Harris and Trump close out campaign trail in key battleground states
By Laina Gustafson
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump spent the final day of their long and tumultuous campaigns yesterday in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.
Harris struck an optimistic tone in her final star-studded rally on the steps of Philadelphia’s Museum of Art in Reading, Pennsylvania. Since Biden’s exit from the race, the Harris campaign had largely presented themselves as the race’s underdog. Now, after some polls report a slight shift in Harris’ favor, Harris told a crowd of supporters at a Pittsburgh rally that “the momentum is on our side.”
Trump began Nov. 4 in North Carolina, and spoke in both Pittsburgh and Reading before his final rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In Pittsburgh, the Trump campaign continued its ongoing theme of strength and confidence in the election’s outcome in their favor. Trump said to a crowd of his supporters, “the only way we can blow it is if you blow it.”
Harris finished the final hours of her campaign trail with door-to-door canvassing in Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral college votes could determine the election’s outcome. She visited a local Puerto Rican restaurant, hoping to garner support after a comedian at a Trump rally called US territory a “floating island of garbage.” These comments, coupled with Trump’s rhetoric on immigration, have sparked a decrease in Puerto Rican and Hispanic support for the Republican nominee.
At his final speech in Michigan, Trump attacked former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali), who has pledged support for Harris.
“She’s an evil, sick, crazy – oh no. It starts with a b, but I won’t say it. I want to say it,” Trump said.
In her final speech in Reading, Harris made no mention of Trump by name. She emphasized her campaign slogan in reference to his 2020 presidency, repeating, “we are not going back.”
As final voting starts to close at 6 pm EST, Harris will be attending a watch party at her alma mater, Howard University. Harris graduated from the historically Black university with a degree in economics and political science in 1986.
Trump’s rally in Grand Rapids stretched into the early hours of Tuesday morning, and he is expected to spend the day in Florida. He is expected to vote in-person before hosting an election watch party in Palm Beach.