With the realization of the 2024 U.S. presidential election campaigning between Kamala Harris; the incumbent U.S. vice president and former President Donald Trump, the most closely contested election in American history is fast approaching. With both the candidates neck and neck in the polls, the election becomes a battle between the two for the presidency of a country that will probably be the most influential election of the 20th century.
Harris, who was the first woman and the first woman of color to be elected vice president, must now move out of Biden’s shadow to help the Democrats to a win. On the other hand, Trump is aspiring to recapture the presidency using a campaign that is anchored on restoring much of the populism that he popularized in his first bid and reversing most of the measures Harris and Biden have championed in the last four years.
Both contenders' presidential campaigns have focused on major political topics, including economic policies and recovery, healthcare reform, immigration, and the American election processes. The race is expected to be the most closely contested and will involve a desperate struggle for the undecided votes and minorities.
The Candidates: Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump
Sitting Vice President Kamala Harris has campaigned on building on the progress of the Biden administration, and on a more inclusive, more resilient America. She has a platform for economic recovery, healthcare access, protecting voting rights, and addressing climate change. Harris, a former prosecutor and U.S. senator, has a wealth of experience, but she will have to prove she can lead an electorate that hasn’t seen her in the top executive role.
On the other hand, Donald Trump is on a 'restoring greatness' to America message of reversing the Biden-Harris administration's policies. The focus of Trump’s platform is to cut government regulations, lower taxes, expand energy production, and take a hardline stance on immigration. He continues to rely on his loyal base of supporters and is using his outsider image from his first tenure as president.
The contrast between the two candidates is stark: Harris continues a progressive streak over the last four years, and Trump is retreating to the America-first brand of his first term.
Polling: A Tight Race with Swing States in Play
Polling averages through mid-October 2024 show Harris and Trump in a dead heat with each candidate polling within the margin of error in national surveys. But the race is likely to be won in a small handful of swing states that were decisive in 2020, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona.
While rural areas and working-class voters continue to back Trump, Harris is drawing on support from a broad coalition of women, young people, and voters of color. Early voting data suggests turnout could be even higher than in 2020, and both campaigns are pouring money into swing states as voters see this as a referendum on the direction of the country.
Suburban women, Latino voters, and young voters are the key demographic groups in this election. Harris's campaign has been laser-focused on women's rights and reproductive freedom, which could play well with suburban voters who have grown concerned about recent moves to roll back abortion rights in states across the country. Meanwhile, Trump is touting law and order, an appeal to some suburban voters worried about crime.
Economic Concerns Dominate
The 2024 election is still all about economic issues. The economy is now stabilizing after a period of high inflation that peaked early in the Biden administration, but people are still worried about losing their jobs, rising housing costs, and stagnant wages.
The economy has been a central theme of Harris' campaign, where she has touted the successes of Biden's efforts to bring down inflation and create jobs through infrastructure investments and clean energy efforts. She has put herself forward as a candidate able to strike the right balance between the need for economic growth and equity and environmental sustainability. Harris has also promised to expand access to affordable healthcare and childcare, measures meant to ease the financial burdens on working families.
But Trump has painted a darker view of the state of the economy today, saying Biden and Harris have made life harder for American workers and made it more expensive to live. His economic plan, which includes tax cuts and deregulation, has a special emphasis on increasing fossil fuel production. Trump’s message has appealed to those who feel left behind as the economy shifts from manufacturing and oil and coal production to a green economy, and voters in manufacturing-heavy states and regions.
Healthcare: A Continued Debate
The 2024 election remains a key issue for healthcare. Harris has said she will continue the work of the Biden administration, which expanded healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act and capped prescription drug prices. She has pledged to continue to drive affordability and accessibility even further, including a plan to lower the cost of basic medications, like insulin.
But Trump has slammed the healthcare policies of the Biden-Harris administration as too expensive and bureaucratic. He is calling again for repealing the Affordable Care Act and letting insurers compete more freely in the market. But Trump has yet to outline a detailed replacement plan, raising doubts about whether his healthcare proposals can be realized.
Immigration: Sharp Divisions
The candidates also differ widely on another key issue, immigration. Trump has continued to push for tougher border controls, including completing the building of the border wall that was one of his signature policies of his first term. He has blamed the Biden-Harris administration for a crisis at the southern border that he says has seen an increase in migrant crossings.
The administration's immigration policies, which have defended the administration's policies to address the root causes of migration while maintaining a humane and orderly process at the border, have been defended by Harris. She has also fought for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, particularly those brought to the U.S. as children. Immigrants contribute hugely to the American economy and workforce, and Harris’s campaign has also focused on the economic benefits of immigration.
Climate Change: Diverging Visions
The starkest contrast between Harris and Trump is climate change. Harris has also been an aggressive champion for tackling climate change and the Biden administration's push for a clean energy transition and a pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Her climate plan includes a big commitment to renewable energy, electric vehicles, and climate resilience infrastructure, which she says will generate jobs and grow the economy.
But Trump has said these climate initiatives are excessive and harmful to American industry. Promising to reverse regulations that restrict oil drilling and coal mining, he has said the U.S. needs to focus on energy independence and the economic benefits of fossil fuel production. Trump’s position on climate change is popular with his base, especially in energy-producing states, but it could turn off younger voters and suburban women who are worried about environmental issues.
Foreign Policy: Competing Approaches
The war in Ukraine and the growing tensions with China are top of mind for voters when it comes to foreign policy in the 2024 election.
Harris has backed the Biden administration's approach to foreign policy, including backing Ukraine in its fight with Russia, and in working to rebuild alliances with NATO and other international partners. And she has cast her foreign policy as a continuation of the efforts to rebuild America’s global leadership after Trump’s more isolationist approach.
But Trump has slammed the Biden-Harris administration for getting too involved in foreign conflicts. He has pledged to be more America first, less global, taking on domestic issues and reducing the U.S.’s role in conflict around the globe. Trump has also been a tough line on China, threatening to go after it on trade and intellectual property theft.
The Final Push
As Election Day looms in just weeks, each candidate is stepping up his efforts to persuade undecided voters and win in key battleground states. And Trump still draws big crowds to his rallies, counting on his base’s enthusiasm to bring him back to the White House. Meanwhile, Harris is building coalitions, working to energize young voters, women, and communities of color to get out in record numbers.
Next year is poised to be one of the most consequential elections in modern U.S. history — with the future of American healthcare, the economy, immigration, climate change, and American democracy itself on the line. The country’s future will look very different under the two candidates, and the outcome will likely turn on just a few thousand votes in key swing states.
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