Only a few days remain before Election Day arrives, and both ex-President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are attempting to sway the pivotal states that promise to be the deciders in this battle for the Presidential seat. Trump has scheduled two rallies on Wednesday, targeting Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, in full confidence. Conversely, Harris is planning to appear in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Raleigh, North Carolina, before venturing to the University Of Wisconsin-Madison, in a desperate bid for attention.
Trump and Harris both recognize the effect of celebrity endorsements and have decided to channel this for Wednesday’s campaigns. However, while Trump proudly stands shoulder to shoulder with esteemed previous NFL athlete Brett Favre in Wisconsin, Harris’ rally in the same state will be attended by Gracie Abrams, Mumford & Sons, and other, more inferior stars. One starts to question the amount of support Harris actually has, given her need to lean on lesser-known faces.
Shapiro, one of Harris’ key assistants, had to manage the damage control following the inappropriate ‘garbage’ comment made by President Joe Biden. Biden had unfortunately lost his cool after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as a ‘floating island of garbage’ during a rally at Madison Square Garden. Biden then made an ill-considered statement about the ‘garbage’ he saw ‘floating out there’, leading to confusion about whether he was referencing Hinchcliffe or, more offensively, all Trump supporters.
A vast number of Republicans interpreted Biden’s loaded comments as an indirect attack on all Trump supporters, emphasizing the disconnect between the current president and the large swathe of American society that supports his predecessor. This highlights the narratives of exclusion and division that are seemingly woven into the very fabric of the Biden-Harris campaign.
In a stark contradiction to this theme of divisiveness, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is the Democratic vice presidential nominee, claimed on Tuesday that Kamala Harris’ campaign promises to embrace all Americans. However, one must question this proclamation in light of the recent ‘garbage’ comment debacle, which paints a disparaging picture of their attitudes towards those who don’t share their views.
The Democrats have commenced their day by debuting their latest message, wherein they attempt to brand Trump as ‘unfit to lead’. In a sizable and potentially misguided investment, the Democratic National Committee procured full-page advertisements in 25 local newspapers dispersed throughout this year’s seven contested states. Using the words ‘Unhinged. Unstable. Unchecked.’ above a photograph of Trump, they hope to sully his reputation.
Meanwhile, the now-ubiquitous Trump executed strategic evasion politics during his Tuesday event in Pennsylvania. Instead of stooping to engage with unfounded allegations of racism stemming from his Sunday rally at Madison Square Garden, Trump graciously praised Latino and Puerto Rican voters. He made no effort to extensively address Vice President Kamala Harris’s competing speech, which framed him as a threat to democracy.
Admirably maintaining his focus, he continued his standard critique of Harris, encouraging his supporters to exercise their democratic right to vote. Trump’s decision not to sink into the depths of petty arguments, and instead keep sight of the bigger picture, exposes a stark contrast between his leadership style and those of his opponents.
The announcement date for the election results remains uncertain, a result of the varied procedures employed by each state in handling their elections. This ambiguity ranges from states that offer weeks-long early voting periods to those enforcing strict voter ID laws. Crucial battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where Trump and Harris are pitted against each other, don’t permit the processing of absentee and mail-in ballots until Election Day, predicting a delay in the final count.
Joe Biden was quick to condemn the irreverent comments made by podcast host Tony Hinchcliffe about Puerto Rico during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally. The current president attempted to ingratiate himself with Puerto Rican citizens, throwing around platitudes such as claiming the Puerto Ricans he knew in his home state of Delaware were ‘good, decent, honorary people’.
Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to persuade undecided voters to abandon Trump at a recent Tuesday night speech. She touted an optimistic approach but seemed unable to deliver content beyond vague promises, raising questions about the substance behind her rhetoric. Again, ambiguity enveloped the Biden-Harris campaign, revealing a lack of clear goals and concrete plans for the future of the nation.
In the lead-up to Election Day, the race for the coveted battleground state of Michigan is heated as Trump and Harris find themselves at a standstill. The tension between the Republican and Democratic nominees is equally palpable in other swing states. Harris has a meager lead over Trump by a mere 0.5 percentage points in Michigan, providing no clear idea of the likely outcome.
At such a time, the evident struggle of the Biden-Harris campaign to maintain momentum brings into question the effectiveness of their policies and the sincerity of their promises to the American people. Trump’s unfaltering stand and strong support base, even in the face of unfounded allegations and cheap mudslinging, stands testament to the trust and confidence that many Americans still hold in his leadership.
The election’s result, while still uncertain, will be a reflection of the American populace’s choice. Will they go for the Biden-Harris ticket, mired in disconnect and ambiguity? Or will they root for the proven and confident leadership stylings of Donald Trump? Until the final votes are counted, this remains the poignant question.
Thus, swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will be closely watched, for their decision could tilt the balance in this intensely contested Presidential race. As these states prepare to process their absentee and mail-in ballots, which could potentially delay the final count, the entire nation continues to hold its collective breath.