The presidency represents a big prize for the country’s two major political parties – it’s the only nationally elected position. Each party holds a series of state primary elections and caucuses throughout the year to allow voters to express their preferences, with winners earning delegates that represent them at nominating conventions to decide their presidential candidates. Once the party nominates a candidate, the general election takes place in November with the winner of the most electoral votes becoming President.
Polls leading up to the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump showed both candidates neck and neck nationally and in many battleground states. The race could turn on a number of factors – if voter turnout models are off, for example, and more women or rural residents head to the polls; or if the candidates’ rhetoric changes perceptions about immigration, climate change or gun policy.
With early voting set to begin in many states, the race is now down to a few dozen battleground counties and the campaigns are honing their messages. With the campaigning escalating, mistakes by either candidate could have lasting effects.
The most recent debate between the candidates offered a clearer look at a tightly bunched race than earlier ones. On the surface, it appeared that Harris had gained momentum in the race with her sharply focused answers to Trump’s attacks on her stances on abortion, climate change and gun policy. But research has shown that presidential debates often do little to shift a person’s entrenched views toward a specific candidate or issue.
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