As Election Day 2024 dawns, American voters face a critical choice between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
After nearly two years of intense campaigning, both candidates wrapped up their rallies with determined words and promises to steer the country in opposite directions.
Kamala Harris, who took over the Democratic ticket from President Biden three months ago, spent her final hours urging voters to look toward a hopeful future.
“Momentum is on our side,” Harris proclaimed at a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania. “Can you feel it?”
Later, she emphasized her confidence, telling supporters in Pittsburgh, “Make no mistake, we will win.”
Trump, who has eagerly awaited this moment since leaving office in 2021, showed no signs of backing down.
“We’ve been waiting for this,” he said in Pittsburgh. “I’ve been waiting four years for this.”
For both candidates, Pennsylvania is a major prize, with 19 critical electoral votes at stake.
In a sign of its importance, both Harris and Trump held rallies there on Election Eve, marking their last big push before voters decide.
The final national polls reveal a tight race, with both candidates hoping to capture key swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.
These seven battlegrounds hold the power to decide the election, as they did in 2020 when Biden narrowly defeated Trump.
With 75 million early ballots already cast, the remaining in-person voters now have their say.
The vice president wrapped up her campaign in Philadelphia, holding a nighttime rally by the famous “Rocky Steps” at the city’s Art Museum.
Harris avoided mentioning Trump by name but painted a vision of unity, urging Americans to come together for a brighter future.
Trump, on the other hand, closed his campaign with sharp attacks on the Biden administration.
He described the last four years under Biden as disastrous and claimed that unchecked immigration has put the country at risk.
“It’s time to bring back security, strength, and a real America,” Trump told his supporters.
This election marks the end of a tumultuous journey for Trump, who launched his comeback campaign in 2022.
In the GOP primaries, Trump crushed a field of rivals, cementing his status as the Republican nominee.
His campaign faced many challenges, including four criminal indictments.
Yet, these charges only seemed to rally his supporters, boosting his popularity and fundraising.
The stakes grew even higher this summer after Biden struggled in a debate against Trump, raising concerns about the 81-year-old president’s fitness to serve another term.
Following this debate, many within Biden’s party called for a change.
With Biden stepping aside, Harris took up the Democratic mantle, hoping to win over voters who doubted her as Biden’s vice president.
Trump also experienced a shocking moment this summer when he narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
This incident added to the tension of the campaign, showing the deep divisions and high stakes at play.
In the final days of the campaign, Harris and Trump flooded swing states with ads, each spending from their respective super PACs to influence undecided voters.
For the Democrats, Harris’s message focused on progress, equality, and a positive future.
Meanwhile, Trump’s message zeroed in on the nation’s challenges and his promise to restore “law and order.”
Political analysts say the Election Day turnout will be decisive.
The candidates have spent months rallying their bases, but the outcome depends on swing voters in those critical states.
“It’s going to be close,” said political strategist Jane McConnell. “Both campaigns have pushed hard, but it could come down to just a few thousand votes in these key states.”
The world is watching as the United States decides its next leader.
