As the Election Day nears, the presidential race in the western United States is tightening, with both candidates focusing their final efforts on key battleground states.
In the last days before the end of the race, the contenders are making final efforts to secure votes. Harris is heading to Wisconsin, where she will be holding events in Appleton and Milwaukee, with performances by a lineup of popular artists including GloRilla, Flo Milli, MC Lyte, The Isley Brothers, and DJ GEMINI GILLY. Cardi B is also expected to appear at one of the events.
Vice President Kamala Harris, currently holding a narrow national lead, is highlighting the issue of abortion rights, while former President Donald Trump has been rallying supporters on issues of immigration and border control, promising a strict crackdown if elected, according to Al Jazeera.
“No one can predict the outcome confidently. It might come down to slivers of voters in several key states,” Ken Kollman, a leading American political scientist and a professor of political science at the University of Michigan, told Wyoming Star.
What do polls show?
In the meantime, polls give conflicting signals about Trump and Harris. While AtlasIntel shows Trump with a slight lead of one to two percentage points, TIPP Insights indicates a dead heat.
Regardless of who is ahead, voter sentiment is decidedly negative. A survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 70% of Americans are feeling anxious or frustrated about the election, with little enthusiasm expressed. Democrats are particularly concerned, with 80% expressing interest in the campaign and 79% reporting anxiety, compared to 77% and 66% of Republicans, respectively.
Despite the national picture, FiveThirtyEight’s National Polls tracker shows Harris with a narrow 1.2-point lead, although this lead has been shrinking and falls within the margin of error. The race is even tighter in key swing states, which could ultimately decide the outcome.
In Michigan, Harris maintains a slight lead of 0.8 points, but she has lost ground in Nevada, where Trump now leads by 0.3 points. Her lead in Wisconsin has also shrunk to 0.6 points from 0.8 points on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Trump has expanded his advantage in Pennsylvania from 0.4 points to 0.7 points. His lead in North Carolina has returned to last week’s levels, now at 1.4 points. Additionally, Trump is gaining ground in Arizona, where he leads by 2.4 points, and Georgia, where his advantage stands at 1.8 points.
“Some polls are well done and others not so well done. The well done polls show a slight national lead for Harris but virtually tied in key states. That would be very similar to 2016. As for whether we trust the polls, it’s the best we have, but they are imperfect and lack perfect precision. There are always uncertainties around polling results,” Kollman explained.
The race is particularly tight in crucial swing states, where both campaigns are pouring resources and efforts. Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada all have the potential to decide the election outcome.
Harris maintains a slight lead in Michigan, but Trump has overtaken her in Nevada. Wisconsin also sees a narrowing lead for Harris, while Trump has extended his advantage in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Arizona and Georgia also lean in favor of Trump, as per polls.
As the final days of the 2024 election unfold, the race for the White House is a nail-biter. Both candidates are pouring every ounce of energy into securing votes in key battleground states, making this final stretch a crucial and intensely competitive period. Every moment matters as the nation waits to see who will lead them for the next four years.
