Harris appeals to Christians and Arab Americans

On Sunday, Harris visited a historic Black church and Arab American voters in Michigan, while Trump fired up supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania. 

Both are in a close race, with each side aiming to gather last-minute support in key battleground states.

Opinion polls indicate that Harris and Trump are nearly tied. Harris, the Democratic Vice President, is seeing strong backing from women voters. Trump, on the other hand, is gaining traction among Hispanic men. 

Even though many voters don’t have a positive view of either candidate, they are still excited to vote. The University of Florida’s Election Lab says over 78 million Americans have already voted. This number is nearly half of all the votes cast in 2020, which was the highest turnout the country had seen in over 100 years.

Control of Congress is a big focus too. Republicans are expected to take the majority in the Senate, while Democrats have a chance to win the narrow Republican lead in the House of Representatives.

Harris's Message of Action

In Detroit, Harris spoke passionately to churchgoers at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ. 

"We have the power to shape our nation’s future," Harris said, encouraging everyone to take action. "It’s not enough to just pray or talk about it."

Later in the day, Harris addressed Michigan's 200,000 Arab American residents in East Lansing. She began her speech by acknowledging the struggles faced by civilians affected by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. 

"This year has been incredibly hard due to the tragic loss and displacement in Gaza and Lebanon," Harris said. "As president, I promise to work tirelessly to end the war in Gaza."

Harris's message shows how many Arab and Muslim Americans, along with anti-war groups, feel. They are upset about the United States supporting Israel while there are so many civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon.

Israel has defended its actions, saying that it is targeting the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Trump’s Fiery Rhetoric in Pennsylvania

Trump, meanwhile, has been rallying his supporters with intense speeches. 

In Pennsylvania, he took the stage without following his teleprompter. He often aimed his words at his opponents, calling Democrats a “demonic party.” He also criticized President Joe Biden and even made some joking comments about the price of apples.

Trump also voiced concern for his own safety, mentioning that an assassin would have to shoot through the press to get to him. 

He said, "To get me, someone would have to shoot through the fake news, and I wouldn’t mind that."

In recent days, Trump suggested that former congresswoman Liz Cheney, a Republican critic of his foreign policy, should face combat. His campaign clarified that Trump’s comments were not aimed at the media but were a response to threats he believes come from his political opponents.

At his rallies in North Carolina and Georgia, Trump talked about the latest jobs report. It showed that the U.S. economy only added 12,000 jobs last month. He called this a sign of a “nation in decline” and warned that it could lead to another Great Depression like the one in 1929.

Different Strategies in Closing Arguments

Senior members of Harris's campaign said her last messages are aimed at convincing undecided voters. On the other hand, Trump has mostly stuck to his usual rally speeches, trying to inspire his most loyal supporters.

Trump’s Pennsylvania speech also included a comment on the 2020 election, where he suggested he should not have stepped down from office. 

He said, “I shouldn’t have left. We did so well.” His false claims about the 2020 election being stolen from him led to the January 6 Capitol attack by his supporters.

While some officials have cautioned that the 2024 election results might take days to finalize, Trump has called for the winner to be declared on Election Night. 

Democrats, in response, have announced that they are prepared if Trump tries to claim an early victory.