WASHINGTON: As the US presidential election enters its final week, Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump have intensified their accusations against each other, each claiming the other is exacerbating the deep divisions in American society.
The political rhetoric has heated up, coinciding with a tightening race that shows Harris leading Trump by just one percentage point in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.
During a campaign stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Trump donned an orange reflective safety vest and climbed into a garbage truck to highlight a recent comment made by President Joe Biden.
Trump condemned Biden’s remarks, which many interpreted as derogatory towards his supporters. “Biden should be ashamed of himself,” Trump declared, asserting that his supporters “are not garbage.”
This comment follows a political firestorm triggered by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s inflammatory remarks about Puerto Rico during a Trump rally, which Trump attempted to distance himself from.
In contrast, Harris, addressing voters in North Carolina, urged them to “turn the page” on Trump’s leadership.
She asserted that Trump is preoccupied with personal grievances rather than the needs of the American public. “When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list,” she said, emphasizing a commitment to addressing pressing issues.
The final stretch of the campaign has seen a flurry of polls revealing razor-thin margins in battleground states critical to the election outcome.
A Tuesday poll indicated that Harris held a slight edge nationally at 44% compared to Trump’s 43%, while surveys in swing states like North Carolina suggest an equally tight race.
Harris’s support has waned slightly since she led Trump by two points in mid-October.
Tensions are palpable as both candidates campaign vigorously, particularly in battleground states where local election workers are on high alert for potential violence.
Recent incidents, including the arrest of a man in Florida who threatened voters with a machete, underscore the charged atmosphere surrounding this election.
The polarization in America is evident, with polls showing that a significant portion of both parties views the opposing side as a threat to the country.
In a March survey, 38% of Republicans labeled the Democratic Party as an “imminent threat,” while 41% of Democrats felt the same about Republicans.
Trump continues to propagate false claims regarding the 2020 election, alleging widespread fraud and indicating that he might contest the results if he loses again.
His legal efforts this year have largely focused on voter integrity issues, despite studies indicating that illegal voting by noncitizens is exceedingly rare.
Recently, the US Supreme Court reinstated Virginia’s decision to remove 1,600 individuals from voter rolls, a move the Biden administration has disputed.
Amidst this charged atmosphere, both candidates are also leveraging social media platforms like TikTok to engage younger voters.
Trump has amassed 12.5 million followers, significantly outpacing Harris’s 6.2 million, as both candidates create content to resonate with Gen Z.
As election day approaches, the dynamics of the race remain fluid, with both campaigns focusing on their key messages to rally supporters.
The final outcome could hinge on voter turnout in these crucial battleground states, making the coming days critical for both Harris and Trump as they seek to sway undecided voters in a highly polarized environment.
