US presidential election updates: Poll shows Harris ahead in early voting as Trump jokes about reporters being shot.

US presidential election updates: Poll shows Harris ahead in early voting as Trump jokes about reporters being shot.

Kamala Harris holds marginal leads over Donald Trump in swing state polls with less than 48 hours before polls close in the 5 November election.

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With less than 48 hours to go in the US election and more than 77.6m votes already cast, new polling shows Kamala Harris leading among early voters in the country’s battleground states.

The Democratic candidate has an 8% lead among those who have already voted, while her opponent, Donald Trump, is ahead among those who say they are very likely to vote but have not yet done so. The poll, from the New York Times and Siena College, also found Harris was slightly ahead in three swing states, with Trump up in one and the other three too close to call.

With only hours of campaigning left, Harris was speaking in Michigan, while her Republican opponent used a rally in Pennsylvania to complain about gaps in the bulletproof shields surrounding him and suggested he would have no concerns about reporters being shot at if there were another assassination attempt against him.

“To get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news and I don’t mind that so much,” he said, adding the press were “seriously corrupt people”. Trump’s communications director claimed in a statement the comments were supposedly an effort to look out for the welfare of the news media.

Here’s what else happened on Sunday:

Donald Trump election news and updates

The Trump campaign claimed the NYT polling and Saturday’s Selzer poll of Iowa for the Des Moines Register were designed to suppress Trump voter turnout by presenting a biased, bleak picture of Trump’s re-election prospects. “No President has done more for FARMERS, and the Great State of Iowa, than Donald J. Trump,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network.

In Pennsylvania, Trump told supporters that he should have stayed in the White House, despite his losing the 2020 election. “We had the safest border in the history of our country the day that I left,” Trump said.

At a rally in Macon, Georgia, Trump kept up anti-migrant rhetoric and again suggested he would give a role on health policy to Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump said he told Kennedy: “You work on women’s health, you work on health, you work on what we eat. You work on pesticides. You work on everything.”

After RFK Jr proposed removing fluoride from drinking water on the first day of a new Trump administration, the former president appeared to approve the idea. “Well, I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but it sounds OK to me,” Trump told NBC News. “You know, it’s possible.”

Trump also spoke in Kinston, North Carolina, where he criticised Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate minority leader. “Hopefully we get rid of Mitch McConnell pretty soon,” Trump said. Republican voters in Kinston told the Guardian they are ready to fight a “stolen election”.

Kamala Harris election news and updates

In her final rally in Michigan, Harris pledged to do everything in her power to “end the war in Gaza”, as she attempted to appeal to the state’s large Arab American and Muslim American population. Michigan is home to about 240,000 registered Muslim voters, a majority of whom voted for Biden in 2020. But Arab Americans and Muslim Americans in the state have expressed dissatisfaction over the administrations stance on Israel’s war on Gaza.

Harris dodged a question on whether she voted for a controversial tough-on-crime measure that would make it easier for prosecutors to imprison repeat shoplifters and drug users to jail or prison, after submitting her ballot in California. Proposition 36 would roll back provisions of Proposition 47, which downgraded low-level thefts and drug possession to misdemeanours.

At Michigan’s Greater Emmanuel Institutional church of God in Christ in Detroit, Harris told the congregation that God’s plan was to “heal us and bring us together as nation” but that they “must act” to realise that plan.

Elsewhere on the campaign trail

A US government communications regulator has claimed that Harris’s appearance on Saturday Night Live violates “equal time” rules that govern political programming. Brendan Carr, a commissioner with the federal communications commission (FCC), said “the purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct – a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election.”

Iowa can continue challenging the validity of hundreds of ballots from potential noncitizens, a federal judge has ruled. The state has targeted illegal voting but critics said the effort threatened the voting rights of people who have only recently become US citizens.

As the clock ticks down to the November 5 election, recent polling reveals that Kamala Harris is gaining momentum, particularly among early voters in crucial swing states. With more than 77.6 million ballots already cast, Harris holds an impressive 8% lead over her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, among those who have participated in early voting. However, Trump remains a strong contender, leading among those who are very likely to vote but have not yet cast their ballots.

This latest poll, conducted by the New York Times and Siena College, indicates that while Harris enjoys a slight advantage in three swing states, Trump is leading in one state, with the remaining three states too close to call. The results highlight the competitive nature of this election, as both candidates prepare for their final campaign efforts.

In the final hours of the campaign, Harris is actively engaging voters in Michigan, a critical state for both parties. Meanwhile, Trump, who is known for his controversial rhetoric, held a rally in Pennsylvania where he made a series of incendiary remarks. At this event, he joked about the potential for reporters to be harmed, claiming that to target him, someone would need to shoot through the "fake news." He further described the press as "seriously corrupt people," a sentiment echoed by his communications director, who stated that Trump was merely looking out for the welfare of the media.

Trump's remarks have drawn significant attention and criticism, especially in the context of his previous presidency and the ongoing tensions surrounding media coverage. His rally in Pennsylvania also included complaints about security gaps in his bulletproof shields, a comment that many interpreted as flippant given the serious implications of such statements.

In response to polling data, Trump's campaign has expressed concerns about perceived bias, particularly regarding the New York Times poll and a recent Selzer poll conducted in Iowa. The campaign argues that these polls are designed to suppress voter turnout by portraying a bleak picture of Trump's re-election prospects. In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump asserted that no president has done more for farmers and the state of Iowa than he has, reinforcing his commitment to agricultural issues that resonate with many voters.

Trump also reminisced about his time in office during his rally, expressing regret about leaving the White House. He claimed that the United States had the safest border in history when he was in power, a point he has frequently emphasized as part of his campaign narrative.

At another rally in Macon, Georgia, Trump continued his anti-migrant rhetoric, emphasizing his commitment to border security. He proposed giving Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a role in health policy, indicating that he would work on women’s health and dietary issues. Trump's endorsement of Kennedy's controversial idea to remove fluoride from drinking water drew mixed reactions, highlighting the unpredictability of Trump's policy endorsements.

During a rally in Kinston, North Carolina, Trump shifted his focus to the Republican Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, expressing a desire to "get rid of" him. This statement reflects ongoing divisions within the Republican Party as Trump continues to wield significant influence over its direction and candidates. Local Republican voters in Kinston expressed their readiness to fight against what they describe as a "stolen election," showcasing the lingering effects of the 2020 election on current political dynamics.

On the other side of the campaign, Kamala Harris is making strides to connect with diverse voter demographics. During her final rally in Michigan, she made a strong appeal to the state’s substantial Arab American and Muslim American populations, particularly in light of ongoing tensions related to the conflict in Gaza. Harris pledged to do everything in her power to "end the war in Gaza," addressing the concerns of voters who have expressed dissatisfaction with the current administration’s stance on the issue. 

Michigan is home to approximately 240,000 registered Muslim voters, many of whom supported Biden in the 2020 election. As Harris attempts to mobilize these voters, she acknowledges the importance of their voices in shaping policy discussions. During her visit to the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Harris emphasized the need for unity, stating that "God’s plan was to heal us and bring us together as a nation," urging the congregation to act in pursuit of that vision.

Harris's campaign is not without its challenges, however. While she has garnered support, she faced scrutiny over her voting record on a controversial tough-on-crime measure aimed at increasing penalties for repeat shoplifters and drug offenders. This measure, known as Proposition 36, seeks to roll back provisions of Proposition 47, which had previously downgraded certain offenses to misdemeanors. Harris dodged questions about her position on the measure, highlighting the complexities of navigating voter expectations while addressing tough policy issues.

In a notable development, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has claimed that Harris's recent appearance on Saturday Night Live may violate "equal time" rules governing political programming. Brendan Carr, a commissioner with the FCC, argued that such appearances could constitute biased conduct, given the timing just days before the election. This controversy adds another layer of scrutiny to the candidates’ campaign strategies as they seek to maximize their visibility and engagement with voters.

Additionally, a federal judge has ruled that Iowa can continue its efforts to challenge the validity of hundreds of ballots from individuals suspected of being noncitizens. Critics argue that this move threatens the voting rights of new citizens, raising concerns about the potential impact of voter suppression tactics on election outcomes.

As both candidates make their final pushes to sway undecided voters and solidify their bases, the stakes are higher than ever. With a significant number of ballots already cast, the next 48 hours will be crucial in determining the outcome of the election. The dynamic between Harris's message of unity and Trump's combative rhetoric reflects the broader divisions in American politics, setting the stage for a highly contested electoral battle that could shape the country's future. 

As election day approaches, the focus will remain on voter turnout and engagement, with both campaigns working to energize their supporters and capitalize on any shifts in public opinion. The implications of this election will be felt long beyond November 5, influencing policy directions and party dynamics in the years to come.