As the 2024 presidential election comes to a close, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a tight race. With one day left until voters head to the polls, both candidates are making a final push in key battleground states where the election outcome is likely to be decided.
Polls show a near tie nationally and in major swing states, with Emerson Polling indicating Harris and Trump are nearly even in support. States such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina, are seeing intense last-minute efforts from both campaigns as each strives to tip the scales in their favor.
As of Nov. 4, Emerson Polling shows that Harris is leading Trump in Michigan 50 percent to 48 percent. In Nevada and Wisconsin, the race is even at 48 percent and 49 percent, the polling center concludes. The center has Trump at 49 percent and Harris at 48 percent in Pennsylvania and 50 percent in Georgia to Harris’ 49 percent. The polls are within each survey’s margin of error.
Both campaigns are focused on swing-state rallies. Harris’ team planned multiple events across Pennsylvania, where she is scheduled to make an appearance in Allentown on the eve of Election Day. Following this rally, Harris will join Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a meet-and-greet at a Puerto Rican restaurant in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Trump, meanwhile, will be holding his own rally in Reading, just an hour away from Allentown. Their paths will cross again in the evening in Steeltown, Pennsylvania, where Trump will host an event at 6 p.m. EST, followed by Harris’ final rally at 8:30 p.m. EST.
In addition to Pennsylvania, Trump’s last-day itinerary includes stops in other battleground states he’s targeting for crucial electoral votes. His schedule covers rallies in Raleigh, North Carolina, Reading and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
After this, Trump will return to Palm Beach, Florida, where he will await election results.
Harris made a surprise guest appearance on “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 2. In this segment, she portrayed herself alongside Maya Rudolph, who impersonated Harris.
The vice president has chosen to spend election night at her alma mater, Howard. Although this gathering won’t be open to the public, it is set to be broadcast internationally, The Hilltop reported last week.
Their running mates are also active on the campaign trail. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, are both slated to hold events in crucial battleground states, including Michigan and Wisconsin.
This year’s election may experience delayed results due to a rise in mail-in ballots and longer early voting periods, as reported by The New York Times, which could slow down the counting process in certain states.
Particularly in battleground states, where there have been high volumes of early and absentee ballots, The New York Times reported, election officials noted they may require additional time to finalize tallies. While some preliminary results may be available on the night of Nov. 5, there is no set time when the full election results will be confirmed.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
