On Friday, the US presidential candidates campaigned in the key swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin, aiming to secure crucial votes.
Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Donald Trump at her rallies for his recent comments suggesting that former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, one of his outspoken critics, should have “guns trained on her.” Trump had previously implied Cheney should face military trials.
In response, Trump defended his remark, framing it as a critique of Cheney’s support for aggressive foreign policies, stating that if she advocates for wars, she should be willing to fight them herself.
According to FiveThirtyEight’s poll tracker, Harris leads Trump nationally by 1.3 points, though this margin is narrower than a month ago when she led by 2.8 points.
In battleground states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada, the race remains highly competitive. Harris leads by about 1 point in Michigan, while Trump has a 0.4-point lead in Nevada. Her lead in Wisconsin has slightly increased to 0.8 points, and Trump’s lead in Pennsylvania has narrowed from 0.7 to 0.1 points.
Trump maintains leads in North Carolina, Arizona, and Georgia, though within the margin of error, indicating a virtual tie across swing states.
Harris spent her Friday in Wisconsin, holding events in Janesville, Little Chute, Madison, and Milwaukee, with appearances by singers GloRilla, Cardi B, and Flo Milli. She condemned Trump’s comments on Cheney and criticized his escalating “violent rhetoric,” asserting it should disqualify him from office. Harris described Cheney as a “true patriot” and accused Trump of being increasingly out of touch with the needs of Americans.
At her rallies, she emphasized economic reforms for working people and encouraged supporters to mobilize others to vote.
CNN reported a shift in Harris’s messaging on Israel’s conflict in Gaza, tailoring her statements in different advertisements to appeal to undecided Jewish and Arab voters. An ad in Michigan, where Arab voters have expressed discontent with the Biden-Harris administration's support for Israel, highlights her commitment to addressing Palestinian suffering.
However, she has declined to halt military aid to Israel. A separate ad for Jewish voters in Pennsylvania underscores her stance on “Israel’s right to defend itself” and support against Iran, excluding her reference to the humanitarian toll in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Trump held a rally in Milwaukee, just miles from Harris’s, joined by Republican leaders and supporters, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a speech lasting over an hour, Trump pledged to “prevent World War III,” criticized Harris as “low-IQ,” and promised to “end inflation.” He reiterated his stance on immigration, stressing the need for a lawful system where entrants “love our country.”
Trump also revisited his unfounded claims of victory in the 2020 election, declaring to supporters that he won Wisconsin twice, despite official results showing otherwise in 2020. Trump later met briefly with Arab American community members in Dearborn, Michigan, before another rally in Warren, Michigan.
