Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris addressed a campaign rally at Burns Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Monday. — AFP
Republican candidate Donald Trump sought to appeal to religious voters in the southern swing state of Georgia on Monday, as his campaign sought to distance itself from racist remarks made by some supporters, which could potentially alienate key voter groups. Millions of Americans have already cast their votes ahead of the Nov. 5 election, with national polls, including the latest from Reuters/Ipsos, and surveys in swing states indicating a tight race between Trump and his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris.
In Georgia, where in-person early voting is expected to account for up to 70% of ballots, Trump addressed religious voters during a National Faith Advisory Board event. "I believe this country needs religion," Trump stated. "They're attempting to stymie you, this new administration, this new radical left group of people." However, he faced criticism over a rally in New York on Sunday, where a comedian referred to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage," drawing backlash from Latino celebrities and condemnation from both Republican and Democratic politicians. The Trump campaign has disavowed the comedian's remarks.
Harris accused Trump of "fanning the flames of hate and division, which is why people are tired of him." Later, Trump denied Harris' claim that he is a fascist, telling a rally in Atlanta: "I'm not a Nazi. I'm the opposite of a Nazi." Georgia is one of seven competitive swing states expected to play a crucial role in the election, which concludes in eight days.
The outcome of this election will determine the stewardship of the world’s most powerful nation. Harris and Trump differ on issues such as support for Ukraine and NATO, potential trade war-triggering tariffs, abortion rights, taxes, and basic democratic principles. Approximately 46 million Americans have already voted, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida, including around 2.8 million in Georgia and 1.9 million in Michigan, where Harris arrived on Monday.
This figure is lower than the approximately 60 million who had voted early by this point in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris visited Corning Inc's Hemlock Semiconductor facility to discuss the importance of investing in manufacturing jobs. The company recently received a preliminary investment of up to $325 million through the Chips and Science Act, which a Harris campaign official noted Trump had criticized but Harris helped pass. "When we can establish meaningful partnerships with the private sector and industries, everyone wins," she said.
Trump has claimed that his economic stewardship was superior to that of President Joe Biden and Harris, despite significant job losses at the end of his term due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Although the U.S. job market has been robust under the Biden-Harris administration and stock markets have reached record highs, persistently high prices have negatively impacted consumers across various sectors.
Harris has proposed policies to reduce prices and address the country's housing shortage, contrasting her leadership approach with Trump's, whom she accused of focusing on retaliating against his adversaries. On Monday evening, Harris appeared at a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, alongside her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, featuring a performance by singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers. "There is nothing more important than this election," Rogers stated, as she warmed up an outdoor crowd in 50°F (10°C) temperatures.
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