Times of India: The 2024 U.S. election could be historic. Trump seeks a comeback akin to Grover Cleveland, while Harris aims to break barriers as the first female President.
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| 2024 Election: History in the Making |
Washington: Regardless of whether American voters are swayed by his narrative and commitments or her narrative and assurances, the United States is poised to make history in 2024. Should Trump secure victory, he would become only the second President to reclaim the White House after a four-year hiatus. The only other President to accomplish this was Grover Cleveland, who held two nonconsecutive terms from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897. Conversely, if Kamala Harris prevails, she would create an even more significant milestone: she would be the first female President in a nation that has witnessed 46 male Presidents, 45 of whom were white. Notably, she would be a woman of both black and Indian descent, lacking any familial political ties, and remaining unmarried until the age of 50. However, neither outcome is likely to occur without a contentious battle that may become increasingly aggressive. Early indications of a potentially tumultuous election surfaced when Trump supporters expressed outrage over voting machine malfunctions in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, as voting commenced on Tuesday morning.
County officials recommended that voters submit paper ballots into a secured box, which would later be scanned when the voting machines were operational or counted manually. They also secured a court order to extend voting hours to make up for the downtime. Despite these measures, conspiracy theorists were active, even in Cambria, a strongly Republican county. Political analysts anticipate numerous disruptions to the voting and counting processes, especially if Trump appears to be trailing. Typically, Trump and the Republican Party gain early leads when votes from less-populated, predominantly white rural areas are reported first, while Democrats tend to catch up as results from larger urban and suburban areas come in. It is widely anticipated that Trump will declare victory if he is ahead and will allege "voter fraud" as his lead narrows. Although there was a surge of support for Trump on the campaign trail, his momentum seems to have waned in the final hours, despite expectations that his supporters will mobilize at polling stations to "swamp the vote," as he has phrased it.
On Monday, the MAGA leader concluded his campaign with four rallies in key states, ending with a late-night event in Michigan that extended past 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Observers noted that he appeared fatigued and worn out. Political analysts who have closely followed him remarked that he sounded desperate and disheartened, suggesting he was limping toward the finish line rather than demonstrating a vigorous final push. Pablo O'Hana, a political advisor to British leaders who attended one of the rallies, offered a critical assessment of Trump's closing campaign efforts, stating, "the curtains are closing on this tired, unoriginal, boring circus, a dwindling sideshow losing its once hypnotic power... a tired ringmaster trying to hold together a fraying show... a mishmash of words, an incoherent jumble that became more desperate as the crowd dissipated... a tedious, drawn-out circus that promised the thrill of a high-wire act but delivered the dullness of a retired clown stumbling through a routine."
Harris concluded her campaign with notable vigor outside the Philadelphia Art Museum, a site famously associated with Sylvester Stallone's ascent of the steps in the iconic Rocky film, where he proclaimed, "the momentum is on our side." In this remarkable location, emblematic of the origins of American democracy, she delivered her customary 20-minute address, in stark contrast to Trump's lengthy two-hour speeches, following endorsements from Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga. The current political landscape in the United States is unprecedented, characterized by the unique nature of presidential candidates and the influence of social media, artificial intelligence, memes, and misinformation, marking a distinctly post-truth era. While there have been intense campaigns in the past, none have reached the levels of coarseness and vulgarity seen in this election.
Trump consistently portrayed a bleak and dystopian image of America, referring to it as an "occupied country" during his final rally. In contrast, Harris offered an optimistic and unifying vision, emphasizing progress despite skepticism regarding her capabilities. Ultimately, American voters will express their preferences by the end of the day.
খবর/তথ্যের বিষয়বস্তুর সঙ্গে মিল আছে এবং আপত্তিজনক নয়- এমন মন্তব্যই প্রদর্শিত হবে। মন্তব্যগুলো পাঠকের নিজস্ব মতামত, সেবা হট নিউজ এর দায়ভার কখনই নেবে না।