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PremiumUS Election 2024 Highlights: With just a few days left until the United States elections, 61.0 million Americans have already cast their votes for the November election.
Voters have participated either by mail or through early in-person voting in the presidential race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.
Notably, North Carolina, which backed former President Obama in 2008, has leaned Republican in the last three presidential elections. In 2020, Trump defeated President Joe Biden in the state.
In Georgia, Joe Biden made history four years ago by winning against Donald Trump by less than 1 percentage point, marking the first Democratic victory there since Bill Clinton in 1992.
In both Georgia and North Carolina, Harris is ahead among Black likely voters, receiving 84 per cent to 13 per cent in Georgia and 78 per cent to 19 per cent in North Carolina. She also leads among voters with college degrees, garnering 55 percent to 39 percent in Georgia and 53 percent to 42 percent in North Carolina.
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Harris would become the first female president in the United States' 248-year history. She would also be the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the office. Harris and her campaign have largely played down gender and race fearing that they might alienate some supporters. But the significance of a Harris win would not be lost on historians.
A Trump victory would represent a different kind of historical accomplishment. He would become the first person convicted of a felony elected to the U.S. presidency, having been convicted of 34 felony counts in a New York hush-money case little more than five months ago. (AP)
Indian-American US Congressman Shri Thanedar cautioned against the prospects of Donald Trump presidency, while highlighting the former president's denial of last election results and the potential impact his sanctions can have on the India-US ties.
He further underscored the importance of the Indian-American vote in the upcoming US Presidential elections, while noting the growing support for Kamala Harris in the crucial swing state of Michigan.
Speaking to ANI, Shri Thanedar said, "Trump has won Michigan in 2016 so it is very close but we are starting to see some momentum, especially women, young people, people of colour, African Americans...have started moving towards Kamala Harris...Trump has insulted many of these groups, all of which are causing some migration." (ANI)
Lady Gaga is set to headline Kamala Harris' rally in Pennsylvania during Election Eve, as part of the final part of her and Tim Walz's campaign's last Get Out The Vote organizing effort, reported Variety.
The Philadelphia rally will showcase performances and speeches by various artists including DJ Cassidy, Fat Joe, Freeway, Just Blaze, Lady Gaga, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Ricky Martin, The Roots, Jazmine Sullivan, Adam Blackstone, and Oprah Winfrey.
The Pittsburgh event will feature D-Nice, Katy Perry and Andra Day. (ANI)
The electoral battle between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump appears to have gone to the wire, according to latest opinion polls.
Harris, 60, is the nominee of the Democratic Party and Trump, 78, is the Republican nominee. Their party members and support bases are united with their respective parties, and independent votes might decide who would be the next occupant of the White House.
To win the elections, a candidates needs 270 of the electoral college votes. Latest opinion polls indicate that the elections will be decided by the results in seven battle ground states of Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia. (PTI)
D emocrat Kamala Harris made her closing pitch for the U.S. presidency at a historically Black church and to Arab Americans in battleground Michigan on Sunday, while her Republican rival Donald Trump embraced violent rhetoric at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Opinion polls show the pair locked in a tight race, with Vice President Harris, 60, bolstered by strong support among female voters while former President Trump, 78, gains ground with Hispanic voters, especially men.
Voters overall view both candidates unfavorably, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling, but that has not dissuaded them from casting ballots.
More than 77 million Americans have already done so ahead of Tuesday's Election Day, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab, approaching half the total 160 million votes cast in 2020, in which U.S. voter turnout was the highest in more than a century. (Reuters)
Michigan, US: On the upcoming US Presidential elections, Indian-American US Congressman Shri Thanedar says, " ...Trump has won Michigan in 2016 so it is very close but we are starting to see some momentum, especially women, young people, people of colour, African Americans...have started moving towards Kamala Harris...Trump has insulted many of these groups, all of which are causing some migration..."
Vice President Kamala Harris is leading 47 percent to 44 percent over former President Donald Trump among likely voters in Iowa, a new poll showed two days ahead of the high-stakes election for the White House.
Trump was quick to reject the poll as "fake" and "skewed". He said it was carried to favour his Democratic rival.
"One of my enemies just puts out a poll -- I am 3 down. (Iowa Senator) Joni Ernst called me, everyone's called me, they said you are killing in Iowa. The farmers love me and I love them," he said at a rally in key battleground state of Pennsylvania. (PTI)
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump on Sunday expressed frustration over the current voting pattern as he urged his fellow countrymen to vote for him in this final battle and called for a mandatory voter ID.
The Democrats are opposing voter ID so that they can cheat, he alleged.
"I don't know why the hell we can't have a voter ID. The real Democrats want to have things like voter ID. They know it's crooked. There's only one reason you don't want a voter ID. There's only one reason, and that's to cheat. There is no other reason. There's no other reason. And they do cheat," Trump told his supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania, a battle ground state. (PTI)
Donald Trump doubled down Sunday on his baseless predictions of voter fraud in battleground states as he and rival Kamala Harris launched their frantic final 48 hours of campaigning to court the last holdouts in a bitterly contested US election.
The presidential race is going down to the wire, with more states functionally tied in polls at this point than in any comparable election.
Over 77.3 million people have now voted ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, just over half of the total ballots cast in 2020.
With the hours ticking away, 78-year-old Trump again indicated he may not accept a defeat and he added to his increasingly dark rhetoric by musing to supporters that he wouldn't mind if journalists were shot. (AFP)
Harris in a post on X said, "I will legalize recreational marijuana, break down unjust legal barriers, and create opportunities for all Americans to succeed in this new industry."
Having survived two assassination attempts this summer, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that he would not mind if somebody took a shot at him through fake news.
Addressing his supporters at an election rally at Lititz in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, Trump generated another controversy by saying that he should not have left the White House after his defeat in the 2020 elections.
"I shouldn't have left, I mean, honestly. We did so well," Trump said in his speech but immediately changed the topic. “So now, every polling booth has hundreds of lawyers standing there." (AFP)
US Election 2024: At the Islamic Cultural Centre on Riverside Drive in New York City, hundreds of Muslims from the local community gather for Friday prayers. A significant part of the service includes making 'dua' for the people of Gaza, reflecting the congregation's concern for international issues.
Ali, a corporate professional and regular worshipper, emphasizes that the pressing international matters are overshadowing the domestic concerns of the community as the November 5 presidential elections approach. He notes that while local issues are important, the global context and humanitarian crises are weighing heavily on the minds of many in the community, influencing their perspectives as they consider their votes in the upcoming election, PTI reported.
“There are plenty of issues, but I don't think anything comes close to what we are seeing in Gaza. There is a large part of the Muslim community that isn't feeling comfortable with the words and the actions of the candidates," he said.
“The mainstream position in the Democratic Party seems to be words and actions that are in fear of upsetting the pro-Israel side. That lack of compassion and empathy is very disheartening, I must say," he added. Read here
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris vowed to end the ongoing war in Gaza, bring home hostages, and ensure Israel's security and the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination.
The remarks by Harris came at a rally in Michigan just days before the US presidential elections.
Addressing the rally, Harris said, "I want to say that this year has been difficult, given the scale of death and destruction in Gaza and the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon. As President, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza, to bring home the hostages and the suffering in Gaza, ensure Israel is secure and ensure the Palestinian people can realise their right to dignity, freedom, security and self-determination." (ANI)
Pennsylvania, USA: "...We are here to support our president because he is the one who is going to give us a bright future because this country is not going well. I am thinking about my grandchildren. I am here because I am leaving this country next year but my grandchildren will be here, and I want the best future for them. The only one who can do this is Donald Trump..." says a supporter of former US President & Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump after attending his Pennsylvania rally/
Pennsylvania, USA: "My name is Tracy Kells...and I really feel strongly about immigration. I came to this country legally in 2002 and had to do all of the checks, the background checks, and sign a form saying that I'll never take any benefits for at least five years. And now we have more than 20 million people that have just come across the border, just draining the resources from the American people. I believe that Trump is going to put a stop to that which will in itself help to fix the economy, and it will make America a lot safer like it was when I first came here," says a supporter of former US President & Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump after attending his Pennsylvania rally."
Pennsylvania, USA: "I think that is horrible and we need a President that can go in there, talk about it, fix it and do something about it..." says a supporter of former US President & Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump on his tweet on violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Just days before the presidential election, former US President Donald Trump rallied in Kinston, North Carolina, and targeted Vice President Kamala Harris by saying that Harris "has no vision, no ideas, and no solutions," and that her only message is blaming him for various issues.
He also claimed that if elected, Harris would open the border, allowing an influx of migrants, gangs, and criminals into the country.
Addressing the rally, Trump said, "Everything Kamala says is a lie--she has no vision, no ideas, and no solutions. All she can say is, 'Donald Trump did this, Donald Trump did that.'"
He added, "If she ever won, she would open the border on the first day. I don't know why, nobody knows why. If I win, the American People will be the rulers of this country again. Kamala has violated her oath, eradicated our sovereign border, and unleashed an army of gangs and criminal migrants from prisons and jails, insane asylums and mental institutions around the world." (ANI)
Lititz, Pennsylvania: Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says "...Nobody knows where the other guy is. Where the hell is he? Where is Biden?...They call me a threat to democracy. They stole the election from this guy. They walked in, they said, get out of here, Joe. You're dead. You have to tell Kamala that you've had enough. You're the worst ever. Kamala, you're fired. Get the hell out of here..."
A Georgia judge on Saturday rejected a Republican lawsuit trying to block counties from opening election offices on Saturday and Sunday to let voters hand in their mail ballots in person.
The lawsuit only named Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that includes most of the city of Atlanta and is home to 11% of the state's voters. But other populous counties that tend to vote for Democrats also announced election offices would open over the weekend to allow hand return of absentee ballots.
Fulton County spokesperson Jessica Corbitt-Dominguez said 105 ballots were received Saturday at the four locations in that county. (PTI)
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris appeared on the "Saturday Night Live" TV comedy show on Saturday, adding a surprise jolt to the U.S. presidential election just three days before her showdown with Republican Donald Trump.
Harris portrayed herself, appearing in a mirror opposite the actor who plays her on the show, Maya Rudolph, who was nervously preparing for a campaign speech. Dressed identically in a black suit and pearls, the two traded variations on Harris' first name, saying Americans want to "end the drama-la" in politics "with a cool new stepmom-ala."
"Keep Calm-ala and carry on-ala," they said in unison. (Reuters)
A Georgia judge on Saturday rejected a Republican lawsuit trying to block counties from opening election offices on Saturday and Sunday to let voters hand in their mail ballots in person.
The lawsuit only named Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that includes most of the city of Atlanta and is home to 11% of the state's voters. But other populous counties that tend to vote for Democrats also announced election offices would open over the weekend to allow hand return of absentee ballots.
Fulton County spokesperson Jessica Corbitt-Dominguez said 105 ballots were received Saturday at the four locations in that county. (PTI)
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump ramped up their presidential campaigns in Wisconsin, a crucial battleground state. At the campaign event, Harris targeted Trump's economic record, specifically his handling of manufacturing jobs.
She further claimed that nearly 2,00,000 manufacturing jobs were lost during Trump's presidency before the Covid-19 pandemic, with thousands of those losses felt in Wisconsin alone. She also labelled "Trump one of the biggest losers of manufacturing jobs in American history."
Addressing the campaign, Harris said, "He (Donald Trump) said that he was the only one who could bring back America's manufacturing jobs. America lost nearly 2,00,000 manufacturing jobs when Trump was president, including thousands of jobs right here in Wisconsin, and let the facts be clear, those losses started before the pandemic. That makes Donald Trump one of the biggest losers of manufacturing jobs in American history." (ANI)
National Finance Committee member for Kamala Harris' campaign Ajay Bhutoria said that Harris' presidential campaign is gaining momentum, with enthusiastic support from diverse communities across the United States and expressed confidence in the victory of Kamala Harris.
With just three days to go for the election, Bhutoria noted that grassroots volunteers are knocking on 2,000 doors every minute in battleground states like Michigan, Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania.
Bhutoria also said that under the Biden-Harris administration, the US-India partnership has seen growth in areas such as defence, healthcare, innovation, and semiconductors.
While speaking with ANI, Bhutoria said, "There is huge enthusiasm around the country, especially in the battleground states to vote for Kamala Harris... She will lead the world, will make a huge difference... There is huge momentum, whether we talk about Michigan, Philadelphia or Pennsylvania, 2,000 doors were being knocked every minute by the grassroots volunteers." (ANI)
It looks like Kamala Harris's political manifesto, but the catchily titled "Progress 2028" is actually a fake document that a funding watchdog says was produced by a dark money group with ties to Donald Trump's billionaire backer Elon Musk.
Researchers say Progress 2028 -- purportedly a liberal counter to the conservative initiative Project 2025 -- is riddled with misinformation and is behind a series of Facebook ads that distort the Democratic contender's policy positions about key issues such as immigration and gun control.
Backing it is a group called Building America's Future, a conservative dark money network which has reportedly received funding from Musk, the world's richest man and a vigorous campaigner for Republican Trump's re-election bid. (AFP)
Washington DC: Women's March protesters gather to support US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the run-up to Election Day.
Hundreds marched from Freedom Plaza towards the White House in support of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Democrat Kamala Harris was greeted by an unusual sight as she arrived in North Carolina on Saturday: the red-white-and-blue airplane of Donald Trump, her Republican rival for the presidency.
As Harris descended from the vice-presidential airplane Air Force Two at the Charlotte airport, Trump's private Boeing 757 was parked on the tarmac nearby.
The close encounter was a dramatic illustration of how the two candidates are focusing on a handful of states where Tuesday's U.S. presidential election will be won or lost. (Reuters)
At the Islamic Cultural Centre located on Riverside Drive in New York City, hundreds of Muslims from in and around the neighbourhood join the Friday prayers. One of the main 'dua' made after the prayer is for the people of Gaza.
Ali, a corporate professional, is a regular worshipper here, particularly on Fridays. He says the international issues are overshadowing the domestic concerns of the community in November 5 presidential elections.
"There are plenty of issues, but I don't think anything comes close to what we are seeing in Gaza. There is a large part of the Muslim community that isn't feeling comfortable with the words and the actions of the candidates," he said. (PTI)
A section of Indian-Americans, Muslims, and African-Americans in the battleground state of Michigan, who traditionally supported Democratic candidates in previous elections, have shifted their support towards Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump — a move that could significantly impact the results of the November 5 US election.
Michigan is one of the seven battleground states in the 2024 elections with a razor-thin margin of victory expected. As the auto capital of the world, Detroit drives Michigan's economy, generating numerous jobs in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the automotive industry. The state's strong working-class press. (PTI)
Vice President Harris in Milwaukee: "Leading economists are saying that my economic plan will strengthen our economy and lower costs. And they’re saying that Donald Trump's plan will weaken America's economy, ignite inflation, and create a recession."
Eric Trump stated that his father would accept the election results “assuming it’s fair".
He expressed skepticism about the integrity of the election process, claiming there is "voter fraud all over the place."
Eric Trump suggested that if the election is perceived as unfair, his father would be upset.
He emphasized the need for elections to be "free, fair, and transparent," indicating that these principles are essential for their acceptance of the outcome.
Eric Trump expressed confidence that if the elections are conducted fairly, they would likely win.
Eric Trump was asked whether his father would accept the results of the election if he loses.
Eric Trump told NBC News: "I mean, assuming it’s fair? Yes," he said, before casting doubt on election integrity. "I mean, we’re finding voter fraud all over the place."
"As long as it’s fair, yes, he would accept the results. If it’s not fair, I think he would probably be pretty upset with the results, as would all of America. So we want free, fair and transparent elections," he added. "That’s all we can ask for free, fair and transparent. If they are, we’re gonna win."
Vice President Harris in Milwaukee: "Leading economists are saying that my economic plan will strengthen our economy and lower costs. And they’re saying that Donald Trump's plan will weaken America's economy, ignite inflation, and create a recession."
Former President Donald Trump announced in Dearborn, Michigan, that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would have a significant role in his health care policy if re-elected. Speaking to reporters, Trump expressed confidence in Kennedy's expertise, stating, "He’s going to have a big role in health care. He knows about it better than anybody."
Trump noted that Kennedy has "got some views that I happen to agree with very strongly and I have for a long time."
Kennedy, who has been vocal about the U.S. health crisis and has expressed anti-vaccine sentiments, criticized current health conditions, claiming America is the "sickest country" with the "sickest generation of kids."
Vice President Kamala Harris criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for suggesting that Republicans might cut government subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing.
Harris reaffirmed her commitment to investing in American manufacturing, emphasizing its importance for the economy.
Johnson later clarified his remarks, stating that he intended to suggest Republicans would seek to "streamline" the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, not eliminate it.
The CHIPS and Science Act has injected billions into U.S. semiconductor production and supported union jobs in crucial battleground states.
Harris linked Johnson's comments to a broader agenda by Trump, referring to it as evidence of "Project 2025," which she believes could harm American workers.
Harris noted that her support spans Democrats, independents, and Republicans, highlighting the desire for leadership that prioritizes people's lives over political games.
Ahead of a North Carolina rally, Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris on TruthSocial, claiming she is "slumping to the finish line" while he works tirelessly for the election.
He labeled Harris as a "Low IQ individual" unfit for the presidency.
Trump's personal attacks on Harris have intensified recently, with remarks suggesting she is unprepared for international leadership.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized Mark Cuban for his comments about women working for Trump at a North Carolina rally.
Bondi addressed the audience, saying, "I think we have a message for Mark Cuban: underestimate us," indicating confidence in Trump's female supporters.
Cuban faced backlash from Republicans after stating that strong women are "intimidating" to Trump.
Highlighting her experience, Bondi noted her 18 years as a prosecutor and her friendship with Trump, asserting he works with many strong and capable women. (NBC News)
“Paris was so FUN! It was hard to leave, but I had to come home to V.O.T.E," Madonna posted on Instagram.
Madonna then tagged VP Kamala Harris’s Instagram account, writing: “@kamalaharris For. President!!!!"
Author Marianne Williamson, who previously sought the Democratic nomination, announced on Instagram that she cast her vote for Kamala Harris. She expressed a somber view of the election, stating, "To me, this is not a happy election," she added. "I have seen too much for that. But it is a critically important election nonetheless. Each of us needs to do our best, particularly in light of what state we’re in and what difference our vote can realistically make there."
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will campaign with actress Eva Longoria in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nevada is considered a crucial swing state for securing victory in the upcoming election.
Kamala Harris will monitor the election results from Howard University, her alma mater.
Harris graduated from the historically Black college in Washington, D.C., in 1986.
She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee in July, she has engaged fellow Howard alumnae to support her campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for claiming that Trump and Republicans will attempt to repeal Obamacare and the CHIPS and Science Act if they win on November 5.
“It is just further evidence of everything that I’ve actually been talking about for months now about Trump’s intention to implement Project 2025," VP Kamala Harris told reporters in Milwaukee on Saturday.
Johnson earlier this week told a crowd of supporters there will be "no Obamacare" if Trump wins and Republicans take control of Congress.
Basketball player LeBron James told reporters after his game Friday night, "I have a daughter, I have a wife, and I have a mother," he told reporters. "What (Harris) believes in when it comes to women's rights" is "where I think our country should be."
JD Vance opens up about the heart-stopping moment Trump was shot at a Pennsylvania rally. Calling it a ‘genuine miracle’ that the former president survived, Vance questions how the shooter got so close, revealing alarming security flaws and demanding answers on the mysterious motives behind the attack.
Donald Trump in a recent interview with Tucker Carlson asserted that there are “very bad people" within the country who pose a significant threat to its democratic foundations. “We do have an enemy from within," he said.
“They would like to take down our country. They’d like to have our country be a nice communist country or a fascist in any way they can," he warned.
Trump remarked on the irony of the accusations directed at him, stating, “They’re the threat to democracy. You know, the amazing thing is where they say, ‘He wants to become elected, and he wants to put people in jail.’ How terrible. That’s what they’ve been trying to do to me for four years."
Cardi B at her rally with Kamala Harris in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, called Trump a "bully" and said, "I can't stand a bully, but just like Kamala, I stand up to one." Cardi B repeatedly said she was nervous about speaking at the rally. Women, she said, have to work 10 times harder than men "and still, people question us."
Donald Trump kicked off his rally at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by asking the question he starts all his rallies with: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?"
“No!" the near-capacity crowd roared, pleasing Trump, who commented on the size of the crowd several times.
Soon though, the crowd became frustrated with the sound levels in the venue, even chanting: “Fix the mic!"
Trump pulled the microphone from the podium to bring it closer to his mouth.
“I think this mic stinks," Trump said. “And then we don't pay the contractor. I say don't pay the contractor then they write a story, Trump doesn't pay his bills, he's a bad guy."
As the problem continued, the former president said: “You’ve gotta be kidding. Do you want to see me knock the hell out of people backstage?"
When Trump says he’ll protect women, Cardi B says in Milwaukee, it “is his definition of protection not the freedom of choice?"
She adds: “Hustling a woman out of her rights is nasty work."
“Did you hear what Donny Trump said the other day?" the rapper asked the Milwaukee audience.
Cardi B then recollected for the audience Trump’s promise to protect women “whether the women like it or not."
“I wasn’t going to vote in this election, I wasn’t, but Kamala Harris joining the race, she changed my mind," Cardi B told the crowd in Milwaukee. “I believe in every word that comes out of her mouth— she’s passionate, she’s compassionate, she shows empathy, and most of all, she is not delusional."
