Trump and Harris Intensify Campaigning in Key Swing States Ahead of Election
Washington, 5th October 2024: As polls indicate a tightly contested race, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are actively campaigning in key swing states. Trump held rallies in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, where he referred to illegal immigrants as “savages” and “animals,” claiming, “If she ever won, she would have open borders the following day after the election.” Meanwhile, Harris began her campaign in Scranton and is set to rally at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, famous for the “Rocky” film, alongside celebrities like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Oprah Winfrey. She addressed abortion bans, assuring voters she would listen to differing opinions.
At a rally in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Alicia Keys supported Harris, emphasizing the vital role of voting in safeguarding women’s rights. Although she did not name Trump directly, Keys criticized his platform, stating, “If you don’t vote for her, or you don’t vote at all, you’re voting for chaos and hate.”
In a separate legal development, a Pennsylvania judge has allowed billionaire Elon Musk’s $1 million giveaways to registered voters in battleground states to continue, despite a request from Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to halt the initiative.
Security measures for the November 5 election are significant, with panic buttons for poll workers, specialized weapons teams stationed on rooftops, and the National Guard on standby. Approximately 80 million votes have already been cast. States such as Oregon, Washington, and Nevada have activated the National Guard, while the FBI has established a command post to monitor potential threats. Security has been enhanced at nearly 100,000 polling locations nationwide. Pennsylvania’s Department of State has emphasized multi-layered defences in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, although specific details were not disclosed.
Officials have raised alarms about potential cyber and hacking threats from foreign entities, including Russia, Iran, and China, aimed at undermining public confidence in the electoral process. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly noted that these adversaries are engaging in influence operations to create partisan discord. Additionally, there is scrutiny on social media platforms like Telegram, which have been used by right-wing groups to coordinate poll watchers and prepare for potential disputes in Democratic areas.
Despite a notable increase in disinformation related to the 2024 election, Easterly confirmed that there is no evidence indicating any activity that could significantly alter the election outcome. Wall Street reacted to the political climate with a downturn, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.6% to 41,794.60, the S&P 500 fell 0.3% to 5,712.69, and the Nasdaq Composite Index also decreased by 0.3% to 18,179.98.
