Trump and Harris Campaign in Texas Amid Election Crunch Time

On Friday, a week before Election Day, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigned in Texas. Their simultaneous visits highlighted the state, which has not been contested in recent elections.

A private venue at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport hosted Trump's rally. Texas Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, and Senator Ted Cruz welcomed him. At a rally, Trump called the election “liberation day in America” and promised to change border policies if he won.

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Trump appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” a popular podcast with millions of subscribers on Spotify and YouTube, during his Texas visit. This conversation should increase his appeal to a varied national audience.

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Nearly 30,000 people attended Vice President Harris' Houston event. She fiercely advocated for reproductive rights on a giant video screen reading “Vote for Reproductive Freedom.” Harris stressed the importance of the election, saying Texas' tight abortion restrictions might influence neighboring states. Texas-born Beyoncé introduced Harris and urged the crowd to embrace the Vice President's reproductive freedom stance.

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Harris also spoke on a podcast with Brené Brown, a leading voice on vulnerability, leadership, and social justice. Dems sought to engage women voters, a vital group.

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Despite the candidates' efforts, Emerson College and The Hill polls show Trump leading Harris with 53% of likely votes to 46%. The distance between them has grown, suggesting Democrats still struggle in Texas.

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Political experts like Brandon Rottinghaus of the University of Houston say big candidates' visits to Texas could still motivate voters, especially in tough contests like the Senate race between incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred. Both parties want to boost Texas voter turnout before Election Day to affect the presidential race and other critical down-ballot races.

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