It's a tie between Trump & Harris in Michigan and they are fighting tooth and nail to change that

Michigan, with its 15 Electoral College votes, is a crucial swing state in the upcoming presidential election in the US. With just 18 days to go, opinion polls show the US presidential candidates are essentially tied in the state.

It is not surprising that Democrat presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump are locked in a fierce battle for Michigan.

Both candidates descended on the battleground state Friday (October 18), ramping up efforts to sway voters in a race that could tip the balance of the election. Michigan could play a decisive role in determining the next president, and neither campaign is leaving anything to chance.

Trump’s strategy

Trump is scheduled to speak in Auburn Hills, part of Oakland County, a region that President Joe Biden comfortably won in 2020.

He will then head to Detroit, Michigan’s largest city, for a rally in the evening. At a recent event on October 10, Trump warned that if Harris wins, the rest of the country would turn into Detroit.

Harris reaching out to conservatives

Harris is making stops in Grand Rapids, a conservative stronghold in western Michigan, before moving east to Lansing and then Oakland County.

She’s focused on winning over key demographics in the state, including Arab Americans, seniors, union members, and working-class voters—groups Trump is also targeting in his pitch.

Sharp attacks fly around

The race for Michigan is heating up as both candidates sharpen their attacks. On Friday, Trump appeared on Fox News and falsely called Harris a “Marxist,” while renewing his personal attacks on her intelligence. “I don’t think she knows where she is. She’s a low-IQ person. She’s not smart,” he said.

Harris, meanwhile, has accused Trump of “gaslighting” the American public over the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. Trump recently called the violent assault a “day of love.”

Wider standings ahead of US election 2024

Nationally, Harris’ lead over Trump has shrunk in recent weeks, with Reuters/Ipsos polling showing her advantage narrowing from 7 percentage points in late September to just 3 points as of this week. Inflation concerns, including high food and rent prices, remain top of mind for voters, while Trump has increasingly stoked fears about migrants crossing the US-Mexico border with extreme rhetoric.

Harris is adjusting her strategy, aiming to appeal to more Republican voters and men across all racial groups. She has enlisted the help of former first lady Michelle Obama, who will campaign with her in Michigan on October 26 in an effort to boost support.

With just days to go, both Trump and Harris are in a full-court press to win over Michigan voters, knowing the state could be key in determining who will occupy the White House come January.

With inputs from Reuters