[ad_1]
- US President Donald Trump concluded his campaign with a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- Joe Biden told his supporters to “get back” democracy.
- Both men are working to ensure victory in the November 3 US election.
US President Donald Trump gathered late Monday in Kenosha, the Wisconsin city at the center of racial protests this summer, in a final hour-long attempt to prove the polls wrong and withhold the White House, while its challenger Joe Biden predicted victory and told the United States to do so. “recover” democracy.
On the eve of Election Day, in the most tense race in recent memory, Trump flew to five rallies in four decisive states, hinting at the dark message that his Democratic opponent will bring anarchy and that attempts are being made to manipulate the outcome against you.
READ | Drama expected as US goes to the polls to pass judgment on Trump’s presidency
Kenosha’s choice for his penultimate rally underscored his drive to make right-wing anger over anti-racism protests across the country a cornerstone of his campaign.
It was here in August, during a botched arrest, that police fired at a black man point-blank as his sons watched, sparking riots and inflaming the widespread anger that was already spreading across the United States.
“We brought law and order to Kenosha,” Trump said to applause, as soon as he took the stage. “They are waging war on our police.”
2020 UNITED STATES ELECTIONS | Get all the news about Biden vs Trump
‘A little superstitious’
By the end of a three-day marathon that saw 14 rallies, he would then fly off to give an evening speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Trump also wrapped up his 2016 campaign in Grand Rapids on the eve of defeating Hillary Clinton in a setback that traumatizes Democrats to this day, and that the 74-year-old Trump says he can repeat Tuesday.
“We ended up there four years ago,” he said in Kenosha. “I’m a bit superstitious. Let’s do it the same way.”
This time around, however, much has changed, starting with the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed some 231,000 American lives and severely damaged the economy that had been Trump’s biggest draw.
Despite an often surprisingly quiet campaign, the 77-year-old Biden is at the forefront in nearly every poll counted on the eve of elections, encouraged by his constant message that America in crisis needs new leadership. more responsible.
He made his own closing argument on Monday with events in Cleveland, Ohio, and then Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania’s most dynamic state, where he was joined by pop superstar Lady Gaga, wearing black platform shoes and a glittery “mask.” VOTE “, for a self-service rally.
“I have a feeling that we will come together for a great victory tomorrow,” he said. “It is time to get up and take back our democracy.”
In one of the great political bets in U.S. history, Biden has held onto these kinds of socially-distance gatherings with small crowds or segregated people in their cars until the last minute, in striking contrast to the constant, large ones. Trump rallies where few supporters as much as bother with masks.
‘We are done with this chaos’
The Democrat clearly feels that his calmer approach and strict attention to pandemic protocols is what Americans want after four stormy years.
“It’s time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home,” Biden told supporters in Cleveland.
“We end the chaos! We end the tweets, anger, hatred, failure, irresponsibility.”
In cold downtown Pittsburgh, Justine Wolff said she had already cast her vote for Biden and was cautiously hopeful that he would take over the state.
“I hope people have seen the writing on the wall,” said the 35-year-old nurse. “We need some kind of change because this is not working for anyone.”
Tuesday is formally Election Day, but it actually marks the culmination of a lengthy election month.
With a huge expansion in voting by mail to protect against the Covid-19 pandemic, nearly 100 million people have already cast their votes, highlighting the passion in what is becoming a referendum on the first Republican term that breaks the rules.
But where many of the first votes are believed to have been cast by Democrats, encouraged by Biden to seize the opportunity, Trump’s side expects a massive wave of Republican supporters to vote in person on Tuesday.
“I see these bogus polls,” Trump said in a speech early Monday in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
“We are going to win anyway.”
Trump himself plans to visit his campaign headquarters in Virginia, while Biden will travel to his birthplace of Scranton, the Pennsylvania city where Trump also visited on Monday.
For weeks, Trump has made unprecedented claims that the election will be rigged against him. He has stepped up these warnings in recent days, focusing especially on the Pennsylvania rule that allows absentee ballots received within three days of Tuesday to be counted.
In a tweet marked with a warning tag by Twitter on Monday, he said this “would allow rampant and unchecked deception and undermine our entire system of laws.”
“It will also induce violence in the streets. Something must be done!” Trump tweeted.
“It’s going to be a trap,” he said during the Wisconsin rally.
Do you want to know more about this topic? Sign up to receive one of 33 News24 newsletters to receive the information you want in your inbox. Special newsletters are available to subscribers.