As the U.S. heads into the final days before its November 5 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are making a final push to secure any remaining undecided voters. Both candidates are focused on the seven battleground states that could tip the balance in what is shaping up to be one of the closest presidential races in decades.
For Harris, Pennsylvania remains a priority. She was in Philadelphia on Sunday, attending a church service and making campaign stops throughout the city. The Democratic stronghold is crucial for her path to the White House, as Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes are highly sought after in this tight race. Her visit marks yet another appeal to the working-class and minority voters who have long been a cornerstone of Democratic victories in the state.
In contrast, Trump is taking his campaign to Madison Square Garden in New York City. Although he has little chance of winning New York, where he earned less than 40% of the vote in 2020, Trump’s rally at the iconic venue underscores his belief that personal brand and location resonate strongly with his supporters. “It’s Madison Square Garden,” he told an interviewer, conveying the symbolic significance he attaches to the venue.
As Harris prepares to deliver her campaign’s closing address on the Ellipse in Washington on Tuesday, her team aims to draw a distinct contrast with Trump by holding the event near the site where he spoke to supporters on January 6, 2021. Her message is expected to emphasize stability, rule of law, and a rejection of political violence. The choice of location carries a subtle critique of Trump, as Harris’s address seeks to remind voters of the chaos of the Capitol riot—a moment that continues to divide public opinion.
Meanwhile, Trump has suggested he might pardon some of the January 6 rioters if he returns to the White House, a proposition that has drawn criticism from Democrats and underscores the stark divide in how each candidate frames their vision for the country.
According to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, more than 41 million Americans have already cast their ballots either in person or by mail. Early voting and mail-in balloting remain ongoing this week, with the 2020 election setting a precedent for unprecedented levels of early participation. More than 155 million Americans ultimately voted in that election, and early signs suggest the total turnout could be comparable this year.
Polling data remains razor-thin, with results depending largely on interpretation. While The New York Times and The Washington Post have reported that Harris maintains a slim lead in four of the seven battleground states, this edge is not universally supported. ABC News and RealClearPolitics.com have analyses showing Trump holding a narrow lead in aggregate polling, adding to the uncertainty around the final outcome.
The stakes in these battlegrounds—Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada—are heightened by the electoral college system, which requires a candidate to secure at least 270 of the 538 electoral votes to win the presidency. The seven states, where polling margins remain within statistical error, have therefore become the focal points for both campaigns.
Both Harris and Trump are also battling the limitations of the electoral college itself. Unlike the national popular vote, which would theoretically favor Harris in larger, Democratic-leaning states, the electoral college magnifies the influence of a small number of swing states. With Harris and Trump each projected to secure at least 200 electoral votes based on relatively safe states, the race is likely to hinge on the electoral leanings of just a few thousand voters in the remaining battlegrounds.
This final stretch is characterized by heightened efforts to motivate turnout rather than attempting to persuade. Both campaigns are banking on core supporters in the battleground states, knowing that even a slight shift in these key regions could determine the election. With both candidates having secured strong bases, Harris and Trump are now locked in an intense drive to turn out voters who are supportive but not necessarily guaranteed to head to the polls.
In the coming days, as the campaigns scramble to lock down support, the nation watches a closely contested race that remains largely undecided. If the candidates hold their ground in expected states, the ultimate decision could indeed come down to a few narrow margins in the seven battleground states, setting the stage for a possible historic recount or legal contestation if the vote count is close enough.
