The U.S. presidential race reached a fever pitch Monday as candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made a last-chance sprint across must-win swing states, focusing heavily on Pennsylvania. With both sides neck-and-neck in national polls and seven swing states likely to determine the outcome, the two candidates are staging final rallies and outreach efforts to tip the scales in what looks to be one of the closest races in recent history.
Trump, 78, addressed a large rally in North Carolina on Monday, downplaying concerns about his stamina amid the taxing campaign schedule. “I don’t even sleep,” he joked, delivering his usual pointed criticisms in a 90-minute speech that he’s repeated in numerous cities in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Harris, 60, maintained a hopeful tone, giving a thumbs-up as she departed for a day-long blitz in Pennsylvania, including a culminating rally in Philadelphia with pop star Lady Gaga.
With over 78 million ballots already cast—nearly half the total votes from 2020—the early turnout underscores high stakes as both campaigns keep their eyes on Pennsylvania. Both Harris and Trump will hold separate rallies in Pittsburgh, zeroing in on the state as a critical battleground for the Electoral College system, where influence is tied to population size.
Despite her optimism, Harris’s campaign anticipates potential disruption from Trump’s camp. Harris spokesperson Ian Sams suggested Monday that Trump might prematurely declare victory if the results look close, framing it as a “sign of weakness” on the former president’s part. Trump, who has continued his focus on immigration, the economy, and crime, recently told supporters he “shouldn’t have left” the White House after his 2020 defeat, pointing to his unproven claims of election fraud. In the final days, he has also escalated his rhetoric against Harris and others, using harsh language and stoking anti-establishment sentiment.
As the candidates head into the final stretch, U.S. allies and rivals alike are watching, with the election outcome set to shape America’s roles in global conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as future climate policies. Harris, who has garnered support among women voters over reproductive rights and pledged to “do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza,” is running as the first female presidential candidate of a major party. Trump, if re-elected, would be the oldest and first convicted felon to assume the presidency, following his recent legal controversies.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has deployed extra security measures as tensions have risen. Panic buttons have been issued to election officials, and the National Guard has been activated in Oregon, Nevada, and Washington as a precaution.
Outgoing President Joe Biden, 81, has largely stayed off the campaign trail after facing backlash for a comment calling Trump’s supporters “garbage,” leaving Harris to lead the Democratic push. With only hours remaining before Election Day, both sides are banking on the razor-thin margins in the swing states to carry them to victory in a divided nation.
