It's four days before election day in the US, and the Democrats are panicking. That's not unusual. Veteran political observers say that the party is prone to performance anxiety.
The Republicans, on the other hand, seem to be bordering on overconfidence as the big day nears.
The story so far in polls is this: Since mid-September, after generating a surge in enthusiasm by replacing her boss, President Joe Biden, on the ticket, Vice-President Kamala Harris is seeing support cool somewhat.
Her stock in most national and swing state polls has slid a little, while her Republican opponent Donald Trump's has risen by a little, with the two presidential hopefuls now running neck and neck.
As the daughter of Indian and black immigrants, the ambitious, 60-year-old Ms Harris, straddling America's racial and political complexities, has been treading carefully in a contest that pits her against the charismatic 78-year-old former president.
But she unwittingly got sucked into a political maelstrom this week after a controversial comment by the gaffe-prone Mr Biden gave Trump an opening to paint her as elitist.
The brouhaha began when a comedian at Trump's Oct 27 rally in New York called Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage." This provoked Mr Biden into making a comment where he appeared to criticise Trump supporters as "garbage."
The Republicans pounced on Mr Biden's quotes at once, suggesting that Democratic leaders had a habit of looking down on American voters and drawing parallels with 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's description of Trump supporters as "deplorables."
As outrage mounted, Ms Harris was forced to distance herself.
"Let me be clear," she told reporters on Oct 30. "I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for."
Denne historien er fra November 02, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 02, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
British novelist David Lodge was twice shortlisted for Booker Prize
British novelist David Lodge, who was shortlisted for the Booker Prize twice, has died at the age of 89, his publisher said on Jan 3.
A CITY FOR BABIES
After a successful experiment, The City of Babies Lab has opened a new permanent space dedicated to children aged from birth to 23 months.
Scientist Names 16 New Spider Species After Jay Chou's Songs
A Chinese scientist has named 16 new spider species after songs by popular Mandopop musician Jay Chou.
Actress JJ Jia Xiaochen upset with hubby for not remembering wedding anniversary
Chinese actress JJ Jia Xiaochen has grumbled about her husband, Hong Kong action star Louis Fan, on social media again.
Actress Chen Liping leaves Mediacorp after 40 years
Actress Chen Liping, a household name in the local entertainment industry, has left broadcaster Mediacorp after 40 years.
Raising four cats costly, but gives Rui En four times the joy
In this new series, The Straits Times speaks to pet-owning personalities about the trials and delights of raising their fur kids
Vet Talk Check that your pet is eating safely during the festive season
Pet ownership is on the rise in Singapore, with many families treating their furry companions as one of their own.
Learning to embrace change positively
On the last evening of our recent family holiday, my three children were having a boisterous conversation in the bedroom of the apartment we were staying in.
STRONGER, TOGETHER
Good parent-teacher relationships can boost a child's confidence and holistic development
Roaring Off To A-League Adventure
Tan makes Brisbane debut as sub in loss to Canberra on her return from knee surgery
