The race for the White House is in its final stretch. Early voting is underway, and Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are criss-crossing the country to try to get out the vote. But the underlying dynamics suggest that neither candidate is likely to break out of their current stalemate.
Political parties select their presidential candidates through a series of events called primaries and caucuses. After a series of contests involving debates and rallies, party members will decide their preferred candidate. Once the candidate has enough support, they will be able to secure their party’s nomination. After a party’s nominee has been chosen, they then campaign against each other, explaining their plans and views to the public. Then, on Election Day, the American people go to the polls and choose their President through the Electoral College system.
As a result of the winner-takes-all system used by most states (with the exception of Maine and Nebraska), most elections are decided by a small number of states, known as battleground or swing states. This requires candidates to invest exponentially more time, money and energy in these areas.
Since the first debate, Harris has seen a surge in her favor, but it remains to be seen whether this will translate into a significant lead in the Electoral College. Trump’s opponents are still scouring for revelations that will change impressions of him, but thus far nothing has.
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