Trump and Harris Race Through Swing States in Post-Debate Surge for Presidency

WASHINGTON — The presidential race has taken a sharp turn following the first and potentially only debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Both candidates are now focusing on swing states, with only 50 days remaining until the election.

The Harris campaign capitalized on its post-debate momentum by launching a series of ads featuring clips from the debate. They initiated an ambitious campaign tour dubbed the “New Way Forward,” aimed at battleground states.

In contrast, Trump and Republican officials filed lawsuits this week in Nevada and Michigan aimed at ensuring what they termed “election integrity,” specifically targeting voter registration and absentee ballot practices. Polls suggest that Harris performed better than Trump during Tuesday’s debate, but Trump dismissed this at a press conference, insisting, “We’ve gotten great praise for the debate.” He criticized media narratives suggesting otherwise, particularly targeting a Fox News reporter.

Despite the debate’s aftermath, Trump expressed no intention of debating Harris again. In a press conference held at the Trump National Golf Course in Los Angeles, he promised that, if elected, he would initiate the “largest deportation in the history of our country,” specifically referencing cities like Springfield and Aurora.

The former president also made controversial claims about migrants, alleging that Venezuelan gangs had overtaken a building in Aurora, Colorado. At the debate, he claimed that Haitian migrants were resorting to eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, a provocative statement rooted in misinformation that has circulated among some political circles.

In response to inquiries about the safety concerns for the Ohio community that has since garnered national attention, Trump shrugged off the issue, stating, “The real threat is what’s happening at our borders.” Similarly, at a rally in Tucson, Arizona, he criticized the town of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, linking its decline to the presence of Haitian migrants, despite the town’s longstanding economic struggles.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris took to the campaign trail in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. A national poll indicated Trump previously had a slight edge, prompting Harris to acknowledge that her team faces challenges, saying, “We are the underdog, let’s be clear about that.” Her rally in Greensboro attracted around 25,000 attendees.

Harris’s itinerary included a visit to a bookshop in Johnstown, PA, where she interacted with locals alongside junior U.S. Senator John Fetterman. Emphasizing her commitment to the community, Harris remarked, “You’ve got to earn every vote and that means spending time with folks in the communities where they live.” The vice president has plans to maintain a strong presence in Pennsylvania, which is critical for her campaign.

Adding to her support, Harris secured an endorsement from Taylor Swift shortly after the debate. As the week concluded, former George W. Bush-era Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez publicly backed Harris, characterizing Trump as a significant threat to the rule of law.

On the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks, both candidates paid their respects at memorial ceremonies. While Harris attended multiple events with President Biden, Trump also participated in remembrance activities in New York City and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, accompanied by controversial figure Laura Loomer. His defense of her during a press conference faced backlash from various Republican factions.