Harris, Trump Battle it Out in Swing, Blue Wall States

Washington: As the closest-ever 2024 US presidential election entered its final hours, candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump began focusing not only on the seven swing states, but also on the historic “blue wall,” 18 states and the District of Columbia that have long been Democratic strongholds.

Polls begin in the eastern US at about 5.30 pm on Tuesday IST. Most polling stations close by 9.30 am Wednesday IST. It is expected that exit poll results will be available as soon as each state closes its polls. About 78 million of the estimated 160 million voters have already voted.

Latest polls show that neither candidate holds more than a one-percentage point lead in any state, or across the US.

While the rush is for the popular vote, more important is securing a majority of the 538 Electoral College votes. The halfway mark is 270. Each of the 52 US states has a specified number of Electoral College votes. The candidate winning the state will take all the Electoral College votes.

Of this, the blue wall states hold 238 seats. The “blue wall” comprises California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Hawaii, Delaware, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington DC. All of them voted Democrat in 2020. In 2016, Trump won three blue wall states.

Given this situation, the seven swing states with their 93 Electoral College seats assume the most importance. Wisconsin and Michigan (total 25) are with Harris, according to the latest polls, the race is even in Pennsylvania (19) and Trump has a lead in North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona (49 in all).