Trump may have upper hand against Harris in Pennsylvania

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, recent polling data suggests that disgraced former President Donald Trump may have the upper hand against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania, holding a lead in a state that could be pivotal to the election despite serious allegations regarding his character and unAmerican autocratic leadership tendencies.

An Emerson College poll shows Trump with 49% support from Keystone State voters, while Harris trails closely at 48%, putting the nation on a knife’s edge with the chance between putting a dangerous authoritarian back in power or electing our first woman president.

Harris held her last rally in Philadelphia on the steps at the Philadelphia Art Museum, where Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” was filmed, where the crowd reached 30,000 people.

Amid the sea of people, Harris’s star-studded rally featured an appearance from Oprah Winfrey and performances by Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Will. I. Am, who reworked his 2008 Obama anthem, “Yes He Can” into “Yes She Can.”

The vice president framed her campaign as being for “freedom” and a fresh start for the country.

“We have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that has been driven by fear and division. We are done with that,” Harris said. “America is ready for a fresh start, ready for a new way forward where we see our fellow American not as an enemy but as a neighbor.”

Lady Gaga, Jon Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, DJ Cassidy, Cedric the Entertainer, Fat Joe, and other luminaries participated in events across the country on the night before Election Day in a get-out-the-vote final push from the Democratic campaign.

“For more than half of this country’s life, women didn’t have a voice,” Gaga told the crowd after she sang God Bless America and Edge of Glory. “Yet we raised children, we held our families together, we supported men as they made the decisions — but tomorrow, women will be a part of making this decision.”

Trump’s rallies have been notable for their dwindling crowd sizes, venues that appeared not to have been filled, and videos showing rallygoers leaving mid-event but the scrutiny surrounding the Republican has intensified following statements from his former White House chief of staff, John Kelly, and Elizabeth Neumann, a former Department of Homeland Security official.

Both of Trump’s past employees have recently expressed concerns about the former boss’ leadership style, with Kelly explicitly stating that Trump meets the “definition of a fascist” and labeling him “unfit” for office. Neumann echoed these sentiments, stating that Trump exhibits authoritarian tendencies and has fostered an ultra-nationalist brand within the Republican Party.

In response to these revelations, Harris characterized Trump’s rhetoric as “deeply troubling” and “incredibly dangerous,” particularly noting Trump’s recent comments that have drawn comparisons to Adolf Hitler. Harris emphasized the potential risks of a second Trump term, suggesting that the absence of figures like Kelly would remove crucial checks on his power.

Trump’s rhetoric has escalated in his third presidential campaign, with inflammatory language directed at political opponents and immigrants. He has faced criticism for referring to opponents in dehumanizing terms, reminiscent of historical fascist rhetoric.

Trump’s pretrial release in his three criminal cases could be revoked because there is clear and convincing evidence that he poses a danger after he threatened Liz Cheney during an appearance in Arizona and openly wished for gunfire to rake through the media covering his event in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Trump last week told a rally crowd in Wisconsin that, if elected president again, he would serve as a protector of women, “whether the women like it or not.” This is how a guy found liable for sexual assault in a civil trial talks about women?

Trump criticized Harris, calling her a “radical left lunatic who destroyed San Francisco” and attacked Rep. Nancy Pelosi as a “crazy, horrible human being” and said, “she’s a crooked person. She’s a bad person, evil. She’s an evil, sick, crazy, oh no — it starts with a B, but I won’t say it. I wanna say it!”

Rep. Adam Schiff has drawn Trump’s ire for participating in his first impeachment and sitting on the select committee investigating the failed coup attempt on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump referred to the California Democrat as “shifty Schiff” and “pencil neck” but he also suggested that he would deploy the military against these opponents.

As early voting has begun, there is a notable increase in voter engagement, with states like Georgia and North Carolina reporting record early turnout.

However, the broader political landscape remains fraught, as many Americans express concerns about the implications of a second Trump administration for democracy and governance, polling shows a considerable number of citizens would welcome a fascist dictatorship.