused his message on specific voter groups with the slogan “When we fight, we win”. The hope is to appeal to young voters, as well as those with Latin American and Arab backgrounds.
In recent days, she has mostly stopped mentioning Trump’s name. Instead, she refers to him as “the other guy”. She still bets on lots of laughter and joy, and has promised to be a problem solver who seeks consensus.
– In the next 24 hours, let’s enjoy this moment and knock on our neighbor’s door. Let’s get this done, she told the crowd in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Monday’s first stop.
In Pennsylvania, she also visited Allentown, where tens of thousands of people from Puerto Rico live. Here she was joined by the rapper Fat Joe. She also stopped by a Puerto Rican restaurant in Reading with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most left-leaning Democrats in Congress.
Both Fat Joe and Ocasio-Cortez have roots in Puerto Rico, and this part of the campaign appears to be a clear response to the statement that Puerto Rico is “a floating garbage island”, which a comedian recently made at one of Trump’s campaign rallies.
Door to door
Ron Kessler, a 54-year-old Air Force veteran, is among those who are convinced that Harris is the right person to lead the United States, even though he used to be a Republican. For many years he refrained from voting because he was sure that the right candidate was going to win anyway.
– Now I am older and much wiser. I think it’s important, it’s my civic duty. And it is important that I vote for myself, and that I vote for democracy and for the country, he says.
Harris also took time to go door-to-door in the town of Reading, where she met with a family of three who said they had made up their minds but would not say who they would vote for on Tuesday morning.
Lots of advance votes
A little further down the street, the Democratic candidate was greeted with a hug from a woman who could assure that “you already have my vote”.
About 78 million Americans have already voted, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida. That is almost half of all the votes that were cast in the election four years ago.
The overview also shows that far more registered Republicans have voted in advance this year than in 2020.
#Harris #Trump #final #plea #voters
**Interview with Political Analyst Sarah Johnson on the Pennsylvania Election Dynamics**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Sarah. With both candidates heavily campaigning in Pennsylvania, why do you think this state is so crucial in the electoral process?
**Sarah Johnson:** Thank you for having me! Pennsylvania is traditionally a swing state, which means it can lean toward either major political party in different elections. It holds 19 electoral votes, making it a significant prize for candidates. The state played a decisive role in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, and the patterns from those races suggest that winning Pennsylvania can often determine the overall result in a presidential race.
**Interviewer:** Right. I noticed that Kamala Harris focused her campaign entirely in Pennsylvania on the last day. How does this strategy reflect her campaign’s priorities?
**Sarah Johnson:** Harris’s decision to concentrate her efforts in Pennsylvania underscores her campaign’s recognition of the state’s importance. By rallying in cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, she aims to energize the voter base, especially among young and diverse populations. Her message of unity and optimism, highlighted by her closing rally with celebrity endorsements, is an attempt to galvanize support and increase turnout among first-time voters and demographic groups that lean Democratic.
**Interviewer:** On the other hand, Trump wrapped up his campaign in Michigan but also held events in Pennsylvania. What does this tell us about his strategy?
**Sarah Johnson:** Trump’s approach shows that he’s trying to leverage his past successes in Pennsylvania while also reinforcing his appeal to voters in Michigan, where he has historically done well. By painting a picture of the U.S. in decline and promising to restore it, he seeks to connect with voters who might feel left behind. Despite the empty seats in his North Carolina rally, his energy and promises of glory aim to reignite his base’s enthusiasm.
**Interviewer:** Interesting contrast there. Harris also seems to be shifting her focus away from directly mentioning Trump. What impact might this have?
**Sarah Johnson:** By referring to Trump as “the other guy,” Harris is likely trying to pivot away from confrontational rhetoric to a more positive, solution-oriented message. This can resonate with voters who are fatigued by partisan battles and are more interested in candidates who offer hope and solutions rather than just criticisms of their opponents. It’s a smart tactic aimed at unifying her base while appealing to undecided voters who may be looking for a fresh perspective.
**Interviewer:** With both candidates emphasizing different themes, how do you see the outcome in Pennsylvania shaping up?
**Sarah Johnson:** It’s hard to predict definitively, as turnout will be key. If Harris can mobilize young voters and minorities effectively, she could take Pennsylvania. However, if Trump can galvanize his base and attract those disillusioned voters, he might pull off a victory. The outcome hinges on which candidate can resonate more deeply with the state’s electorate in these final hours leading up to the election.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Sarah. Your insights certainly shed light on the strategies at play in this pivotal state.
**Sarah Johnson:** Thank you for having me! It’s a fascinating time in politics, and I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds.
