As the final full day of the U.S. presidential election approaches on Monday, both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are making urgent appeals to their supporters in what each campaign describes as a pivotal moment for America. Despite months of intense campaigning, the race remains tightly contested, with key battleground states nearly evenly divided. This close nature of the election could mean that it takes days to declare an official winner.
Donald Trump, the 78-year-old Republican candidate and former president, has faced two recent assassination attempts, one of which narrowly missed him. These incidents came on the heels of his recent criminal conviction in New York, the city where he initially gained national prominence. Meanwhile, 60-year-old Kamala Harris stepped up to lead the Democratic ticket in July after President Joe Biden, 81, withdrew from the race following a challenging debate performance.
Polling data indicates little change, with both candidates neck-and-neck nationally and in battleground states. Over 77 million ballots have already been cast, but in the final days leading up to the election, the effectiveness of each campaign’s voter turnout efforts could prove crucial.
The last two election cycles have witnessed record voter turnout, highlighting the passion and polarization Trump inspires across party lines. As the campaigns enter this critical final stretch, they are heavily investing in a last wave of advertisements across social media, television, and radio, while volunteers work diligently on the ground, knocking on the doors and making phone calls.
Harris’ team believes they hold an advantage due to their extensive grassroots mobilization, having reached hundreds of thousands of doors in key states over the weekend. “We feel very confident about our position right now,” stated Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’ campaign chair. Their data suggests that undecided voters, particularly women, are leaning Democratic, and early voting has surged among core demographics like young people and voters of color.
In contrast, Trump’s campaign is focusing on “low propensity” voters—those who generally support him but may not consistently vote. With the backing of super PACs and political allies, Trump’s team is strategically targeting specific areas where increased turnout could influence results, spending resources judiciously to maximize their impact.
As both candidates make their final pitches, the race remains fiercely competitive, setting the stage for a potentially historic outcome.
