Texas has become a crucial battleground in the U.S. presidential election. Known as a Republican stronghold, Kamala Harris is aiming to win over voters there, while Trump is also determined not to lose the state. On Friday, both candidates campaigned in Texas, emphasizing its importance in the upcoming election. Texas, with its restrictive abortion laws, has not elected a Democratic presidential candidate since 1976. Although Trump is confident of securing the state’s 40 electoral votes, Democrats continue their efforts to sway voters ahead of the November 5 election.
Beyoncé, born in Houston, joined Kamala Harris at a campaign event there, introducing her to the audience. Harris took the stage to the song “Freedom” but did not perform herself. She expressed concerns that if Trump and the Republicans win, they might pose a threat to abortion rights. Attendees included women affected by Texas’s anti-abortion laws.
Harris highlighted the health crisis affecting Texas and the nation, holding Trump responsible. The state enacted strict abortion laws in September 2021, banning the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy and allowing lawsuits against those who aid in abortions.
Trump also campaigned in Texas on Friday, pausing in Austin to record an episode of the popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. After the three-hour interview, he moved on to Michigan, where he criticized Harris, saying, “We have a war going on, and she’s partying.” Harris’s team had wanted to participate in Rogan’s show but could not align schedules, as shared by a campaign spokesperson to MSNBC.
Harris faces challenges in the popular vote, with a poll by The New York Times and Siena College showing she has not widened the gap as much as hoped, making a victory in key swing states uncertain. A recent CNN poll indicates a neck-and-neck race between Harris and Trump, with both securing 47% of likely voters’ support. A previous poll from September had Harris at 48% and Trump at 47%.
Source: Prothom Alo
