Donald Trump has been heavily focused on winning over male voters, and recent data suggests his efforts are paying off, although it may have come at the expense of female support. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll shows Trump leading Kamala Harris among men, with 53% backing him compared to her 37%. On the other hand, Harris has a strong lead among women, securing 53% support versus Trump’s 36%. Despite the widening gender gap reflected in several polls, Harris has downplayed the trend, saying during her rallies, “What I see is men and women equally concerned about the future of our democracy.” Both candidates have been actively campaigning across key battleground states in the run-up to the election, with the latest Bloomberg News and Morning Consult poll indicating that the 2024 race remains too close to call.
Harris recently hosted a star-studded campaign event in Clarkston, Georgia, featuring Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama. This event kicked off the Democratic Party’s series of concerts in battleground states, attracting approximately 20,000 attendees, making it the largest rally of her campaign so far. Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, and Tyler Perry were also in attendance to show their support. Springsteen took the stage to encourage voters to back Harris, warning against Trump’s “tyrannical” ambitions. Early voting in Georgia has reached record levels, with roughly 30% of the electorate having already cast ballots. As the campaign momentum continues, Harris is set to move on to Texas, where she will rally in Houston to emphasize abortion rights and endorse Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred in his race against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz. Additionally, Harris gained endorsements from two Republicans: former Michigan Congressman Fred Upton, who criticized Trump as “totally unhinged,” and a mayor from a crucial county in Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, Trump made headlines by declaring that he would fire special counsel Jack Smith if he wins the presidency, underscoring his intention to halt the criminal cases against him. Although the authority to dismiss the special counsel formally lies with the attorney general, Trump has made clear his plan to appoint a loyalist to the role. Campaigning in Arizona, Trump denounced the current immigration policies, describing the country as a “garbage can.” He laid out a series of measures, including the death penalty for migrants who commit murders and plans to hire 10,000 additional border agents. Later, Trump spoke to a large crowd at a rally organized by Turning Point Action in Nevada. The conservative group, founded by Charlie Kirk, has been actively mobilizing young conservatives in support of Trump.
In other developments on the campaign trail, mail-in ballots were damaged in Arizona after a man set fire to a postal collection box. Phoenix police arrested Dieter Klofkorn, who admitted to the crime but claimed his actions were not politically motivated. Additionally, Elon Musk made another significant financial contribution to his pro-Trump political group, donating $44 million in early October. This follows a previous report revealing that he had given around $75 million to America PAC between July and September.
