ATLANTA/ANN ARBOR, Michigan — On Monday, October 28, Republican Donald Trump sought support from religious voters in Georgia, a key swing state, while his campaign worked to distance itself from racially charged comments by supporters that risked alienating critical voter groups.

With millions of Americans already casting ballots ahead of the November 5 election, recent national polls, including the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, show a close race between Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

In Georgia, where early in-person voting is expected to account for up to 70% of total ballots, Trump appealed to religious voters at a National Faith Advisory Board event.

"This is a nation that needs faith," Trump stated, criticizing what he called efforts by the current administration and "radical leftists" to suppress religion.

At the event, Trump addressed concerns about his Sunday rally in New York, where a comedian’s offensive remark about Puerto Rico sparked criticism from Latino celebrities and politicians from both parties. The Trump campaign clarified that the comedian’s joke did not represent their stance.

Harris condemned Trump, saying he “fuels hate and division,” adding that people were growing weary of it. Trump later refuted her claims, stating to a large Atlanta rally, "I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi."

Georgia is one of seven battleground states likely to be pivotal in an election set to conclude in just eight days. The outcome will determine the leadership of the United States, with Harris and Trump at odds over issues like Ukraine and NATO support, trade tariffs, reproductive rights, taxes, and core democratic values.

According to the University of Florida's Election Lab, approximately 46 million Americans have voted early so far, including around 2.8 million in Georgia and 1.9 million in Michigan, where Harris campaigned on Monday. This is slightly behind the 60 million early votes recorded by this time in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economy

Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed supporters at The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center, a youth basketball venue, during her Philadelphia campaign stop. Later, she visited Corning Inc's Hemlock Semiconductor plant to meet workers and discuss the significance of investing in manufacturing jobs.

Corning recently secured an initial investment of up to $325 million under the Chips and Science Act, a policy Harris supported and Trump had previously criticized.

"When we foster effective partnerships between the private sector and industries, like the work happening here, it benefits everyone," she said.

Trump countered that the economy had been stronger under his administration before the pandemic-driven job losses at the end of his term.

Despite a robust job market and record-high stock markets under Biden and Harris, consumers are grappling with persistently high costs, from groceries to rent. Harris has proposed policies aimed at reducing prices and easing the housing crisis, contrasting her vision of leadership with Trump’s, which she said would focus on retribution against his critics.

On Monday night, Harris attended a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, featuring singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers. Rogers, among several celebrities supporting both campaigns, energized an outdoor crowd in 10°C weather, emphasizing the importance of this election.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters