The president of the United States works with the other branches of the federal government to create new laws and interpret and clarify existing ones. The president also appoints federal officials and can pardon people for federal crimes.
After winning the nomination of their respective parties, presidential candidates begin campaigning. They spend time traveling the country and participating in televised debates. They try to convince voters to support their policies and stances on the issues. They must overcome obstacles like a lack of money, the difficult task of reaching potential voters in remote areas, and the fact that many Americans don’t vote in primary elections or caucuses.
Once both candidates are officially nominated, they begin to focus on winning the Electoral College votes needed to become president. The majority of US states award their electoral votes to whichever candidate receives the most popular vote in each state. However, in a few states (including Maine and Nebraska), the vote is split between the two major political parties. These states are often referred to as swing states. This system makes it possible for a candidate to win the popular vote on a national level but lose the presidency due to the statistical difference between state and national electoral votes.
In early polls, Trump and Harris appeared to be in a dead heat. In recent weeks, however, Harris has gained ground in the battleground states and is close to the 270 votes needed to secure the presidency.