But something is different this time. The 2024 US presidential election has witnessed a late candidate switch, two lopsided debates, two assassination attempts, an intervention by the world's richest man, euphoria reminiscent of Barack Obama and rhetoric evocative of Adolf Hitler. It is a campaign marked by both violence and joy.
Its outcome will be equally groundbreaking. America might be about to elect Kamala Harris, the first female president in its 248-year history. Or it could hand the White House back to 78-year-old Donald Trump, the first former president with a criminal record as well as two impeachments.
Both sides are utterly convinced that their side must win, that defeat would represent the end of democracy, freedom and the American way of life. They are like two trains gathering speed as they hurtle towards each other. For nearly half the country the result will be devastating. They will have lost what the veteran journalist Carl Bernstein called a cold civil war.
That is in part because Trump has spent a decade sowing divisions of class and race. But this election has exposed a gender gulf two years after the supreme court ended the constitutional right to abortion. Democrats nominated a woman while Trump has embraced crude machismo and "bro" culture.
Maureen Dowd, a columnist for the New York Times, wrote: "It is the ultimate battle of the sexes in the most visceral of elections. Who will prevail? The women, especially young women, who are appalled at the cartoonish macho posturing and benighted stances of Donald Trump and his entourage? Or the men, including many young men, union men, Latino and Black men, who are drawn to Trump's swaggering, bullying and insulting, seeing him as the reeling-backward antidote to shrinking male primacy."
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 06, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 06, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Debt, IT woes and no chief executive What returning Asda boss has in store
Allan Leighton faces a back-to-thefuture challenge as he once again takes charge at struggling Asda.
Sweeney's RFU salary rises to £1.1m amid job cuts and losses
The Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, was paid £1.1m for the 2023-24 financial year despite record losses and swingeing job cuts at the governing body.
'Probably more out than in' Salah leans towards exit with Liverpool yet to offer new deal
Mohamed Salah says he is disappointed Liverpool have not offered him a new contract and feels \"probably more out than in\" in terms of staying beyond the end of the season.
Reds' contract dance with Salah was always likely to be complex
Revamp after Jürgen Klopp's exit did not help and time is short for Liverpool to make their talisman feel wanted
Guardiola insists ageing squad is not behind City's alarming drop in form
Pep Guardiola has denied that a key factor in Manchester City's run of five consecutive defeats is that nine of his squad are aged 30 or older, with the manager pointing to how the same players were Premier League champions last season.
Wan-Bissaka seals West Ham win to take heat off Lopetegui
On a bitterly cold Tyneside night, West Ham finally remembered how to fight back.
Arteta seeks ruthless edge to fix away-day woes in Europe
Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal team to fix their patchy European away form against a vibrant Sporting tonight, admitting they need to improve a record of one win in their past eight continental trips.
I've got my mojo back ... I actually felt unwell at the end at Chelsea'
After recharging her batteries in the US, Emma Hayes reflects on the grind of club coaching and fresh ambitions
Spurs blow as Vicario faces long spell out after surgery
Guglielmo Vicario has had surgery to repair an ankle fracture sustained in Tottenham's 4-0 Premier League win at Manchester City on Saturday.
Verstappen in 'that club' with Senna and Hamilton
Red Bull chief Horner claims his driver's fourth, and most challenging, world title puts him in same class as the greats