President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are making a final push to sway over voters in battleground states, on the eve of Election Day.
Their last-minute rallies further highlight the stark difference in their approaches to the economy, healthcare, COVID-19, social justice and the role of the nation's highest office itself.
Each campaign sees a path toward victory by achieving 270 electoral votes. Biden appears to have a clearer way forward. The latest FiveThirtyEight forecast shows President Trump has a 10% chance of winning reelection.
Meanwhile, Trump trusts in the enthusiasm of his loyal supporters and points toward 2016 and the failings of polls to grasps the turnout of non-college white voters, and the undecided voters who ultimately voted in Trump's favor in key states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
"But you know the good news? We're gonna win anyway. We're gonna shatter -- we're gonna win anyway," said Trump during a Monday rally.
Both candidates are targeting key swing states, especially Pennsylvania. Experts see it as the most likely tipping-point state. Biden is up five points so far.
“My message is simple. Pennsylvania is critical in this election," said Biden. "Every single vote matters. The power to change this country is literally in your hands.”
Right now, over 97 million Americans have voted. This year's historic surge in mail-in-voting, due to the pandemic, could also play a role in the final outcome and create additional uncertainty. Mail-in-ballots take longer to process than in-person voting. This surge could also mean it will take longer to call a winner in states like Pennsylvania, which by law, cannot tabulate votes until Election Day. Unlike other battleground states, such as Florida, which has been counting votes 22 days before November 3.
Pennsylvania could also be the battleground for a legal challenge. President Trump has threatened legal action to stop vote counting in the state. Per law, the state counts absentee ballots for three days beyond Nov. 3 so long as the mail is postmarked by Election Day. Last week, the Supreme Court decided to allow the state to continue this process.
During a Sunday rally, Trump said: "We should know the result of the election on Nov. 3. That's the way it's been and that's the way it should be."
While news networks often project a winner before all the ballots are in, vote results have never been final on election night. It's the electoral college that determines a winner, not the popular vote. On December 14, electors will meet and vote.
Top of mind for voters is the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 230,000 Americans. Plus, the hard-hit economy. Right now, over 20% of America's workforce is unemployed.
“Next year will be the greatest economic year in the history of our country under my leadership the economy is now growing at the fastest rate ever recorded," said Trump.
Florida, the battleground state with the most electoral votes, remains a toss-up in the latest ABC News poll.
"Presidents don't determine who gets to vote, voters determine who's going to be the President," said Biden.
Former President Barack Obama is set to campaign for Biden in Miami at 7 p.m. Jill Biden is making a stop in Tampa on Tuesday.
