The Fight for the White House

The US election is upon us, and in a few days, Nov. 5 will be recorded as another historic day in American politics. This year’s campaign season has seen unprecedented twists and turns. From attempts on the life of Republican Candidate Donald Trump to the stepping aside from the race by President Biden and to his announcement of Vice- President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, these events have made the campaign more interesting and dramatic.

The US election dynamics are quite interesting. At some point before President Biden stepped down, the polls suggested that Donald Trump had a small lead; however, there was a new excitement, sparks, and momentum when Kamala Harris became the nominee. The campaign funds that were drying up started pouring in again, and down the line, the lead Donald Trump had was closed according to different polls across America. As things stand today, they are neck and neck, and that is why it has become a lot tense and nerve-racking for the candidates, political parties, candidates’ close circles, Americans, and in fact, the world at large. For many, this is considered the most important election in the history of America, putting into consideration many factors, including conflict in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and a potential conflict in Asia.

As both candidates continue to make pitches to American voters as they crisscross the length and breadth of the country, there has been a high level of concentration in pivotal swing states. These states in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Carolina have become the battleground states where the election will be won and lost. Trump and Harris have made inroads as they engage the different ethnic groups seeking to get their votes and they are not stopping. All kinds of strategies have been adopted along the way. With celebrities aligning and performing with their preferred candidate on campaign grounds, the push for votes has become so intense that candidates have been unable to get a breather.

The United States of America, which has been a shining beacon for democracy, even though some are no more convinced it still holds that position, has been tried lately as the world watches closely with keen interest, some still showing admiration for this old democracy, some to learn, and interestingly and surprisingly for others, its how to influence the final outcome, as it has been reported that Russia, China, and even Iran all have some kind of interest in who runs America, trying one way or another to determine who sits in the Oval office.

Some of the most significant factors that have shaped the discussions have been around the economy, immigration, health care, taxes, gun policy, and a host of others. Having said that, the major issues that bother Republicans are clearly not the same as those that the Democrats prioritize and those that lean towards them. For the Republican party and those that align with their beliefs, their priorities are mainly the economy, immigration, and national security, and for Democrats and those that lean towards their ideology, they are mainly democracy in the U.S., types of Supreme Court justices’ candidates would pick, and abortion. It is also important to mention that the conflicts in the Middle East have become a critical factor that has made the headlines in the last year, and it has become no doubt a determining factor.

As the election enters the final days and the fight for the White House intensifies, it is this writer’s belief that there is not much that can change at this time as the majority of the voters have made up their minds. That is a given. Are there still undecided voters? Yes, however, my view is that that number is small. It is a tight race without any commanding lead between both candidates, which is why the candidates are not slowing down. They have visited and continue to visit those critical swing states.

Everyone around the world is watching very closely and with keen interest in the outcome of this election. Whether Harris or Trump, one thing is sure: the President of the United States of America will always engage in activities that they think are right for the American people because they understand that the position they have been elected to, they hold in trust for the people that gave them the mandate and those that did not give them their votes. They will be committed to the security and prosperity of the people because they understand the responsibilities that have been placed on their shoulders. As we stand on the sidelines to watch and admire the beauty of America’s democracy, we hope that the right person for the job will run the affairs of the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years, as the world today is in a critical place and needs the best leadership it can get out of America to continue from where President Biden will stop.

Uwem Samson Udom is a business service expert who is passionate about national and global affairs. He writes from Lagos and can be reached at [email protected].