US Presidential Election 2024: Does Harris have a more "bright" image than Trump?

Unprecedented events

CNN commented that if former President Donald Trump wins on November 5th, he will be elected president for two non-consecutive terms, after losing his second bid in 2020. Trump would have made the most remarkable political comeback ever, attempting to maintain power after the 2020 election, despite being convicted of crimes and surviving two assassination attempts this year.

Meanwhile, if elected, Vice President Kamala Harris could break a nearly 250-year streak of male commanders-in-chief and become the first female president of the United States. This would be an incredible feat, given her ability to unite and maintain the spirit within her party, especially after incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July.

On the final day of the campaign, the importance of the election increased even further, as no one could predict who would ultimately win.

Polls nationwide and in key swing states have yet to show a clear lead. This reflects a deeply polarized America, just as it was at the start of the race. But according to CNN, there is still a possibility that a candidate could forge a late advantage in battleground states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, and Arizona, and potentially win more broadly than expected.

The Democratic Party was encouraged by the high turnout of female voters in early ballots, as abortion rights were likely to be a key issue. Vice President Harris also worked to mend the rifts within the traditional Democratic coalition, attempting to attract the attention of men of color and Latino voters in particular.

Former President Trump is relying on voters disgruntled with rising food and housing prices and an inflationary economy. He has portrayed undocumented immigrants as a threat to highlight the southern border crisis.

The Biden administration has struggled for months to recognize the severity of each issue and devise remedies. Meanwhile, former President Trump's campaign believes he will undermine traditional Democratic minority constituencies and once again turn those who wouldn't normally vote for the Republican Party.

But there are also worrying signs from Trump's side. It's worth recalling that after the 2020 election, there were riots on Capitol Hill in an attempt to prevent the confirmation of Joe Biden's victory.

Harris has stated that she is prepared to respond if the former president declares victory prematurely. And Trump's actions suggest that, without a clear victory for either side, uncertainty surrounding the election could last for days.

The end of Trumpism — or the beginning of a new era of extremism?

CNN argues that this is no ordinary election, largely due to Trump's presence and influence on American politics and the public, even after leaving the White House. If he fulfills his promise, the Republican candidate – who has been impeached twice – will put America's governing, judicial, and constitutional institutions to the ultimate test.

According to CNN, Trump has painted a picture of the most authoritarian leader of any presidential candidate in modern history. He is proposing the largest mass deportation of immigrants ever – an operation that, by definition, would involve law enforcement and possibly even the military in a domestic crackdown that would challenge civil liberties. He has publicly considered using the U.S. armed forces against his political opponents, whom he calls "enemies from within."

The former president also proposed a transformation of the economy, after seeing people's livelihoods eroded by decades of globalization. But Trump's tariff policies risked a backlash that could reverse the economic situation. Trump also planned to dismiss Washington officials and dismantle agencies like the Justice Department that had hampered him during his first term, and he wanted to turn them into weapons to eliminate criminal prosecutions.

In 2016, Donald Trump, a businessman, entered American politics and was seen as an "outsider." More than nine years later, entering the 2024 race, Trump may be more politically powerful than ever.

However, Vice President Harris entered Election Day with the opportunity to end the "Trump era" and deliver a second consecutive electoral defeat for the Republican Party.

Ms. Harris is offering voters a chance to avoid the chaos and dangers to the rule of law that Mr. Trump's own campaign has demonstrated. The vice president also proposed reforms to improve the lives of American workers – but her reforms are not as revolutionary as Mr. Trump's. Ms. Harris promised to take steps to make housing more affordable, to crack down on what she called the price gouging of giant supermarkets, and to ensure better healthcare at more reasonable prices.

Harris took a risk by offering a successor at a time of deep discontent with the economic and political realities at home. She also struggled to distance herself from the image of an 81-year-old president who was unpopular with voters, even though he was leading the world's strongest economic recovery since the Covid-19 pandemic.