Ahead of the US vote, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump stepped up their strategy to achieve victory in the election in a number of key swing states.
Two days before the vote, the race between Harris and Trump is nearly even, especially in seven key states that will likely determine the winner of the next White House, reports NBC News on Saturday (2/11).
US Election Day, including the presidential and congressional elections, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5.
Both campaigns relied on targeted approaches to key voter groups to outperform opponents, highlighting the unique dynamics and challenges each candidate faced.
Harris Strategy
Harris’ campaign’s main concern is maintaining the strong support of Black and Latino voters, groups that have historically tended to support Democrats but have shown hesitation in recent surveys.
In 2020, Joe Biden received the support of 92% of Black voters and 59% of Latino voters.
Harris will have to ensure these numbers remain stable, especially as several surveys show growing interest in Trump among minority groups.
Harris’ team hopes that support from Black, Latino and Asian American voters will be crucial in balancing Trump’s progress in other areas.
Harris is also banking on the widening gender gap working in her favor, as women, especially those motivated by the issue of abortion rights, tend to support the Democratic platform.
Since Trump’s appointment of conservative judges in 2016 which later resulted in the repeal of the Roe v. Wade decision. Wade, who provided a general constitutional right to abortion, Harris made reproductive rights a primary focus to appeal to women voters.
In an effort to attract the interest of young women, she recently appeared on the podcast “Call Her Daddy,” a popular platform among young women who are typically less involved in politics.
Harris’ efforts in suburban areas are also an important focus. He targeted suburban moderates, independents and Republicans disillusioned by Trump’s divisive rhetoric.
Republicans such as Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have publicly supported Harris, hoping to appeal to center-right voters.
Meanwhile, Trump has focused on rural areas and low-education areas, where his support is typically strong.
Trump’s focus
However, Trump is adapting his approach to appeal to young male voters increasingly disillusioned with traditional politics.
He leverages alternative media platforms, such as Joe Rogan’s podcast, to reach demographics that tend to consume outside content media mainstream.
Young male voters, who in previous elections tended to support Democratic candidates, could now be the deciding group that gives Trump an important advantage.
Meanwhile Trump’s campaign has relied heavily on allies such as Turning Point Action and America PAC, which is linked to billionaire Elon Musk.
However, the move raised concerns among some Republican Party (GOP) strategists, who were concerned about the lack of a sound on-the-ground strategy.
The door-to-door approach, a hallmark of traditional campaigns, has lacked consistency in Trump’s field operations, which could impact voter turnout in closely contested states.
Blue Wall
Electoral maps show that Midwest states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, once reliably Democratic, are again important battlegrounds.
Known as Blue Wall or blue wall as various states that tend to vote Democratic. Where as many as three states decided to support Trump in 2016, but again supported Biden in 2020.
Harris and Trump each spent significant time campaigning in the region, understanding that the state could potentially determine the outcome of the election.
Harris is focused on increasing support from white, college-educated voters in the area, who provided significant support for Biden in 2020.
Trump, aiming to repeat his 2016 success, closed the campaign with a rally in the Midwest, emphasizing his economic platform and tough stance on immigration.
Trump’s rallies in Michigan, Pennsylvania and other key states signaled his intent to win back support in the industrial Midwest.
Although Trump succeeded in winning support from Latino and black voters, his campaign messages often generated negative reactions.
Recent events, including a rally where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made racial comments, risk alienating minority voters.
Despite these challenges, Trump’s team remains hopeful that dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party among minority groups can translate into support for his campaign, especially in states with significant Latino populations such as Arizona and Nevada.
The final push
Entering the final stage, the field actions of each campaign can be decisive. Harris’ campaign has invested heavily in grassroots efforts, with a team dedicated to door-knockingvoter mobilization, as well as ensuring high levels of participation.
Instead, Trump focused more on his media approach and rallies, relying on figures like Elon Musk to amplify his message instead of building a traditional ground infrastructure.
This strategy has raised concerns among GOP strategists who fear the move could have a negative impact in states with narrow vote margins.
In what appears to be a tight race, both candidates hope their unique approaches will appeal to key demographics and lead to victory.
With polls showing a tight race in several key states, the outcome of this presidential election may depend on voter turnout and last-minute swings in support.
The 2024 elections are expected to end in fierce competition, with each vote playing an important role in determining the country’s future leadership.
Key states are particularly important because the US does not elect the president directly, but rather through the Electoral College system in which 538 representatives vote according to the results of their states.
A candidate must win 270 votes Electoral College to win the general election.
Electors are allocated to states based on population. Many states award all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state. (Anadolu/Fer/P-3)
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**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Sarah Thompson on the Recent US Presidential Election Trends**
**Interviewer**: Welcome, Dr. Thompson. With Kamala Harris recently losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, what are your initial thoughts on what went wrong for her campaign?
**Dr. Thompson**: Thank you for having me. There are several factors at play here. Harris’s campaign was heavily focused on maintaining voter support among Black and Latino communities, which have typically aligned with Democrats. However, polls indicated a shift in these demographics towards Trump, suggesting that his messaging found some traction, particularly among young voters.
**Interviewer**: Interesting. You mentioned young voters. How did Trump’s approach resonate with that demographic in particular?
**Dr. Thompson**: Trump’s use of alternative media platforms, like Joe Rogan’s podcast, allowed him to connect with younger male voters who are often disenchanted with traditional politics. This demographic has historically leaned Democratic, but Trump’s ability to pivot and engage them effectively may have played a key role in his victory.
**Interviewer**: What about the strategies employed by Harris? Were there any critical vulnerabilities she failed to address?
**Dr. Thompson**: Harris’s campaign aimed at issues that resonate with women, particularly reproductive rights. While that strategy targeted suburban women effectively, it seems she underestimated the importance of the economic concerns in swing states, where Trump emphasized job growth and immigration. Moreover, Harris’s efforts to engage suburban moderates and disillusioned Republicans may not have been enough to sway those crucial voters.
**Interviewer**: So, with both candidates focusing on swing states, how crucial were these regions in determining the outcome?
**Dr. Thompson**: Extremely crucial. States like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, known as the “Blue Wall,” were pivotal. Harris needed to bolster her support among white, college-educated voters who had leaned Democratic in previous elections, while Trump aimed to reclaim his 2016 support in these areas. The last-minute rallies and targeted messaging in these states suggested both candidates understood that winning here could swing the electoral vote.
**Interviewer**: looking ahead, what lessons do you think both parties can draw from this election?
**Dr. Thompson**: For Democrats, there’s a clear need to address voter concerns beyond social issues; economic stability remains a significant factor. For Republicans, focusing on grassroots strategies and building a consistent ground game will be key to maintaining support, especially among minority groups. Both parties must adapt to the changing landscape of voter preferences to remain competitive in the future.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Dr. Thompson, for your insights on this significant electoral outcome.
**Dr. Thompson**: My pleasure! Thank you for having me.