The U.S. presidential election officially began today Friday as North Carolina prepared to send out the first 130,000 absentee ballots, marking the start of what is expected to be a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Harris’s entry into the race six weeks ago has reinvigorated Democrats, with her campaign raising $361 million in August — the largest monthly haul of the cycle and nearly triple Trump’s figure.
“Vice President Harris’s candidacy has galvanized a history-making, broad, and diverse coalition,” said her campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez.
Despite Harris’s momentum, polls show a tight race. She leads by 1.8 points nationwide, but swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania show a razor-thin 0.2 percent gap, according to RealClearPolitics.
Trump’s campaign remains confident, focusing on key issues like the economy, immigration, and crime, where he still holds significant support. His team argues that Harris’s early “honeymoon” with voters is fading as her policies face increased scrutiny.
The first and possibly only debate between Harris and Trump is set for next week, a crucial moment for both candidates in what has been a fiercely contested campaign.
Complicating matters in North Carolina, a judge delayed mailing ballots until midday to allow time for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to appeal a decision refusing to remove his name from the ballot after his late withdrawal. Kennedy’s dwindling support could still impact the close race.
As the election heats up, Trump continues to rally his base, despite ongoing legal troubles, including his upcoming sentencing on September 18 for a felony conviction related to hush money payments.
Both candidates are intensifying their campaigns in key battleground states, with everything to play for ahead of November 5.
