After a summer of historic tumult, the paths to the presidency for both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are becoming clearer as they focus their resources on just seven states. With the first presidential debate approaching and early voting beginning in some states, both candidates are acknowledging that victory is not guaranteed, with national polls showing a close race. The Harris campaign recognizes that they are underdogs in the race, while Trump continues to campaign aggressively and reject indicators that suggest Harris is ahead.
The electoral map has settled on seven key states, with both candidates investing heavily in advertising, particularly in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state. Harris’ campaign is outspending Trump’s camp in television advertising, and her team is focusing on reaching voters in key battleground states. Trump remains on the offensive in the Midwestern states that he narrowly won in 2016, while Harris has gained momentum in Democratic-leaning states across the Sun Belt. Both campaigns are making targeted efforts to appeal to key demographics in these states, such as African Americans and Latinos.
Harris’ campaign is banking on strong organizing efforts, with over 300 coordinated offices and 2,000 staff on the ground in swing states. Despite Trump’s efforts to match this organizing advantage, Democrats currently hold the upper hand in campaign infrastructure. Polls show a close race across the top swing states, with Harris putting Democrats back in the game as a toss-up. The race is expected to narrow post-Labor Day as both campaigns target a small universe of swing voters who could determine the outcome of the election.
The race may ultimately be decided by which candidate can successfully position themselves as the “change candidate,” with a majority of voters believing the country is heading in the wrong direction. Trump’s brash leadership style and unconventional approach continue to energize his base, while Harris’ historic candidacy as the first woman president presents a new direction for the country. However, concerns remain about the Democrats’ performance in the “blue wall” states in recent elections, with veteran Democratic strategist James Carville urging caution until the votes are cast. With just 63 days until the final votes are cast, the race for the presidency is heating up as both candidates make their final push to win over undecided voters and secure victory.
