Don’t worry about the choice (yet).

Right now, whether in the train station or on a text chain, election anxiety is palpable. And it’s understandable. This race is incredibly close. The latest New York Times/Sienna poll shows a dead heat, and more importantly, seven key swing states all elect the vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump Query within the error limit.

This election comes just eight years after a man who made misogyny and racism a central part of his campaign defeated our first truly viable female candidate, and just four years after Trump helped spark an insurrection on the steps of ours to instigate the Capitol.

But I’m not freaking out (yet). And here’s why.

First, I think late deciders fail for Harris. According to the same New York Times/Sienna poll, “15 percent of voters described themselves as not fully decided, and Ms. Harris leads that group, 42 percent to 32 percent.” Two weeks ago, Mr. Trump had a tiny lead among those undecided or persuaded voters, 36 percent to 35 percent.” This is consistent with a recent Emerson College poll that found Harris leading this group by double digits.

Second, people are already voting, and while Republican turnout is rising in some states like Nevada, Democratic voters, particularly women, are reportedly voting at higher rates. That’s always a good sign, considering Harris has a gender advantage among women. Even among young men — a group Trump has spent a lot of money and effort courting — Harris is ahead in at least one poll probably young male voters.

Finally, Harris has a far better ground operation for the final push, which impacts both enthusiasm and turnout. Does this mean she will win the election? I don’t know yet. Nobody does it. Ultimately, it depends on who will gain more of their supporters in the final days.

So, yes, it’s okay to be anxious. But as someone who has been through many stressful elections, the only proven way to channel that energy is to do something that benefits the democratic process rather than simply watching the polls change. Answer doors in Pennsylvania or volunteer in a nearby swing state. And of course vote.

Harris’ closing argument

With less than two weeks until Election Day, the Harris campaign has settled on its final message: Kamala Harris will defend our democracy while Donald Trump poses its greatest threat.

Taking up a bombastic series of interviews with John KellyHarris, Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff and a retired Marine Corps general, made the contrast vividly. At this week’s CNN town hall, she broke new rhetorical ground by declaring unequivocally that Trump is “a fascist.”

In Kelly’s official interviews with The New York Times, he didn’t hold back, warning that Trump met the definition of a fascist and even claiming that Trump praised Adolf Hitler during his presidency as a leader who “did some good things.” . .” While other former White House officials have expressed similar concerns about their former boss’s leadership, Kelly’s comments carry significant weight given his close working relationship with Trump. His warnings underscore the Harris campaign’s argument that in a second term there would be no one left to stop Trump from his most dangerous impulses.

This message is also a sign that Harris’ election campaign is not just about strengthening the Democratic base. It is aimed at moderate Republicans and swing voters, particularly those who leaned toward the former governor. Nikki Haley. In the most recent poll of Haley voters, Harris had a 14-point lead on the question of who “has the character it takes to be president.” Additionally, 57% of these voters described Trump as “too unpredictable” to serve another term.

As the campaign enters its final stages, Harris is betting that her message — rooted in defense of democracy — will resonate in key swing states.

Questions and answers with Jordan Klepper

This Sunday we look forward to welcoming you Jordan Klepper to the show to discuss his new special, “The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse: Rally Together,” premiering directly after “The Daily Show” on Monday, October 28 at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Klepper gained recognition for his interviews at Trump rallies and other political events over the past eight years. In this special, friends and experts from all swing states join him to delve deep into the devotion of the MAGA faithful.

What do you hear most often from Trump supporters about why he’s their guy?

The general answer is economics, tough on crime and immigration, but the real answer is that he is Donald Trump. They love him as a symbol. Rambo has flags of his head placed next to each other. They have more stickers with his face on their bumper than portraits of their children on their mantel. For the die-hards I speak to, this is not a new craze or political calculation. That is an identity. And that is difficult to change. If you’ve spent the last eight years wearing MAGA hats to grocery stores to antagonize neighbors and blocking family members in Facebook chats, it’s hard to undo this Thanksgiving. You are the Trump guy or the Trump girl. This is you now.

Have you ever encountered rally attendees who are shocked by what they hear from Trump at his rallies?

No! Good luck, America!

One race we’re watching: North Carolina State Senate District 37

Kate Barr is not a typical Democratic candidate. She is running for the Senate seat in North Carolina’s District 37 with the slogan “Kate Barr can’t win.” On paper, she is running against the incumbent Republican senator. Vicki Sawyer. Your real goal? Raising awareness of gerrymandering.