Early Voting Kicks Off in South Dakota and Beyond
The presidential election season officially commenced in the United States on Friday, with early voting launched in three key states: South Dakota, Virginia, and Minnesota. This early voting period is significant as it allows voters to cast their ballots ahead of the official election day on November 5. With the rise in popularity of early voting, experts anticipate a substantial turnout, especially given that over 69% of voters participated in the 2020 elections through mail-in or early in-person voting, according to data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Election Data Science Lab.
Kamala Harris Seeks Second Debate with Donald Trump
As early voting began, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris addressed a crowd of about 600 supporters at the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She expressed her desire to hold a second debate with her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. Trump, however, has declined the invitation, citing that all pertinent issues were thoroughly discussed during the first debate held on September 10. Observers noted that Harris outperformed Trump during their initial encounter, where Trump made controversial remarks about immigrants.
Campaign Spending Heats Up
In the competitive landscape of the presidential race, financial disclosures reveal that Harris's campaign outspent Trump's nearly threefold in August, with $174 million compared to Trump's $61 million. Harris's campaign has also made strategic donations, including $75,000 to the Detroit Unity Fund, aiming to boost black voter turnout in Michigan, a critical battleground state. As both campaigns enter the final stretch leading up to the November elections, the intense competition and increased spending on advertising are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the election outcome.
