By James Oliphant
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. presidential race in contrast to any earlier than it’s coming all the way down to the wire.
Tuesday’s contest between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, two candidates with radically completely different visions for the nation, is neck and neck within the seven battleground states that can resolve the Nov. 5 election, in response to opinion polls.
Trump, a Republican, and Harris, a Democrat, visited these states repeatedly within the remaining stretch of the race whereas their campaigns and affiliated teams bombarded TV and web sites with advertisements. Greater than 80 million folks have already forged ballots in early voting.
The run-up to the November election has been a roller-coaster. Trump, 78, confronted two assassination makes an attempt and have become the primary former U.S. president convicted of a criminal offense.
Harris, 60, ascended to the highest of the ticket when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July after a faltering debate efficiency in opposition to Trump sparked issues about his psychological acuity.
Harris’ candidacy re-energized the Democratic Social gathering, sparking a surge in fundraising and enthusiasm from teams reminiscent of younger voters, girls and voters of shade. If elected, Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and a South Asian mom, can be the primary lady and second individual of shade to function U.S. president.
Harris was broadly seen to have bested Trump of their combative Sept. 10 debate, placing him on the defensive with a stream of assaults about his health for workplace and myriad authorized woes.
Trump, who served as president from 2017-2021, continues to have a bonus on the financial system, a high voter concern. He additionally has maintained assist amongst voters who prioritize a safe U.S. border with Mexico.
Trump survived an try on his life throughout a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman’s bullet grazed his ear. He was focused a second time by an alleged murderer in September whereas enjoying golf on his personal Florida course. The gunman was apprehended earlier than any pictures have been fired.
In Could, Trump was discovered responsible in New York on 34 felony counts referring to a scheme to cowl up an alleged affair with a porn star. He is because of be sentenced after the election.
Each candidates tapped vice presidential operating mates with navy service and Midwestern roots. Harris chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former member of Congress, and Trump select U.S. Senator JD (NASDAQ:) Vance of Ohio, the creator of the bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Trump has refused to say he would abide by this 12 months’s election outcomes, and he continues to falsely declare that Biden’s victory over him within the 2020 election was fraudulent. His allies are laying the groundwork for a major poll-watching effort and potential post-election authorized challenges.
WHAT IS HARRIS’ MAIN ELECTORAL ARGUMENT?
Harris has tried to attract sharp contrasts with Trump, positioning herself as a next-generation chief with a watch towards the long run whereas casting him as an agent of “chaos.”
On coverage, she has largely caught with Biden on points such because the financial system, the Gaza battle, immigration and abortion rights.
The vice chairman has put ahead proposals that will reduce taxes for a big swath of voters and pledged new investments in little one care and healthcare. Polls present she has gained some floor on Trump on the financial system.
Nonetheless, inflation continues to be a sticking level after peaking in 2022. Whereas the inflation fee has since eased, voters stay involved about excessive costs for meals and housing.
WHAT IS TRUMP’S MAIN ELECTORAL ARGUMENT?
Trump and his marketing campaign contend People have been higher off economically whereas he was within the White Home.
Trump has made tariffs and tax cuts the important thing parts of his financial pitch to voters. He has stated he would reduce federal spending, which Republicans blame for triggering shopper worth spikes, and trim again federal rules.
Trump additionally has stated he would revive stricter immigration insurance policies from his time in workplace to stem the file circulation of migrants into the U.S. from Mexico, and would conduct mass deportations.
On international coverage, Trump embraces what he calls an “America First” agenda that seeks to keep away from worldwide entanglements.
WHERE DO HARRIS AND TRUMP STAND ON ABORTION?
Democrats have made abortion rights central to their 2024 marketing campaign, two years after the Supreme Courtroom – powered by a conservative majority that Trump put in – overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade choice and dominated that abortion was not constitutionally protected.
Opinion polls present most People don’t favor strict limits on reproductive rights, and Democrats are hoping threats to these rights will encourage hundreds of thousands of girls and independents to vote their approach this 12 months.
Harris has argued for federal laws that will restore the constitutional proper to abortion.
Trump has stated the matter needs to be left to particular person states and that he doesn’t assist a nationwide ban on the process. He helps exceptions for rape, incest and to guard the lifetime of the mom, and has stated he wouldn’t block entry to abortion treatment. He has additionally expressed assist for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, which some anti-abortion proponents need to ban.
BORDER SECURITY
Since 2021, the Biden administration has grappled with file numbers of migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Biden despatched Harris to function a liaison between america and Central American nations that served as origin factors for migration to the border. Trump and Republicans have tried to forged her as a “border czar,” however she was by no means tasked with overseeing border-security efforts.
In June, Biden carried out a brand new sequence of safety measures that allow the federal government to shortly deport or flip again migrants who enter the nation illegally with out permitting them to assert asylum.
The measures resembled Trump-era insurance policies, prompting criticism from liberals. However they’ve resulted in dramatically fewer border crossings.
THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
Biden and Harris have been closely criticized by many Democrats for his or her steadfast assist of Israel in its yearlong battle with Hamas.
The Biden administration has known as for the Israeli authorities to mood its assault on Gaza, the place greater than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, in response to well being officers within the enclave. Nonetheless, on the identical time the Biden administration continues to provide Israel with navy munitions.
Harris backs efforts to succeed in a ceasefire deal that will finish the hostilities in alternate for a return of hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing about 1,200 folks, in response to Israeli figures. However these efforts have been sophisticated by the growth of the battle into Lebanon.
Trump and Republicans additionally again Israel and have accused pro-Palestinian protesters of being antisemitic. However Trump has urged Israel to “finish up” the struggle or threat dropping world assist.
WHERE DO BIDEN AND TRUMP STAND ON CHINA?
The Biden administration has stated it desires to “de-risk” and never decouple its relationship with China and work to maintain the competitors between the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 financial powers from escalating into battle.
Even so, the White Home in September imposed extra tariffs on Chinese language items reminiscent of metal and aluminum merchandise and electrical car batteries.
Whereas some Republicans view China as a nationwide safety menace, Trump largely has characterised the Asian large as an financial rival and has vowed to limit Chinese language imports.
WHERE DO THEY STAND ON UKRAINE?
Biden and Harris have been advocates of offering weapons and different help to Ukraine in its struggle with Russia, whereas Trump has repeatedly expressed doubts about whether or not such help is within the U.S. nationwide curiosity.
On the September debate with Harris, Trump declined to say whether or not Ukraine ought to win the struggle and has since urged it ought to have capitulated to Russia to forestall the invasion.
WHAT ARE THE KEY STATES IN THE 2024 ELECTION?
As a result of many states vote dependably for Democrats or Republicans in presidential elections, the result normally rests on a handful of states the place the election is actually aggressive.
Polls present Trump and Harris are tightly matched within the seven swing states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina.
With 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is the largest battleground prize.
For 2024 U.S. election tales, outcomes and knowledge, click on right here.
