In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live’ just three days before the highly anticipated US election. The appearance, which was not officially announced by her campaign, was confirmed by reporters accompanying Harris and sources familiar with the show. This unexpected move is a strategic maneuver by Harris’ campaign, aiming to leverage the popular comedy program’s vast audience to connect with voters in the final stretch of the campaign. The episode is set to air at 11:30 p.m. ET (03:30 GMT), giving Harris a high-profile platform to resonate with the American public.
This is not the first time ‘Saturday Night Live’ has hosted presidential candidates. In 2008, both Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain graced the show’s stage. Additionally, Donald Trump made an appearance on the show in 2004, long before his political career took off.
Harris’ appearance on ‘SNL’ comes amidst an intense and closely watched election race against Republican incumbent Donald Trump. The two candidates are locked in a tight battle for the presidency, with the outcome hanging in the balance. The past few days have seen both candidates strategically focusing their campaigns on key swing states, where the outcome of Tuesday’s election will be determined.
The appearance of both Harris and Trump’s planes on the tarmac together in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves as a stark reminder of the race’s tight competition. Both candidates have been campaigning in North Carolina, one of the seven states considered truly competitive, for four consecutive days.
Adding to the dynamic nature of the race, a recent Des Moines Register poll released on Saturday showed Harris taking a surprising lead in Iowa, a state that Trump won convincingly in the last two elections. This shift in voter sentiment could prove pivotal as the election approaches. Harris campaigned in Charlotte, North Carolina, alongside rock star Bon Jovi, while Trump held a rally in suburban Gastonia.
Both Harris and Trump have stuck to familiar themes in their campaign appearances. Trump reiterated his promise to deport millions of immigrants if elected and warned about the potential consequences of a Harris presidency, painting a bleak picture of a nation transformed into a dangerous refugee camp. Meanwhile, Harris, campaigning in Atlanta, focused her message on Trump’s alleged abuse of power and instability, accusing him of being consumed by revenge, grievance, and an unchecked thirst for power.
Early voting continues across the nation, with over 72 million Americans already casting their ballots, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida. While this number falls short of the record-breaking early voting pace during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it still reflects a high level of voter enthusiasm. In North Carolina, the western counties devastated by Hurricane Helene appear to be voting at a rate comparable to the rest of the state, according to Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer. Trump has criticized the federal government’s response to the disaster, falsely claiming that aid has been diverted to help immigrants entering the country.
With the election just days away, all eyes are now on Harris’ performance on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and the potential impact it could have on the final outcome of the US presidential election.
