By Precious Momoh
With the election season already making waves, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed confidence in America’s readiness to elect its first woman president. Speaking in an interview with NBC, Harris stated that the country is “absolutely” prepared for such a historic step. However, she emphasized that her candidacy is more about “turning the page” from a nation “exhausted” by former President Donald Trump’s leadership.
As both Harris and Trump increase their activities ahead of Election Day, the two candidates remain in tight race, a contest that is too close to call. Harris’s campaign has focused on addressing voter fatigue and providing a contrasting vision of leadership to Trump’s. She highlighted that people are “exhausted with Donald Trump” and his leadership style, which she argued is overly self-centered.
While pushing for change, Kamala Harris campaign is also bracing for disruption. She conceded that Trump might prematurely declare victory as votes are counted, saying her team is “of course” prepared in the case of such a move.
Trump, for his part, continues to rally his base with sharp critiques of Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz. During a North Carolina event, Trump framed the election as a choice between “four more years of incompetence, failure, and disaster” or a return to prosperity under his leadership. He further reiculed Harris and Walz as “stupid,” marking another instance of his aggressive rhetoric against his opponents.
Barack Obama Rallies Support for Harris
To boost her support, Kamala Harris has brought in high-profile figures like former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who have taken to the campaign trail. At a rally in Madison, Obama urged voters to stay focused, delivering impassioned attacks on Trump’s record. “Don’t boo, vote!” he urged the crowd, pointing out the importance of participation.
In Detroit, rapper Eminem made an appearance at a major Harris campaign event, introducing Obama. Eminem’s involvement added a dose of celebrity to the proceedings, further energizing the supporters. Obama humorously responded, remarking that he rarely gets nervous but was feeling a bit intimidated following Eminem’s introduction. The former president then delivered a rousing speech, even reciting lyrics from the rapper’s hit song “Lose Yourself,” which had the crowd roaring in approval.
Trump Campaign’s Response and Rising Early Voter Turnout
Despite the heated increase in campaign energy, Trump’s campaign has pushed back against the narrative of Harris’s momentum. His team accused Harris and President Joe Biden of orchestrating a plan to “politically persecute” Trump through their campaign strategy.
Meanwhile, with over 18 million Americans casting their ballots by mail or in person, early voter turnout has increased across the country. This number accounted for more than 10 percent of all votes cast in the 2020 election, representing increased voter engagement.
The polls continue to fluctuate, with some giving Trump a slight edge, though within the margin of error. With Election Day around the corner, results are just not quite predictable. But one thing is sure: history will be created on November 5, whether it results in the election of the country’s first woman president or witnesses the first convicted felon assuming that office; undeniably, the stakes are high.
