US Elections 2024 Forecast: Will It Be Harris Or Trump In This Knife-Edge Election?

America is at a crossroads as voters flock to the polls in one of the most dramatic and high-stakes presidential races in recent history.

The election could mark a historic first with Kamala Harris becoming the country's first woman president, or it might signal an extraordinary comeback for former president Donald Trump, as reported by AFP.

Photo Credit: PTI

As voting stations opened early Tuesday, the race remained a dead heat between the two candidates: Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, and Republican former President Donald Trump, 78. Both candidates spent the final campaign hours rallying their bases and appealing to swing voters in battleground states that will likely determine the outcome.

According to AFP reports, this turbulent campaign has seen everything from Harris stepping up as the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden's withdrawal in July to Trump surviving two assassination attempts and a criminal conviction. Despite the intensity, polls show the two candidates locked in a statistical tie.

Millions of voters are expected to cast ballots today, adding to the 83 million who voted early. Polling places across the country have seen long lines, underscoring the charged atmosphere of this election. In Erie, Pennsylvania, a critical swing state city, voters queued up before dawn.

Marchelle Beason, 46, was among the first in line, casting her ballot for Harris. "We're so divided right now, and she's about peace," she said after voting at an elementary school. Across the room, Trump supporter Darlene Taylor, 56, wearing a homemade Trump shirt, voiced her concerns about inflation and immigration, saying, "We don't need another four more years of high inflation, gas prices, and lying," as reported by AFP.

High Stakes in Congress

The stakes go beyond the presidency, as all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 34 Senate seats are also up for grabs. Should the race remain close, as predicted, the final outcome might not be confirmed for days, fueling the possibility of tensions or even unrest-especially if Trump contests the results, as he did in 2020. Security barriers have already been placed around the White House in anticipation.

Global attention is also fixed on the outcome, with international allies and trading partners closely watching the potential impact on global issues, from the Middle East conflict and Ukraine to climate change, which Trump has previously dismissed as a "hoax."

Final Campaign Push and Historic Potential

Both candidates devoted their last day on the campaign trail to key swing states. Harris, rallying supporters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, expressed optimism. "Momentum is on our side," she declared, while also cautioning, "This could be one of the closest races in history-every single vote matters," as reported by AFP.

Trump, speaking to a rally in Michigan, struck a more ominous tone. Framing himself as the country's saviour, he called on Americans to help him "fix every single problem our country faces" and restore America's greatness. If successful, Trump would make history as the first convicted felon and the oldest person to assume the presidency, following in the footsteps of Grover Cleveland, who is the only other president to serve non-consecutive terms.

A Harris victory would be equally historic. She would become not only the first woman but also the first Black and South Asian president, ending an era dominated by Trump's polarizing presence, as per AFP reports.

As America's divided voters cast their ballots, a defining decision awaits. The outcome will reverberate worldwide, influencing not only America's future but also its role on the global stage.