It’s the final push for the presidential candidates. What former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have to say to voters less than 24 hours until Election Day. And incredible devastation is left behind after November tornadoes touch down near Oklahoma City. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.
Presidential campaigns hold final events as Election Day nears
Election Day is almost here. While already more than 78 million Americans have cast their ballots, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris took their final chances to get their message out.
The presidential candidates packed their schedules with campaign events and rallies across the country and even a stop on “Saturday Night Live.”
Harris appeared in a sketch on the NBC show, leading to criticism from a commissioner of the FCC over the agency’s equal time rule. This led NBC stations to air a 60-second election spot for former President Trump during the network’s NASCAR coverage on Sunday, Nov. 3.
The former president traveled to three battleground states Sunday; Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan. During his rally in Pennsylvania, Trump spoke about his accomplishments during his first presidency.
“We did a great job. We had the best economy ever, we had the wall, we had everything,” he said. “I built over 500 miles — they don’t even talk about the wall. But we had the best border, the safest border. I won’t pull down my world’s favorite chart because I don’t want to waste a lot of your time, but my world’s favorite chart done by the border patrol, it said we had the safest border in the history of our country the day that I left — I shouldn’t have left. I mean honestly because we did so we did so well.”
The former president then spoke about the need to have protective glass at his rallies after two assassination attempts.
“I have this piece of glass here, but all we have really over here is the fake news,” Trump said. “And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news, and I don’t mind that so much.”
That comment about the press prompted the Trump campaign to release this statement, “The president’s statement about protective glass placement has nothing to do with the media being harmed, or anything else. It was about threats against him that were spurred on by dangerous rhetoric from Democrats. In fact, President Trump was stating that the media was in danger, in that they were protecting him and, therefore, were in great danger themselves, and should have had a glass protective shield, also. There can be no other interpretation of what was said. He was actually looking out for their welfare, far more than his own!”
Vice President Harris spent Sunday in Michigan, where she opened her final rally speaking about the war in Gaza.
“This year has been difficult given the scale of death and destruction in Gaza, and given the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon, it is devastating,” she said. “And as president, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza, to bring home the hostages, end the suffering in Gaza, ensure Israel is secure, and ensure the Palestinians can realize their right to dignity, freedom, security and right to self-determination.”
In their final rallies of the night — Harris in Michigan and Trump in Georgia — both candidates gave a closing argument of sorts for their campaigns.
“Here is my pledge to you: as president, I pledge to seek common ground and common-sense solutions to the challenges you face,” Harris said. “I am not looking to score political points. I am looking to make progress.”
Former President Turmp said, “After all we have been through together, we stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history. You watch, it’s going to be so good, it’s going to be so much fun. It’ll be nasty a little bit at times, and maybe at the beginning, in particular, but it’s going to be something. We’re going to go to heights that this country never has reached, and nobody ever even thought it could.”
Former President Trump has four rallies scheduled for the final day of campaigning Monday, Nov. 4: one in North Carolina, two in Pennsylvania and a final one in Michigan.
Vice President Harris will be spending Monday in Pennsylvania, where she will hold a late-night rally in Philadelphia with celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga.
Final poll numbers show the race remains close
Throughout this election season there have been countless polls trying to predict how the results will turn out. Over the weekend, some of the last ones were released indicating just how tight this race seems to be.
According to ABC News’ latest poll, 49% of likely voters are supporting Vice President Harris, while 46% are for former President Trump. NBC News, meanwhile, showed an even closer race — with both Harris and Trump getting 49% of the vote
In Iowa, the nationally recognized Des Moines Register poll showed Harris leading Trump 47% to 44% among likely voters.
The New York Times focused on the seven swing states, with the candidates neck and neck in all of them. The poll shows Trump leading Harris in Arizona with 49% to 45%. Whereas in Nevada, Harris narrowly leads Trump 49% to 46%.
According to the New York Times, Harris also has a slim lead in North Carolina and Wisconsin, and it was too close to call in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan. The New York Times said the results in all the battleground states were within the margin of sampling error, meaning it’s still anyone’s game.
Closer look at the candidates’ plans for the economy
With just one day to go until the polls open across the country, there are many issues on the top of voters’ minds. Straight Arrow News’ political correspondent Ray Bogan has a closer look at where the candidates stand when it comes to one of the biggest issues: the economy. See his report here.
