With just over a week to go before the high-stakes November 5 presidential election, candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris made contrasting campaign stops Sunday as they vie for the White House in one of the closest races in recent history.

In New York City, Trump held a high-energy rally at Madison Square Garden, drawing thousands of supporters to the iconic 20,000-seat venue. The event received wide media coverage in Trump’s hometown, though New York remains a Democratic stronghold. 

Alongside Trump was billionaire Elon Musk, one of his notable backers, who has joined him on the campaign trail. Madison Square Garden, known as "The World's Most Famous Arena," has a storied past, hosting famous acts and political events, yet also a dark history as it was the site of a 1939 pro-Hitler rally.

 

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris spent the day campaigning across Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods. Her day included stops at a Black church, a barbershop, and a Puerto Rican restaurant, reflecting a targeted outreach in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. Harris, who has visited Pennsylvania 14 times since President Biden’s surprising withdrawal in July, will hold a major rally in Washington on Tuesday, near the White House.

Recent polls depict a race too close to call, with both candidates drawing intense support and opposition. Harris has faced criticism for recent dips in momentum, although an ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday indicated she had regained a slight national lead among likely voters.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama endorsed Harris this weekend, calling her an “extraordinary leader” while expressing “genuine fear” over Trump’s potential return. Obama’s remarks highlight a sentiment shared by many of Harris’s supporters, especially as the vice president has faced doubts about her campaign’s consistency.

Trump, still contesting the 2020 election outcome, faces legal and ethical scrutiny. At 78, he is the oldest major candidate in U.S. history and is joined on the ticket by Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. Speaking on CNN, Vance defended Trump’s confrontational leadership style, emphasizing that Trump "fires people who fail," which he claimed contrasted positively with Harris’s approach.

With over 40 million Americans already casting early ballots, the stakes are high. Voters are not only deciding between two contrasting figures but also navigating the possibility of electing the country’s first female president or a candidate facing multiple legal issues.