The face-off between the vice-presidential nominees, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota and Senator JD Vance of Ohio, is set to dominate proceedings during the upcoming high-profile debate this Tuesday in New York. But both contenders seem to be employing varied strategies to gear up for the confrontation. While Senator Vance is honing his skills through interactive Q&A sessions with fans, Governor Walz is preparing by engaging in mock debates with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Vice President Kamala Harris, currently on a break from the campaign trail, recently made another futile attempt at persuading former President Trump for an additional presidential debate, following a rally at Las Vegas. Trump, who had earlier faced bipartisan criticism for his discrediting remarks about Harris, plans to visit Georgia to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Harris and Trump appear keen on swinging states. Last week, Harris gave a speech on her economic strategy in Pennsylvania, and another focused on border security in Arizona. The latter was dubbed the most aggressive Democratic stance on immigration seen in modern years. Meanwhile, Trump toured battleground states, including Wisconsin over the weekend, and planned a Pennsylvania visit on Sunday.
As the countdown to the Election Day reaches T-minus 36, Trump’s repeated onslaught against Harris has escalated at rallies in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Erie, Pennsylvania. These attacks included derogatory references to her mental health, leading to a rebuke from ex-Republican Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, who criticized Trump’s slurs as demeaning towards Harris and people with mental disabilities.
On the eve of the vice-presidential debate, Governor Walz was spotted at a pumpkin farm in Michigan, taking a brief respite from the grueling preparations. In Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, voters seem to regard Walz more favorably than Vance, according to recent surveys conducted by The New York Times and Siena College.
Voting procedures have also come under scrutiny in the run-up to the election. Republicans have filed multiple lawsuits challenging these processes in Pennsylvania, Nevada, among others. These legal maneuvers might signal extensive post-election court feud, drawing parallels with the thrice-fold increase in pre-election lawsuits witnessed in the previous round in 2020, as per Democracy Docket, a Democratic Party-affiliated entity.
Harris, who recently gave a speech in the battleground state of Nevada, edges out Trump by a single percentage point in the polls. However, as Harris’s focus shifts towards securing the ‘blue wall’ states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Nevada and other southwestern battlegrounds like Arizona are no longer high on her priority list.
Regardless of this shift, Harris’s campaign staff and allies see a viable route to victory via the Sun Belt states. They credit their efficient ground team in these areas. The vice president utilized her speech in Nevada to spark a discourse against ‘corporate price gouging’ while emphasizing tax reliefs for parents with young children and first-time homeowners.
Border control was the primary concern when Harris visited Arizona on the preceding Friday. The hardliner approach adopted by Harris was the most stringent stance a Democratic presidential candidate has taken on immigration in the past few decades.
Harris’s popularity among Hispanic voters surpasses that of Biden, as per recent polls. However, the endorsement, particularly from male voters, still trails past records achieved by the Democrats. Lower levels of backing have also been registered among Black men.
Representative Steven Horsford of Nevada seized the opportunity to bridge this gap while addressing the crowd in Las Vegas. Hospitalizing the event’s rhetoric with assertions that Trump’s policies would undermine the access of Black men and Latino men to healthcare, education, and well-paying jobs, he said, while endangering women’s right to abortion, Horsford called for unity despite attempts at driving wedges between the communities.
Trump’s repeated visits symbolize the political significance of Pennsylvania, with a return to Butler, the location of his July 13 rally. JD Vance held dual events in Pennsylvania the previous Saturday, showcasing the importance of this battleground state. Meanwhile, Harris utilized the backdrop of Pittsburgh for a significant discourse on the economy earlier last week.
Harris’s acknowledgment of her underdog status during a fundraiser in Los Angeles implies an understanding of the fierce competitive nature of this race. Yet despite the circumstances, the Vice President remained steadfast in her resolve to best Trump in the upcoming elections.