There is officially less than one week until Election Day. On November 3, the nation will decide if they want to vote in President Donald Trump for another four years or go with something new with his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.
There is officially less than one week until Election Day. On November 3, the nation will decide if they want to vote in President Donald Trump for another four years or go with something new with his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden. Not surprisingly, the candidates and their teams are making a last-minute push to sway voters to side with them. What is surprising is where these candidates are making their final push.
Why This Matters: There are two major clues that provide insight into where each camp believes they will find the votes to put them over the top. The first clue is where the money is being spent. Each camp has a strategic plan to funnel funds into the areas that they believe will make the biggest impact. Where they are increasing their ad buys can provide a wealth of clues about where they still think they need to win votes. Pulling their money can either signal that they feel good enough about their chances to divert the funds elsewhere or that they have given up on winning that state.
The second clue can be found by paying attention to where the campaigns are holding events in the days leading up to the big day. In historical terms, candidates generally travel to the states that they need to lock up or those that they feel like may provide votes to still be won over. So where are Trump and Biden spending these last seven days?
Trump’s Campaign Stops: Trump’s frenetic travel schedule on Tuesday took him to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nebraska. The president knows that he needs to turn at least one of the Rust Belt states back to his favor if he has any shot at pulling out a win.
Vice President Mike Pence spent Tuesday in both of the Carolinas. Not only are these states crucial to the success of the presidential campaign, but they are also both experiencing tight Senate races. The Republicans hope that by spending time getting out the vote in these states, they will also hold on to their crucial lead in the Senate. Pence also paid a visit to Minnesota on Monday in an effort to flip it red.
First Lady Melania Trump also took to the campaign trail for the very first time this election season. The Trump camp said that her bout with COVID-19 kept her sidelined last week. On Tuesday, she stepped back into the spotlight with a stop in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. The Trump team hopes that the first lady will be able to convince the much-needed suburban women voters in Pennsylvania to cast their vote for the president.
Biden’s Campaign Stops: Biden spent his day Tuesday campaigning in Warm Springs, Georgia. What was once considered to be a sure thing for the Republicans, Georgia is now considered to be a toss-up by most reputable polling services.
The Biden campaign got a big boost in Florida when former President Barack Obama was the lead speaker at a rally in Orlando. This is the second time in four days that Obama has stumped for Biden in the Sunshine State. On Saturday, Biden spoke to a group in Miami in an attempt to shore up more of the Hispanic and elderly vote. Last week, Obama joined the team with his first solo appearance in Philadelphia, hoping to solidify Biden’s lock on the Keystone State.
What is most surprising to political pundits is the decision by the Biden campaign to send vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris to Texas on Friday. The Lone Star State has been a Republican stalwart for decades, however, the Biden camp sees the possibility of this state being a long shot for the Democrats. Harris spent Tuesday campaigning in Nevada, just days before the state wraps up the early voting process.
Difference in Campaign Events: Unlike most election cycles when all of the campaign events look virtually the same regardless of where you fall along the political spectrum, the difference between Trump and Biden’s rallies could not look any more different. Trump is largely sticking to his same proven script with the large rally. While he has moved the majority of his events outside, he is still packing in the crowds.
Trump has been under criticism for not enforcing the COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While masks have been recommended, they have not been enforced. The attendees are also often crammed in together with little to no social distancing measures in place.
In direct contrast, Biden is taking a much more cautious approach to the events in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden campaign has built its events around a drive-in theater format. Guests are invited to arrive in their personal vehicles and watch from a safe distance. Rather than loud cheering, you hear honking horns in response to the speaker.
The Trump campaign has seized the opportunity to accuse the former vice president of staying in his basement rather than hitting the campaign trail. Trump and his team have painted Biden to be weak, tired, and not up to the task of being the president, using his lack of campaign appearances as fodder.
There is no doubt that it is going to be a roller coaster ride over the next seven days. Watching where the candidates make appearances can provide significant clues about where they believe there are votes to be found and what states may prove to be the most important in deciding the election.
