Campaign 2024/ final week election/ Middle East conflict impact/ early voting trends/ election integrity/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump enter the last full week before Election Day, key issues like the Middle East conflicts, early voting trends, and campaign travel plans shape their strategies. Harris emphasizes democracy concerns and voter turnout, while Trump continues to stoke doubts about election integrity.
Key Issues to Watch in Campaign’s Final Full Week
- Middle East Tensions: Ongoing conflicts may impact voter focus and shape the candidates’ foreign policy messages.
- Harris’s Closing Argument: Expected Tuesday speech will target undecided and moderate Republicans, focusing on democracy.
- Trump’s Messaging Discipline: Will he avoid divisive rhetoric in the campaign’s final stretch?
- Campaign Travel Priorities: Both candidates concentrate on pivotal battleground states, showing where they see crucial opportunities.
- Early Voting Surge: Record early voting numbers, with increased GOP participation, could influence Election Day turnout.
- Election Integrity: Trump’s continued election-fraud claims may lead to contentious legal challenges post-election.
What to Watch as Harris, Trump Enter Campaign’s Final Week
Deep Look
With just over a week left in the 2024 presidential race, both campaigns are navigating last-minute developments that could shift the election’s outcome. Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, and Republican rival Donald Trump are locked in a close battle with strategies centered around key issues, from U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East to election integrity concerns. Here’s a look at what to expect in this crucial final week.
Will Middle East Tensions Influence Voter Sentiment?
Foreign policy typically plays a limited role in U.S. elections, yet escalating violence in the Middle East could shift voter focus. Tensions recently surged after Israel conducted airstrikes across Iran, and the response from Iran remains unclear, leaving uncertainty about the region’s stability. This volatile situation challenges Harris, who has expressed support for Israel but also empathy for Palestinian losses, and faces mounting pressure from progressive Democrats critical of Israel’s military actions.
Trump, by contrast, has remained staunchly supportive of Israel. Surprisingly, he has seen a surge of support from some Arab American leaders, particularly in Michigan, who find his direct stance on foreign policy appealing despite his past travel bans affecting Muslim-majority countries. No matter the outcome, the next president will inherit a Middle East crisis that may have long-term implications for U.S. foreign relations.
Harris’s Closing Argument: Calming Democratic Anxiety
Harris’s campaign has aimed to dispel anxiety within Democratic circles with messages of optimism and confidence. Senior adviser Jenn O’Malley Dillon recently voiced her assurance of victory, highlighting the campaign’s strong voter enthusiasm and strategic position as it nears the finish line. On Tuesday, Harris will deliver her “closing argument” from the Ellipse, near the White House, where Trump held his January 6 rally. Her speech is expected to underscore the stakes of the election, particularly the potential threat Trump poses to democracy.
Calling Trump “a fascist” in recent speeches, Harris has aligned with notable critics, including Trump’s former chief of staff John Kelly, who echoed her concerns. Tuesday’s speech will aim to sway undecided voters and moderate Republicans wary of Trump’s divisive rhetoric. Yet, some progressive Democrats worry that Harris’s message could be better served by an emphasis on economic issues rather than democratic ideals, as many voters express financial concerns heading into Election Day.
Can Trump Maintain a Focused Message?
Trump’s final campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City was overshadowed by controversial remarks, including racially charged jokes from a comedian that drew backlash. The incident diverted attention from Trump’s intended closing message, and with a history of last-minute controversies, the question remains whether Trump can maintain a disciplined focus through the final days.
His recent speeches have employed authoritarian-style language, calling Democrats “the enemy within” and asserting they pose a greater risk than foreign adversaries like Russia and China. Democrats remain vigilant, analyzing every interview and public appearance for potentially controversial statements to leverage against him. With Trump’s legal issues and past convictions hanging in the background, the possibility of a major scandal or revelation remains, though voters’ opinions of him are largely solidified.
Final-week surprises have shifted elections before, as with the October 2016 revelation about Hillary Clinton’s emails. Whether this election will see a similar “October surprise” remains to be seen.
Focused Travel Schedules Show Priorities
Both campaigns are tailoring their travel schedules to prioritize the battleground states expected to determine the election’s outcome. Harris spent Sunday in Pennsylvania, considered one of the race’s most crucial prizes, and has a packed schedule this week, with visits planned to Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. On Thursday, she’ll travel to Nevada and Arizona as part of a strategy aimed at maximizing voter turnout in swing states.
Trump’s plans include daily rallies, starting Monday in Georgia and continuing with stops in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Virginia. These schedules may still shift as both campaigns respond to changing information from local teams on the ground, underscoring the unpredictability and adaptability needed in the final campaign stretch.
Will High Early Voting Rates Continue?
Early voting is on the rise, with over 41 million ballots already cast nationwide. Traditionally, early voting has favored Democrats, but this year, Republicans are participating at higher rates than in past elections. Although Trump previously urged his supporters to vote in person on Election Day, he has since advocated early voting to secure GOP votes.
States like Georgia and North Carolina have seen record-breaking early turnout, with increased Republican participation possibly benefiting Trump. Still, with the GOP heavily focused on “election integrity” over typical voter outreach, it remains unclear if this trend will persist through Election Day. Democrats are hopeful that Republican turnout will decrease closer to November 5.
Election Integrity and Trump’s Continued Election-Fraud Claims
Throughout his campaign, Trump has repeatedly warned his supporters that he can only lose if the election is “rigged,” a claim without factual basis but one that resonates with many of his followers. These warnings intensify concerns over election integrity, especially given that foreign powers like Russia, China, and Iran could attempt to influence voter sentiment through disinformation.
Trump’s campaign has invested heavily in an election integrity effort, enlisting poll monitors, legal experts, and volunteers nationwide. However, Democrats worry this could lead to intimidation tactics at polling places and erode public trust in the electoral process. Both parties are preparing for possible legal challenges and are mobilizing teams to contest results if necessary.
What’s at Stake?
With just days remaining, both Harris and Trump are navigating complex, high-stakes issues to sway undecided voters and mobilize their respective bases. The coming days will likely reveal the impact of last-minute messaging, international tensions, and voter sentiment in the face of escalating election integrity concerns. As Election Day draws near, every event, statement, and decision could influence the final outcome in one of the closest and most closely watched elections in recent U.S. history.
