Kamala Harris Goes All Out in the Final Stretch

The summer season is over, and the final stretch of the election campaign begins. Traditionally, those not particularly interested in politics start paying attention after Labor Day weekend, which the U.S. celebrated on Monday. With the candidates nearly tied, television ads and rallies are multiplying, with Kamala Harris currently on a bus tour through Florida.

Trump's state is not in play; polls attribute it to him. However, Harris is dedicating time to a handful of strongholds where she has little chance of winning, adhering to the principle of leaving no stone unturned. In Florida, the referendum on abortion to reject the law limiting it to six weeks of gestation offers her an opportunity to capitalize on women's votes.

According to a Siena College poll for the 'New York Times,' the Democratic candidate has swayed many young women aged 18 to 29 who were not planning to vote for Joe Biden. Ten percent feel more inclined to support her on the ballots, compared to five percent of young men, but the outcome is not the same: women favor Harris 67% to 29%, while men lean towards Trump 53% to 40%.

Harris has $540 million raised in her first month, planning to distribute $24.5 million to Democratic groups supporting related referendums and ten million for legislative candidacies in Congress. Just as Nancy Pelosi feared Biden's wear and tear might drag down the slim Democratic majority in the House, his withdrawal has revived competitive seats that seemed lost. These include Ohio's 13th Congressional District and Oregon's fifth, as well as Minnesota's Senate candidacy, where former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan boasts of being one of the few Republicans who never yielded to Trump.

The Democratic candidate finds her best niche among anti-Trump Republicans, especially Nikki Haley voters torn between voting for her or supporting Biden. Despite the mogul's campaign efforts to paint her as a radical left extremist, there hasn't been enough time to engrain that image in voters' minds. Harris plans to counter this with $370 million in advertising from now until November 5th.

On Monday, Labor Day, while Trump and his vice president were resting without any rallies scheduled this week, Harris joined President Biden for the first time since becoming a candidate at a rally in Pennsylvania. It’s time to adopt protectionism by vetoing Japanese company Nippon Steel's $15 million offer to buy U.S. Steel. "U.S. Steel will remain American," she promised unions.

The campaign has hit the highway. On Tuesday in Philadelphia, Harris and Trump will debate for the first time, just in time to influence Pennsylvania residents who can vote by mail starting on the 16th or those in Minnesota and Virginia who will vote in person starting on the 20th thanks to early voting.

The glass is half full or half empty, depending on how you look at it. Harris has brought states like Nevada and Georgia back into play within the margin of error and holds a slight lead in North Carolina and Arizona. According to Siena College's poll, she has neutralized Trump's dominance among Hispanics regarding economy and crime issues. However, another national poll by ABC indicates she hasn't gained any substantial advantage after the Democratic Party convention as she remains four points ahead nationally.

Both candidates seek distinction with substantially different strategies. The former president, more relaxed, relies on his captains to mobilize apathetic but supportive groups. Harris is going all out for battleground states with rallies and visits to cafes and shops. We will have to wait until November 5th to see which formula works.