US Election News Highlights: More than 30 million votes cast already

This year's presidential election could come down to microscopic margins, so Kamala Harris is hunting for votes in even the most unlikely of places. One of her latest targets is Donald Trump's demographic base — white people who didn't attend college.

“It’s tough turf," said Dan Kanninen, the Harris campaign’s battleground states director. "But showing up is how you peel away the votes that you need to win.”

“This is Donald Trump, hopefully your favorite president of all time, better than Lincoln, better than Washington,” Trump said in a video introducing “Trump digital trading cards” in December 2022, shortly after announcing his third run for the presidency.

The Republican has often raised the Great Emancipator's name and compared himself or others to him — he's been treated worse than Lincoln, he's done more for Blacks than anyone since Lincoln, and so on.

Over 30 million voters in the United States have already cast their votes early, while both presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaign in the swing states of Georgia and Nevada, reports CNBC TV18.

United States presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will centre their attention on Texas on October 25.

They will both be holding events in the staunchly Republican state of Texas.

The vice president will team up with Beyoncé for a rally aimed at highlighting the perilous medical fallout from the state’s strict abortion ban and putting the blame squarely on Trump.

Meanwhile, the former president will hold a news conference in Austin before sitting down with podcaster Joe Rogan later.

President Joe Biden will visit a reservation in Arizona, a long-promised trip to Indian Country that Democrats hope could boost Harris' turnout effort in a key battleground state.

Progressive Democrats warn Kamala Harris risks losing the support of a small but significant portion of her political base unless she changes her campaign's closing message — and its messengers — immediately.

Specifically, several progressive leaders believe that the Democratic nominee has been too focused on winning over moderate Republicans in recent days at the expense of her own party's passionate liberals.

And they say that Harris' closing message, which is increasingly centred on Republican Donald Trump and the threat he poses to US democracy, ignores the economic struggles of the nation's working class.

In a striking twist for the 2024 race, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican challenger Donald Trump are locked in a dead heat, each commanding 48% of the popular vote, according to the latest New York Times/Siena College poll released Friday. The survey marks the final joint poll before Election Day on November 5th, reflecting the tight, high-stakes contest that has gripped the nation. With support evenly split, both Harris and Trump are rallying their bases and making last-ditch efforts to sway undecided voters, underscoring the fierce battle and the razor-thin margin that could define the White House race.

While speaking at the "United for Change" rally in Nevada, Donald Trump aired his grievances about Barack Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. This isn’t the first time Trump has brought up the topic, and his frustration was palpable as he addressed the crowd. He suggested that if anyone else, including himself, had been in Obama's shoes, they too would have been honoured with the prestigious award. Trump claimed he was elected in a “bigger, better, crazier” election, implying that his achievements warranted similar recognition. The remarks, reported by the New York Times, highlight Trump's ongoing critique of his predecessor's accolades.

Elon Musk’s ambitious $1 million-a-day election campaign, aimed at encouraging voters to sign a petition backing Donald Trump, has hit a legal snag. The Justice Department’s election crimes head, Robert Heberle, recently cautioned Musk that offering cash incentives to sway voters is illegal. According to the 24sight newsletter, the DOJ's letter, while not detailing immediate legal actions, outlined penalties that could lead to imprisonment for up to five years. Musk’s “America PAC” website targets registered voters in key swing states, with a goal of securing one million signatures by November 5. As of now, winners like “Andy from Holly Springs, NC,” have already claimed prizes.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Beyoncé will rally in Texas on Friday to spotlight the severe health impacts of the state’s strict abortion ban, placing blame squarely on Donald Trump and his judicial appointees. The event, set for the deeply conservative state, is intended to resonate nationwide, particularly in key battlegrounds, where abortion rights will be a central issue. Harris, who will be joined by women with life-threatening pregnancy experiences, hopes to mobilise voters ahead of the election. AP reported that abortion access is a critical concern, with many Americans supporting legal abortion for any reason.

Former US Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft warned Ottawa to “buckle up” and “pay up” if Donald Trump returns to the White House. Speaking at a policy forum in Canada, Craft, who served from 2017 to 2019, insisted that a Trump administration would demand Canada meet its NATO military spending commitment. Currently, Canada spends only 1.37% of its GDP on defence, falling short of the 2% target. Craft stressed the urgency for Canada to increase its defence budget, especially in the Arctic, and cautioned that failure to do so could harm its reputation within the Eastern Alliance. (Inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump suggested Thursday that China's President Xi Jinping would treat Vice President Kamala Harris "like a baby" if she were elected president, a remark reflecting a growing trend among his allies to infantilise the Democratic nominee. Trump has used derogatory language toward Harris, accusing her of laziness and low intelligence. Speaking at a rally in Arizona, he described her handling of immigration as a "wicked betrayal of America." Harris, in turn, has labelled Trump "increasingly unhinged" and a "fascist." As the election nears, the rhetoric from both sides intensifies, with AP reporting on these developments.

European diplomats are gearing up to strengthen sanctions against Russia in anticipation of a possible return of former US President Donald Trump, who may shift American policy. According to sources familiar with the discussions, EU officials are considering measures like “catch-all” clauses to intercept suspicious shipments and extending the duration for freezing Russian central bank assets. With Washington's commitment uncertain, Europe aims to bolster its own enforcement of sanctions. Tom Keatinge of the Royal United Services Institute warned that if Trump eases US sanctions, Europe must act independently to maintain pressure on Moscow, Reuters reports.

According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has reportedly stayed in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. According to reports, Musk’s discussions with Putin included topics ranging from personal interests to global tensions. Sources suggest Putin allegedly asked Musk to refrain from activating Starlink satellites over Taiwan, purportedly as a favour to Chinese President Xi Jinping. These revelations come as Musk, an endorser of former US President Donald Trump, shows rising interest in the US presidential race. Musk has firmly denied accusations of selling Starlink terminals to Russia, calling them “categorically false.”

Former President Donald Trump decried the state of the US at a recent rally in Arizona, calling it “like a garbage can for the world,” as he targeted illegal immigration. His remarks reflect an intensified anti-immigrant stance as Election Day approaches. Trump, who has previously used inflammatory language about undocumented immigrants, emphasised a commitment to strict immigration policies, pledging to deport millions if re-elected. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris, during a CNN town hall, highlighted the need for bipartisan reform, asserting that the immigration system is broken and challenging Trump’s border security record【CNN reports】

As the countdown to Election Day intensifies, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are ramping up efforts to rally voters nationwide. Harris, joined by Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama, led a high-profile event in Georgia, energising a crucial swing state. Meanwhile, Trump continued his campaign trail with a fiery appearance in Nevada. Voter turnout is already making headlines, with over 2 million ballots cast in Georgia’s early voting. Both candidates are pulling out all the stops to secure vital support in the final days of this closely watched race, the Associated Press reported.

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