Donald Trump 'still has the edge' on the economy as he puts Democrat disasters in New York & California on full display
DONALD Trump still has the edge in handling the economy as he's placing Democrat-governed states like New York and California in the national spotlight, a political analyst has said.
Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are campaigning in overdrive as the election enters its final hours, with thousands of undecided votes still up for grabs in crucial battleground states.
The candidates are making their last campaign pitches to voters and pouring millions of dollars into television advertisements in swing states as they make their final cases.
With early voting already underway and election day voting beginning in just hours, polls indicate the race remains tightly contested between the two candidates in all seven battleground states.
David Wasserman, a political analyst and former editor of The Cook Political Report, told The U.S. Sun Trump will attempt to bank on crime-ridden Democratic -governed states like New York and California to sway voters during his final campaign push.
"Republican electoral college advantage has diminished - owing to Democrats declining strength in New York and California," Wasserman said.
"But Harris is on the bubble of where she needs to be to win the electoral college. It couldn't be tighter.
"Trump is going to California and New York to put the spotlight on Democrats' governance of those states and make the case to the rest of the country that Kamala Harris will turn America into San Francisco and Los Angeles, or New York."
Wasserman added, "This is kind of a bank shot on Trump's part, whereas Harris is relying on a more traditional strategy of going to Wisconsin and Michigan.
"Question for Harris' campaign is the extent to which she makes January 6 part of her closing arguments.
"[For] swing voters, January 6 is less a future of democracy issue, but more of a law and order concern.
"Does she seek to claim the upper hand on law and order rather than warning voters we're backsliding into authoritarianism if we elect Trump? That argument falls on deaf ears."
As late deciders weigh their options between both candidates, voters in swing states share the same concerns as the rest of Americans, that is, which nominee is best to solve pocketbook issues.
Pocketbook issues voters consider when they hit polling sites include the economy, inflation , cost of living , immigration, housing affordability, and abortion , among other topics, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll .
TRUMP'S MAGIC NUMBERWhen it comes to the economy, however, Trump holds the upper hand in easing the price burden of essential goods for American consumers, Wasserman said.
"Undecided voters are even more focused on the cost of living and inflation," Wasserman told The U.S. Sun.
"They're less likely to be basing their vote on abortion or immigration.
"Trump still has the edge when it comes to handling the economy - but [Harris] has got to put the spotlight on Trump, which she's trying to do."
Wasserman continued, "October has been much more of a pitched battle between the campaigns than the kind of momentum that we saw for Harris in August and September when she had a successful rollout and debate performance.
"Trump can win the presidency with as little as 47% of the votes, 46% was good enough in 2016, 47% was not in 2020.
"You have RFK Jr. and Cornel West on ballots in Michigan and Wisconsin. Jill Stein on every battleground state except Nevada.
"That lowers the candidate threshold for victory south of 50%. Harris needs to win the popular vote by 2-3 points to win the electoral college - Trump's winning number is 47. Harris' is 49."
There are many ways in which Trump and Harris can reach the 270 electoral college vote, but some are more likely than others.
At least 226 electoral votes from 19 states, including the District of Columbia, are expected to go to Harris, with California holding 54, Illinois at 19, and New York with 28.
Harris must then take home at least 44 of the 93 electoral college votes from the swing states to reach 270 overall.
One route for the vice president would be a win in Pennsylvania with 19 votes, as well as Georgia and North Carolina both holding 16.
Meanwhile, Republicans will receive at least 219 electoral votes from 24 states, including Texas contributing 40, Florida 's 30, and Ohio with 17.
Trump will need at least 51 of the 93 battleground votes in order to earn 270 electoral votes.
The easiest route to the White House will be for Trump to win North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
The former president would need to win four swing states to reach the presidency, while Harris would need three of the seven to defeat Trump.
Either candidate would win the presidency if they won five or more battleground states.
