One Day Before the US Presidential Election... Harris and Trump Both Target 'Pennsylvania' (Comprehensive)

[US Election 2024]
Focus Campaigning in Decisive Pennsylvania
Harris "Ready for New Leadership... Momentum on Our Side"
Trump "Biden-Harris Administration Must Be Judged for Incompetence"

On the 4th (local time), one day before the election to choose the 47th President of the United States, both candidates chose Pennsylvania, known as the "battleground of battleground states," as their campaign venue. Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris conducted a grueling schedule, visiting as many as five locations in Pennsylvania alone, and concluded with a message of "new leadership is ready" in the major city of Philadelphia. Republican candidate former President Donald Trump also visited Reading and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, urging voters to judge the "incompetence of the Joe Biden-Harris administration."

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

Harris 'All In' on Pennsylvania: "I Will Be a President for All Americans"

On that day, Vice President Harris and former President Trump included five and two locations in Pennsylvania, respectively, in their campaign schedules. This suggests that both candidates view Pennsylvania as the true battleground of this election. Among the seven battleground states in this election, Pennsylvania holds the largest number of electoral votes (19). It is a region that must be secured to obtain the majority of 270 out of 538 electoral votes.

Vice President Harris went "all in" on Pennsylvania for her final day of campaigning. Starting from Scranton, President Joe Biden's hometown, she consecutively took the stage in Allentown, Reading, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. At the Allentown rally, she raised her voice, saying, "Only one day left until the most important election of our lives, and the momentum is on our side," adding, "It is time for a new generation of leadership for America." She also emphasized, "I am ready to provide that leadership as the next President of the United States," and "Pennsylvania will decide this election."

At the rally, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who was once considered a running mate candidate for Vice President Harris, appeared and appealed, "We want a President of the United States who cares for the 500,000 Puerto Ricans living in our area and strengthens our region." This was a call for support for the Democratic Party, mocking again the Trump campaign's earlier speaker who referred to Puerto Rico as a "trash island."

Notably, Vice President Harris chose Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city, as her final campaign location. She declared, "I will be a president for all Americans," on the steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, famous for the movie "Rocky," marking the climax of her campaign. The event was attended by "Queen of Talk Shows" Oprah Winfrey, famous singers Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Katy Perry, among others.

The Guardian reported, "Harris has put all her remaining chips on Pennsylvania," conveying the atmosphere. CNN also reported that Vice President Harris briefly visited voters' homes during her busy campaign schedule that day, highlighting, "Pennsylvania is the most important battleground in this year's election."

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

Trump Also Campaigns in Pennsylvania: "Kamala, You're Fired... Let's Save America"

On the same day, former President Trump held two of his four rallies in Reading and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He urged, "Tomorrow, you must stand up and tell Kamala, 'We have endured enough. We can't take it anymore. You are the most incompetent Vice President in America. Kamala, you're fired,'" adding, "So we must save America." A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, he also emphasized his local ties. He pointed out issues of illegal immigration and related crime due to the southern border problem and expressed confidence that Election Day would be a "day of liberation."

At the Pittsburgh rally, Trump referred to the earlier shooting incident, saying, "Many people say God saved me to save America," and "With your help, we will complete that special mission together." He also seemed conscious of the fact that many stars, including Lady Gaga, were attending Vice President Harris's final rally that day, asserting, "We don't need stars because we have policies."

The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Both Harris and Trump made their final appeals to Pennsylvania voters, indicating how important they consider Pennsylvania," adding, "(The election atmosphere) remains intense."

On the last day alone, former President Trump held a total of four rallies in three battleground states. At the rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, held in the morning, he warned Mexico, "If you do not stop criminals and drugs from entering our country, we will immediately impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported into the United States." His final campaign location that day was Grand Rapids, Michigan. This place is considered a tradition as Trump also held his final rallies there in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Neck-and-Neck Until the Day Before the Election... Harris Watches Vote Count at Alma Mater HBCU, Trump in Palm Beach

The U.S. presidential election, unfolding in a neck-and-neck race, showed a chaotic situation where the outcome was unpredictable even the day before. The Hill and Emerson University polls released that day showed former President Trump leading in the seven battleground states with a record of '4 wins, 2 ties, and 1 loss.' This result is the exact opposite of the previous day's New York Times and Siena College polls, which showed Vice President Harris in the lead. However, since both polls are within the margin of error, the analysis suggests the race is effectively tied. A nationwide voter survey released by PBS that day showed Vice President Harris ahead of former President Trump by 4 percentage points, with 51% support.

Vice President Harris has chosen Howard University, a traditional historically Black college located in Washington D.C., as the place to watch the vote count on Election Day. Howard University was established as a specialized educational institution for Black people before the enactment of the Civil Rights Act that prohibited racial discrimination. Harris, who is both Black and Asian, is an alumna of this university. Her competitor, former President Trump, is expected to be in Palm Beach, Florida. In the 2016 election, he was at his New York residence, Trump Tower, and during the 2020 election, while in office, he was in Washington D.C.