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Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, offered starkly contrasting messages on the campaign trail on Monday as they sought to sway undecided voters with just two weeks remaining before Election Day.

Vice President Harris, campaigning alongside former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney in three key midwestern battleground states, warned that Trump, the former president, posed a serious threat to democracy.

As the election approaches, Harris has intensified her critiques of Trump’s suitability for the presidency, often labeling him “unstable” or “unhinged” and questioning his leadership qualities.

"Donald Trump may seem like an unserious man in many ways, but the consequences of his presidency are profoundly serious," Harris, 60, stated at an event in Malvern, Pennsylvania, one of seven critical battleground states expected to determine the winner of the November 5 election.

Trump, 78, has repeatedly dismissed any claims that he endangers democracy, countering that Democrats are the true threat, citing the criminal investigations into his and his allies' attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

On Monday, Trump campaigned across North Carolina to rally support in the fiercely contested state. During a stop in the hurricane-ravaged mountains, he encouraged his supporters to vote despite the challenges they were facing.

While Harris cast doubt on Trump’s qualifications for office, Trump turned his focus to criticizing the Biden administration’s competence.

Trump once again took aim at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while also connecting with working-class voters by highlighting his tireless campaign efforts.

“I’ve gone 52 days without taking a day off, which a lot of people here would respect,” Trump said, addressing a crowd against the backdrop of debris left by recent floods in the area.

With polls indicating a tight race, both candidates are ramping up their campaign efforts, highlighting the significance of small voter groups that could tip the scales in either direction.

Trump concluded his day at an evangelical event in Concord, North Carolina, where he shared a personal story about surviving a failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, attributing his safety to divine intervention.

In his remarks, Trump avoided the controversial language he has used in recent speeches. Reflecting on his life, he said, “Looking back, I see it’s been God’s hand guiding me to where I am today.”

Evangelical leader Franklin Graham led a prayer, calling on divine intervention to ensure Trump’s victory in the election.

“Rallies and favorable polls won’t win this election,” Graham said. “It’s going to take God’s will.”

'VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE'

At a Harris rally in Royal Oak, Michigan, Cheney urged Republicans who are undecided to vote with their conscience, without fear of backlash.

“I’ve heard from many Republicans who tell me, ‘I can’t be open about this.’ They’re worried about a variety of things, including violence, but I trust they’ll do what’s right,” Cheney said. “If you’re conflicted, remember you can vote your conscience without ever telling anyone.”

Cheney, along with her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney—who remains a divisive figure among Democrats due to his defense of the Iraq War—are staunch conservatives but have endorsed Harris, marking a significant political shift.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump lashed out at Liz Cheney, calling her "dumb as a rock" and a "war hawk." He accused her of advocating for war with "every Muslim country known to mankind," similar to her father, whom he blamed for pushing President George W. Bush into the Middle East conflict.

Trump’s campaign swing through North Carolina coincided with concerns from Republican allies that the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene could reduce voter turnout in the conservative mountain regions of the state.

“We want everyone to vote, of course, but first and foremost, we want them to survive and recover from this tragedy,” Trump said during a stop in Swannanoa, a town of 5,300, after surveying the storm’s destruction.

Trump added that many Americans feel abandoned by the federal government and repeated his unsubstantiated claims that the Biden administration’s response has been inadequate—claims the White House has dismissed as misinformation.

The region most affected by Hurricane Helene is heavily Republican. Trump secured about 62% of the vote in 2020 across the 25 counties declared disaster areas, while Biden won roughly 51% of the vote in the rest of the state, according to a Reuters analysis.

Paraphrasing text from "Reuters" all rights reserved by the original author.