With two weeks to go in the US presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are racing to secure votes in key battleground states.

On Monday, Harris, the Democratic Party’s nominee, made stops in all three “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which have traditionally voted for the party and were crucial to the victories of the last two Democratic presidents.

At the same time, Trump, the Republican candidate, visited Asheville, North Carolina, where he worries that the significant damage caused by Hurricane Helene could negatively impact turnout in a race that surveys show is getting closer by the day.

Here’s a look at what the polls say, the key highlights of the past day’s campaigns, and a look at what to expect next.

What are the latest updates from the polls?

Trump and Harris are neck-and-neck in the country’s seven battleground states that could swing in favor of either candidate, according to the latest voter survey published Monday by The Washington Post.

A poll by The Washington Post and the Schar School, which surveyed more than 5,000 registered voters in the first half of October, found that 47 percent are likely to support both Harris and Trump.

Among likely voters, 49 percent favor Harris, compared to 48 percent for Trump.

The poll comes just as Trump’s average is slightly higher than Harris’s across the total of surveys calculated by the website FiveThirtyEight, although the margin is so small that it remains a statistical tie.

According to FiveThirtyEight’s daily election tracker, Harris was leading in national polls as of October 21, with a 1.8 percentage point lead over Trump.

But in the key states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada – which have a total of 51 votes in the 538-member Electoral College – the two candidates are effectively tied, with less than half a percent difference between them. If Trump or Harris wins all four of these states, they are effectively guaranteed the presidency.

What has Kamala Harris been up to?

Harris’ first stop on October 21 was Malvern, Pennsylvania, with former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Cheney — the daughter of former vice president and Iraq war architect Dick Cheney — stood in front of a “Country Over Party” banner calling on Republican voters unhappy with Trump to support Harris instead.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump called Cheney “dumb as a rock” and a “war hawk.” The Cheneys are among the most high-profile Republicans supporting Harris.

When asked why she supported Harris, Liz Cheney explained that it was crucial to back a candidate who defended what she called the “most conservative” principle for conservatives: the U.S. Constitution.

“You have to choose in this race between someone who has been faithful to the Constitution, who will be faithful, and Donald Trump,” Cheney said.

In addition, Susan Ford Bales, the daughter of former Republican US President Gerald Ford, also supported Harris on Monday.

On Monday, Harris also admitted that the campaign had an impact on her. When asked in Michigan if she sleeps, Harris replied: “I usually wake up in the middle of the night these days, to be honest.”

But Harris said she tries to keep a routine: “I work out. I try to eat right, you know. I love my family and I make sure I talk to the kids and my husband every day.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared on ABC’s The View, a daytime talk show hosted by women, where he described some of Trump’s comments about using his presidential powers to go after critics as “the talk of dictators.” Walz also appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Variety later on Monday.

If you stand for the country, democracy and the rule of law, then our campaign has a place for you. https://t.co/3ebj7ky8NG

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 21, 2024

What has Donald Trump been up to?

Trump spent the day in North Carolina — a swing state he has won twice but where he is now in a close race with Harris, with a lead of less than 1 percentage point, according to the Oct. 22 FiveThirtyEight polling average.

“To see that is incredible, the power of nature,” Trump said after seeing the hurricane damage in Asheville along his motorcade route. “There’s nothing you can do about it. But you need to get a better crew.” He then expressed his condolences for the victims of the storm.

He repeated a false claim that the federal government does not have enough money for hurricane victims because it is being used to help immigrants in the country illegally.

“They ran out of money for North Carolina,” he said.

pic.twitter.com/igllXjOepF

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2024

Asheville suffered severe damage from Helene last month, with flooding washing away roads, homes and bridges across much of North Carolina.

Trump has previously accused Harris of abandoning North Carolina and allowing hurricane victims to “drown.”

He also said – without evidence – that Democrats are trying to rig the 2024 election, and claimed – also without evidence – that the 2020 election that he lost to President Joe Biden was marred by extensive voter fraud.

Trump said he plans to take no days off ahead of the November election. “I don’t want a day off. We have to win,” he added. When asked if he had observed any incidents of fraud that made him doubt the fairness of the election, Trump replied: “Well, I didn’t.”

But both sides agree on something

Harris and Trump have one message in common: people need to vote.

Trump used his social media platform Truth Social to remind supporters in Michigan that it was the last day to register to vote in the state, while Democrats urged people to vote in the US elections in a post on X.

In North Carolina, Trump also urged voters not to let the storm deter them from their right to vote. “You have to get out and vote.”

“Donald Trump knows he has a chance to win back the White House, he needs to make sure his base shows up. He may not have won over new voters, but he cannot lose the support of those who have always supported him,” said Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from Greenville, North Carolina.

His supporters are also rallying for him as the elections approach.

“I can tell you, if he doesn’t get in, this country is gone,” said Kevin O’Carroll, a Trump supporter.

Just 14 days before Election Day, November 5, early voting is underway in almost every state across the country.

MICHIGAN! Are you registered to vote?

The deadline is approaching soon!

Don’t miss the most crucial election of our lifetimes.

Visit https://t.co/vG0nP7EghA #TooBigToRig #SwampTheVote pic.twitter.com/4qnPvOZnNi

— Team Trump (TEXT TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) October 18, 2024

What’s next for the Harris and Trump campaigns?

Obamas will join Harris on the campaign trail

On Tuesday, Obama heads to Detroit in his latest attempt to excite voters about Harris.

The former president and his wife Michelle remain popular with the Democratic base.

Obama, who has toured key battleground states, will campaign with Harris in Georgia on October 24. He faced some criticism after a recent event in Pennsylvania, where he challenged some black men for not being open to the idea of ​​a female president.

Michelle Obama will make her first campaign appearance of this election cycle on October 26 in Michigan, alongside Harris.

On Tuesday, Trump will convene a roundtable with Latino business leaders in Miami and then return to North Carolina for a second day in a row for a rally in the city of Greensboro.

“The Latino community knows that President Donald J. Trump is the only candidate who can bring prosperity back to America. That’s why they will turn out in record numbers to vote for him on November 5,” his campaign website said.

Trump, like his rival Harris, will also be in Detroit this week, following his recent comments at the Detroit Economic Club on October 10, where he decried the state of the city. In his remarks, the former president stated that the US would become like Detroit if Harris were elected.

It was my great honor to host the 11th Hour Faith Leaders Meeting in North Carolina tonight – THANK YOU! pic.twitter.com/GDFXUWtxLq

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2024