On Saturday, November 2nd, both the Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump turned their attention to the battleground states known as the “Sunbelt.” That evening, Harris made a surprise appearance on the live broadcast of “Saturday Night Live,” adding a touch of comedy to the tense election atmosphere.
Trump, speaking at a rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, said, “We have overcome all attacks, all insults, even two assassination attempts. Now everything comes down to this.”
Filled with anticipation, Trump discussed the final stages of his nearly decade-long campaign effort at the rally, expressing hope for more memorable moments with supporters.
Political science professor Michael Bitzer from Catawba College noted that voter turnout in the western counties of North Carolina, which were hit hard by Hurricane Helen, seemed to be on par with other areas of the state.
Later, Trump traveled to Virginia, where he continued to deliver a message of confidence to his supporters, predicting a historic political victory for the nation.
At a rally in Salem, Virginia, Trump confidently declared his intent to not only win the Electoral College votes but also secure a majority of the national popular vote, a feat he had not achieved in previous elections.
Trump told the crowd, “We will win the popular vote. I think we have a very good chance of winning the popular vote.”
He emphasized that his purpose in running for president was to save the country and its economy from “ruin,” even though he could have spent relaxed days at his seaside resort.
Accompanied by female athletes from a local university’s swimming team, Trump addressed the issue of unfair competition with transgender athletes at the rally.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Kamala Harris held a campaign event at the Atlanta Civic Center parking lot, urging her supporters to vote early to secure her election and implement the “new generation of leadership” she represents.
Harris expressed confidence in winning the election, referring to her campaign and supporters as “the hope of America.”
During the rally, she had to pause several times for medical staff to attend to those who had fainted due to hours of exposure to the high temperatures. She remarked, “Atlanta, it’s really hot here.”
After wrapping up her campaign activities in Atlanta, Harris traveled to Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, to participate in another campaign rally.
Harris’s team aimed to create a “tremendous impact” through two-minute advertisements set to air during a National Football League (NFL) game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, featuring interactions with voters during her campaign.
In a phone conference with reporters, campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon displayed confidence in the campaign’s Get-out-the-vote efforts over the weekend.
Later on Saturday, Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on NBC’s classic satirical comedy show “Saturday Night Live,” alongside actress Maya Rudolph who has been portraying her since 2019.
This marked Harris’s first appearance on the show, which has invited other presidential candidates over the decades. Trump himself appeared on the show during his 2015 and 2004 campaigns.
Earlier in the day, both Trump’s and Harris’s planes crossed paths at the Charlotte airport in North Carolina, where they engaged in campaign events. The state is one of the few deciding states in the upcoming election.
It remains uncertain whether Harris has already voted early. Campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler mentioned on Saturday that Harris planned to vote by mail but it was unclear if she had returned her ballot to her home state of California.
Trump confirmed on Saturday that he would personally vote in Florida on Tuesday, November 5th, despite mentioning earlier that he would vote early.
As election day approaches, both Trump and Harris, along with their respective running mates and prominent supporters, are rallying voters to cast their ballots either early or on Tuesday.
Data from the University of Florida Election Laboratory indicates that over 75 million Americans have already voted, reflecting a surge in voter enthusiasm.
(Note: This article references reports from the Associated Press and Reuters.)