The US presidential election is drawing to a close.

As the election day approaches, the final two weeks of the campaign have become increasingly intense. The presidential candidates from both parties have not introduced new policy agendas, but the personal attacks against each other have escalated. Harris has started to condemn "Fascist Trump," claiming that he is "becoming increasingly unstable mentally," and that if he comes to power, it would pose a high risk to the United States and the world. Trump, on the other hand, frequently insults Harris at campaign rallies, calling her unintelligent, lazy, and causing the world to ridicule America. He also urges voters to stand up and tell Harris, "You are the worst person ever."

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in San Francisco, USA. Photo by Xinhua (Li Jianguo).

It's hard to imagine how many American voters truly believe that the presidential candidates they support or oppose are exactly as their opponents depict them, but people seem to instinctively process the campaign language of politicians, picking out only what they want to hear. As the election draws to a close, whether it's Harris or Trump, their main focus is on mobilizing more of their own party's voters to come out and vote, rather than trying to dig into and persuade undecided voters.

The election campaign is in full swing, with election news flooding the media, and various false and misleading information is also spreading. Political violence and election disputes are casting their shadows. The election results are almost certain to be questioned, the only difference being the degree and scope. On this day, the largest "red state" in the United States, Texas, sued the Biden administration, alleging that the citizenship of up to 12 million registered voters in the state is in doubt, and the federal government refused to assist in verification; the U.S. Department of Justice issued a yellow card, warning that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is walking a legal tightrope. This globally renowned super-rich individual is fervently supporting Trump, launching a million-dollar lottery "reward" for voters in swing states who cast their ballots for Trump.

The outside world views the United States as perpetually enveloped in the intense and acrid smoke of electoral battles, with the fervor of the presidential election seemingly escalating rapidly. However, having experienced three U.S. presidential elections, the Global magazine reporters are more adept at making longitudinal comparisons over time. Whether in conversations with friends, attending events, or conducting interviews, there is a general sense that among the general public, the decibel level generated by this election is significantly lower, and the attention and discussions surrounding it are far fewer, compared to the previous two elections. A year ago, the question of whether to vote for Trump led to countless Americans experiencing friendships disintegrating and families splitting apart, but such scenarios are rarely seen this year.

This does not mean that voter turnout in the US presidential election this year will be low. From the early voting situation, it is clear that Americans still attach great importance to this election. However, at the same time, a sense of fatigue is spreading, with many people feeling unenthusiastic about the election topics and finding nothing to say. After all, what is there to talk about? The years have passed, and Trump is already well-known to everyone. Americans remain deeply divided in their love and hate for him, but the content for arguments has long been exhausted, and the scandals that could be exposed no longer offer any freshness. Whether in support or opposition to him, Americans lack anticipation and curiosity about his character and how his governing style might change if he were to return to power.

As for Harris, polls show that for a large number of American voters, she, who temporarily took over Biden's position, is a rather unfamiliar new face who needs time to be understood and trusted. Harris took Obama's advice and tried to portray herself as a "candidate for change," but in practice during the campaign, she ended up with nothing.

Not to mention that the Biden administration has actually inherited and continued many of Trump's major policies, Harris, as the current U.S. Vice President, is inherently a part of the Biden administration, and any dissatisfaction with the Biden administration by voters also includes her share. In fact, Trump's rhetoric at campaign rallies was likely more vacuous than Harris', but only Harris has been accused of being "vacuous." Behind this lies the disappointment of voters as their hopes for change have been dashed.

From the perspective of public opinion polls, voters have a much deeper memory of inflation, rising prices, and the influx of immigrants at the border during Biden's administration than they do of the political chaos during Trump's time in the White House. They no longer hold expectations for the stability and national unity that Biden promised upon taking office. In the polls, nearly % of Americans are dissatisfied with the Biden administration, a level of disapproval similar to that of the Trump administration before the 2020 election. This year's election will serve as either a third referendum on Trump or a referendum on the performance of both Trump and Biden in their respective administrations. The outcome of the election should provide the answer.

American online media "BuzzFeed" investigated the voting intentions of independent voters registered on its website and found that even if they support the same presidential candidate, they may provide different reasons.

Some say, "The character of the candidate is most important. Trump is fundamentally dishonest. I must vote for Harris."

Some say, "Economy is very important... Harris had years to help our economic growth, but she almost ruined my business. Despite not wanting to say it, Trump must be an exception."

Some say, "I usually don't pay much attention to voting because I don't believe that either side winning would significantly affect my daily life. But this is the first time I believe that Trump is a threat to democracy and would expose the worst of America. I'm not a huge fan of Harris, so I'm voting more to stop Trump."

Others say, "We've seen what Trump and Harris can do as leaders, and I just don't trust Harris. She never gives clear answers and seems to be trying to be whoever she needs to be, depending on her audience. At least Trump is the devil we know."

In 2016, anti-establishment anger politics swept across the United States; in 2020, American voters, caught in the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial protests, longed to escape political chaos and social division; and this year, the United States continues to look inward and to the right, continuing its "Trumpification." This is the third major election of the Trump era, destined to be one lacking in hope and enthusiasm.