Donald Trump and Kamala Harris expressed confidence in winning as they campaigned across Pennsylvania on Monday, wrapping up an intense final day in one of the closest U.S. presidential elections.
This election season has been marked by dramatic turns: two assassination attempts and a felony conviction for former Republican President Trump, while Democratic Vice President Harris unexpectedly took the lead after President Joe Biden, 81, withdrew his re-election bid under pressure from his party. Since March, over $2.6 billion has been spent to influence voters, according to analytics firm AdImpact.
Read more: Harris and Trump Clash in Final Weekend of Tense Campaign
Despite the intense campaigning, polls show Trump, 78, and Harris, 60, neck and neck. With results potentially delayed, Trump has already indicated he may contest any loss, similar to his actions in 2020.
On Monday, both candidates urged undecided Pennsylvanians to vote, as the state holds the largest share of Electoral College votes among the battlegrounds. Trump addressed a large crowd in Pittsburgh, focusing on economic issues and warning that Harris would lead to economic hardship if elected. Announcing podcaster Joe Rogan’s endorsement, Trump declared, “We’re going to win the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Meanwhile, Harris spoke in Allentown, promising to serve “all Americans” and directly appealed to the city’s significant Puerto Rican community, which had been angered by a comedian’s remarks at a Trump rally. She later knocked on doors in Reading and hosted a rally in Pittsburgh with pop star Katy Perry. Harris ended the day with a star-studded event in Philadelphia.
Harris’ team reported an increase in early voting from key demographic groups, including young voters and communities of color, citing data showing undecided voters leaning her way. According to Tom Bonier of Democratic analytics firm TargetSmart, there has been high early voting turnout among Democratic-leaning groups, especially women, while young men, a key target for Trump’s campaign, have not shown a similar surge.
Gender dynamics are playing a notable role, with polling showing Harris leading among women and Trump favored among men. Elon Musk, a prominent Trump supporter, urged men to vote on his X social media platform. Trump’s campaign has largely outsourced outreach efforts to outside groups, including one run by Musk, focusing on mobilizing supporters who don’t consistently vote.
A judge in Pennsylvania ruled that Musk could proceed with a $1 million voter giveaway, despite concerns from a local prosecutor that it was an illegal lottery.
On the issues, Trump reiterated his commitment to state-level abortion decisions following the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that ended nationwide abortion rights and promised to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports. A Trump campaign official projected wins in North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona, but acknowledged he would still need at least one Rust Belt state like Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania to secure the presidency. Strong early-vote numbers in Nevada and hurricane-affected counties in North Carolina have also encouraged Republicans.
Trump and his allies, who continue to falsely claim that his 2020 loss was due to fraud, have been laying the groundwork to dispute this election’s results if he loses. He has vowed “retribution” if elected and discussed prosecuting political rivals, calling Democrats the “enemy from within.” Harris’ campaign, however, dismissed these claims, with legal adviser Dana Remus stating, “Voters select the president, not Donald Trump.”
In the final push, Trump campaigned in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan before returning to Florida to cast his vote and await results, while Harris held five events in Pennsylvania, ending with a rally at Philadelphia’s Museum of Art featuring Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Oprah Winfrey.
