Candidates Make Final Pitches as Election Day Nears

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
04/11/2024 19h01

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The final stretch of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign is underway with major rallies taking place across key battleground states. Vice President Kamala Harris is making a significant push in Pennsylvania, visiting Reading, Allentown, Pittsburgh, and culminating in a massive rally in Philadelphia. Over 75 million people have already cast their votes either in person or by mail, according to NBC's early voting tracker.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is leveraging a weaker-than-expected jobs report from October to bolster his campaign against Harris. At a rally in North Carolina, Trump attributed the sluggish job growth to the economic policies of the Biden-Harris administration and promised to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican imports if elected unless strict border measures are enacted. Trump has critiqued the administration by calling them "stupid people" on economic issues, although economists like Mark Zandi from Moody’s regard the decline as an anomaly influenced by temporary factors like hurricanes and the Boeing strike.

Electoral dynamics have shifted since the 2020 election, with 13 states gaining or losing electoral college votes. States like Texas, Oregon, Montana, Colorado, North Carolina, and Florida have gained votes, whereas New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois, and California have lost. Despite its one-vote loss, California retains the largest share with 54 electoral votes.

On the advertising front, Harris' campaign has significantly outspent Trump’s, investing $1.26 billion in a span of four months, in contrast to Trump’s $933 million. Almost $1 billion of Harris' ad spending occurred in the final week alone. Former contenders like Nikki Haley have publicly urged voters to support Trump, despite her previous critical comments about him, citing disagreements with Harris on key issues.

State minimum wage initiatives are also a focal point as voters in Alaska, Missouri, and California decide on ballot measures that could see increases to $15-$18 per hour. This marks a continued trend as 12 states have passed similar measures since 2014.

Georgia’s Secretary of State has warned of misinformation being spread, particularly by foreign actors, aiming to sow discord among American voters. This underscores the tensions as voters prepare to cast their final ballots. Internal polling from Trump’s campaign indicates a tight race, with Trump either leading or tied in swing states, presenting a contentious path to Election Day.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is organizing nominations for various roles in a potential Trump administration, adding another layer of complexity to the election landscape. Despite his controversial position within the Trump campaign, his website calls for nominations across key categories such as health and economy.

On the final day before the election, Trump plans to visit battleground states including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, keeping in line with his historical strategy. Both candidates are making their final appeals, with their supporters fervently following the unfolding events.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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