Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump appear to be racing against the clock as Election Day looms just three weeks away. Despite Harris holding a slim 1.7-point lead nationally according to Real Clear Politics, Trump is ready to unleash a storm, chomping away at that margin with polls showing him gaining ground. It seems the real competition isn’t just for the presidency but for every precious minute in this high-stakes political poker game.
Harris has made a beeline for the Democratic strongholds known as the “blue wall,” hitting up Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin like a kid in a candy store. With the largest stash of Electoral College votes at stake, Pennsylvania is under the microscope. Harris, trailing a bit in other critical regions, is banking on her blue allies to solidify her base. A recent Philadelphia Inquirer poll shows her leading Trump by three points, but that’s hardly a runaway. Her tactics and the support from Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz could either bolster her confidence or serve as the final desperation march on the road to potential doom.
The most damning sentences in this story:
"Harris declined repeated requests for an interview for this story. In contrast, Trump talked about his policy vision with a TIME reporter for 90 minutes across two interviews."https://t.co/KVm9j2KLR4
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 14, 2024
Meanwhile, Trump isn’t ready to be left in the dust. This week, he’s set to charm the female voter base in an effort to turn the tide in Georgia. By hosting an all-female town hall event, Trump is pulling out the big guns—his charm, charisma, and everything in between—to win over supporters typically swayed by Harris’s advocacy for women’s issues. In a strategic maneuver, Trump has recently pledged to veto any sweeping national abortion ban should he return to the Oval Office. It’s a clear bid to alleviate concerns over his previously rocky relationship with women’s rights while reminding voters that he played a pivotal role in the Supreme Court’s rulings.
In an unexpected twist, Harris is now scrambling to reconnect with young black males, a demographic that’s traditionally swung in favor of Democrats. Her struggle is palpable, as recent polls show her support among this group slipping to 78% from a lofty 90% when Biden was on the ticket. To regain traction, Harris is rolling out her so-called “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” promising them meaningful, tangible outcomes that will help them thrive. It sounds good on paper, and perhaps a little desperate in execution, as she takes to podcasts and radio to deliver her message. Meanwhile, her campaign seems to be leaning heavily on former President Barack Obama to deliver the goods in battleground states—classic move to borrow some star power during a crunchtime campaign push.
As the Peach State goes, so does the rest of the nation. With Biden’s razor-thin victory in Georgia back in 2020, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Both candidates are diving headfirst into the state, hoping to sway voters in their favor. Harris will hold a rally in Atlanta, attempting to rally blue votes with the help of Bill Clinton. Meanwhile, Trump is making the rounds in Cumming, showing voters his commitment by delivering aid to victims of Hurricane Helene. Nothing says “I care” quite like rolling up your sleeves in the aftermath of a disaster when your political opponents are busy throwing rallies.
In this back-and-forth campaign, the candidates seem set on locking in their bases while simultaneously throwing punches at each other. Whether it’s Trump wooing women or Harris courting black males, it’s clear that neither side is taking the prospects of Election Day lightly. As their battle plans unfold, every rally, every town hall, and every polling moment counts—after all, in a deadlocked race, even the smallest shift can tip the scales.
