Kamala Accepts Nomination
The 2024 election season is heating up, and this week has been full of surprising developments. While the Democratic National Convention (DNC) showcased the optimism and energy surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy, her opponent, Donald Trump, has quietly had a great week, making significant strides in his campaign.
Harris’s entry into the race after President Joe Biden stepped aside has indeed energized the Democratic base. She’s seen a surge in surveysand raised a whopping $500 million in just a month, culminating in her official acceptance of the Democratic nomination on Thursday. However, despite this momentum, Trump has been making some quiet gains that could change the race’s dynamics.
Earlier this month, Trump faced backlash after questioning Harris’s racial identity, struggling initially to adjust to her as his new rival. But this week, several pieces of good news have come Trump’s way. First off, a number of leading bookmakers now have Trump as the favorite to win in November—quite the shift from just a few days ago when Harris was still leading.
Surveys in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Arizona show Trump narrowly leading Harris, with ties in Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. These are crucial states that could very well decide the outcome of the election. Additionally, several other surveys have Harris trailing Trump in Pennsylvania, a state that has been a pivotal battleground in recent elections.
Adding to the mix is the growing speculation that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might drop out of the race and endorse Trump. Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, hinted at the possibility of Kennedy joining forces with Trump to block Harris from winning in November.
This potential exit would likely benefit Trump more than Harris, according to surveys. Trump himself has expressed admiration for Kennedy, even suggesting he might offer him a role in his administration if he decides to step out of the race.
On the economic front, there have been some troubling signs for Harris. The U.S. government recently announced that the economy added 818,000 fewer jobs than previously reported between April 2023 and March 2024. This downgraded estimate, coupled with a disappointing July job report, has raised concerns among economists that the Federal Reserve may have delayed cutting interest rates for too long, potentially harming the economy further.
In response, Harris rolled out a sweeping set of economic proposals last week aimed at reducing the cost of groceries, housing, and other goods. However, these proposals have faced criticism, and it remains to be seen how they will resonate with voters.
Experts are weighing in on these developments. Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northeastern University, pointed out that the race is still wide open. He noted that the tight competition means both campaigns will have good and bad days, and that the race is likely to remain close until the very end. Similarly, Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science at University College London, acknowledged Harris’s current momentum but cautioned that it could shift back to Trump as the campaign progresses and Harris faces more scrutiny.