Harris and Trump seek advantage in tight race

According to AFP on October 14, with the election just over 20 days away, both candidates are struggling to win the support of important voting blocs. While Ms. Harris is facing a major challenge in maintaining support from traditional Democratic voters, Mr. Trump is trying to attract voters thanks to his tough stance on immigration and security.

Harris traveled to North Carolina, which has been hit hard by recent hurricanes, on Oct. 13, and used the event to criticize Trump’s claims that the federal government has not adequately assisted victims of natural disasters.

Speaking at a church in Greenville, Vice President Harris highlighted the dedication of rescue workers and authorities in helping the community, while condemning the misinformation spread by Mr. Trump.

Ms. Harris's remarks were clearly intended to counter accusations made by former President Trump about the administration's disaster response capabilities.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has focused on another important issue: immigration. At a campaign rally in Arizona, Mr. Trump promised to add 10,000 border guards if elected president.

He also hinted that military force could be used to deal with what he called “the enemy within,” though he did not specify who. His tough stance on immigration and homeland security has helped Trump maintain his support among conservative voters.

On the contrary, despite receiving great support from women, especially women of color, Ms. Harris is having difficulty attracting black and Latino male voters.

A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found that Harris was lagging behind previous Democratic candidates in attracting Latino voters, with her winning 56 percent of the group, compared to Trump’s 37 percent.

This is a worrying issue for Ms. Harris’s campaign, especially as Latinos increasingly turn in favor of Mr. Trump’s strong anti-immigration messages.

The difficulty is also evident among black male voters, a traditionally Democratic constituency that is showing signs of shifting toward Republicans. This forces Ms. Harris to work harder to consolidate support from communities of color, as the race becomes increasingly fierce in swing states.

Decisive races in Pennsylvania and Georgia

With battleground states like Pennsylvania and Georgia likely to decide the election, both candidates have planned to campaign heavily in those places. On October 14, both Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris held events in Pennsylvania, which is considered a “key” place in the race.

Former President Bill Clinton also joined Harris in Georgia, seeking to attract support from the black community at traditional churches.

However, the challenge that Vice President Harris faces comes not only from her opponent, but also from the "lack of transparency" in Mr. Trump's campaign. Specifically, she criticized Mr. Trump for not releasing his health records or participating in important media interviews, which she said is making voters doubt his leadership ability. Ms. Harris questioned whether Mr. Trump's advisers were hiding something and implied that he was "unfit to continue to lead the United States."

For their part, Mr. Trump and his running mate JD Vance have relentlessly exploited voters’ discontent with the federal government, especially in disaster response.

Mr. Vance, in a recent interview, emphasized that many Americans feel abandoned by their government, a key message in former President Trump’s campaign, as he sought to tap into voters’ frustration with the current administration.

It can be said that the 2024 US election is a fierce and volatile race, as each candidate is trying to gain an advantage in important battleground states.

While Ms. Harris tried to attract support from minority communities and defend the administration from criticism, Mr. Trump focused on immigration and homeland security issues, aiming to attract support from conservative voters.

With just over 20 days left before Election Day, both candidates are continuing their fierce race to win over undecided voters, which could shape the future of America for the next four years.