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.
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TACKLE PLASTIC WASTE, ONE NAIL AT A TIME
Before global leaders take the problem of plastic pollution into their hands in November, Japanese manicurist Naomi Arimoto is putting it on her fingernails.
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Jung Ho-yeon and Lee Dong-hwi split
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Dorothy's ruby slippers to go under the hammer
The ruby slippers worn by the late American actress Judy Garland in classic film The Wizard Of Oz (1939) will be sold at auction in December, nearly 20 years after they were stolen.
Artist Julie Mehretu opens solo Show in Sydney
Ethiopia-born New York artist Julie Mehretu (right), considered one of the most influential living painters, has opened her first solo show in the Southern Hemisphere in Sydney.
Wicked's renowned costume designer returns to Oz
Tony Award-winning designer Paul Tazewell first created costumes for The Wizard Of Oz in a high-school production
ULTIMATE SELF-CARE
'Tis the season to treat yourself at spas and salons, which have introduced a slew of treatments for head-to-toe pampering
Fifa using $67m legacy fund for social initiatives
LAUSANNE - Fifa launched a US$50 million (S$67 million) legacy fund for social programmes on Nov 27, in collaboration with 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
THE MARATHON BIKER GUY
Veteran Aussie has cycled over 50 courses in 12 years to ensure the route is 42.195km
Emery upbeat despite late drama against Juve
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
