US election: Harris and Trump make final pitches to voters in swing states

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have made their way across several swing states as they make their final pitches to voters ahead of the US Presidential Election next week.

Harris was confronted by pro-Palestinian protesters at all three of her events on Wednesday, using each interruption to fire up her supporters.

She struck an open tone in Wisconsin, telling voters she is looking for “common ground” with people who disagree with her.

"As president, I will seek to find common ground and common sense solutions to the problems you face,” she said. “I’m not looking to score political points, I am looking for progress.”

Speaking in Raleigh, North Carolina, Harris said "it’s time for a new generation of leadership," an attempt to position herself as a fresh face against the former Republican president.

Trump is 78 years old, and this is his third run for the presidency.

Harris also lamented that a third of women live in a state with “a Trump abortion ban, including North Carolina and every state in the South except for Virginia.”

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Raleigh.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Raleigh. - Allison Joyce/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.

Trump was central in remaking the Supreme Court, nominating three conservative justices who were key to overturning Roe v Wade and federal abortion protections in 2022.

Harris also made her way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she stressed the importance of early voting, urging her supporters to not only cast their own ballot, but to encourage family and friends to do the same.

“Pennsylvania, if you still have a ballot you can take it to a ballot drop box or an election office in your county by 8 pm on Election Day,” she said. “Let’s spread the word.”

“I’m visiting this afternoon because we need your vote, Pennsylvania, we need your vote. Because we have just six days left in one of the most consequential elections in our lifetime,” Harris added.

Pennsylvania is a key state to both Harris and Trump.

'This truck is in honour of Kamala and Joe Biden'

Meanwhile, Trump has also been campaigning in Wisconsin, where he continued to seize on the controversial comments made by incumbent President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

Trump appeared onstage in an orange safety vest after riding in a garbage truck to draw attention to Biden's comments on his supporters.

"But I just wanted to let you know that 250 million people, that's what I think the real number is, 'Making America Great Again,' 250 million," Trump told reporters from the front seat of the truck.

"The real number, they don't think in terms of garbage, okay? They don't use terms like that. And it's a shame. And Joe Biden should be ashamed of himself if he knows what he's been doing."

Asked about comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's comments on Puerto Rico, Trump said: "I love Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico loves me. I don't know. I don't know anything about a comedian. I just, I love Puerto Rico. Nobody's done more for Puerto Rico than me."

Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Resch Centre, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Resch Centre, Green Bay, Wisconsin. - Alex Brandon/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.

Former NFL star Brett Favre campaigned alongside Trump in Green Bay. He told the crowd, " Much like the Packer organisation, Donald Trump and his organisation is a winner.”

By relying on Favre, Trump is tapping into the state’s deep and loyal support for the Packers and their onetime star quarterback.