Harris says US is ready for a female president

Meanwhile, Trump claims US will get four more years of incompetence’ if his rival wins

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WASHINGTON - Ms Kamala Harris said on Oct 22 that America is "absolutely" ready to elect its first woman president, but downplayed her historic bid, saying she simply wants to turn the page for a nation "exhausted" by Donald Trump.

With two weeks to Election Day, Ms Harris and Trump are saturating swing states with rallies and taking to the airwaves and podcasts on the hunt for an advantage in a race that polls suggest is effectively tied.

Speaking on the national NBC network, Ms Harris responded "absolutely" when asked if America was ready to elect its first woman president - but also noted that her candidacy was about "turning the page".

"People are exhausted with Donald Trump and his approach because it's all about himself," she said.

Trump, speaking to supporters in North Carolina, pitched a very different message.

"This election is a choice between whether we will have four more years of incompetence, failure and disaster, or whether we'll begin the four greatest years in the history of our country," he said to cheers.

He repeatedly called Ms Harris and her running mate Tim Walz stupid during the rally.

The race is overshadowed by extraordinary tensions and fears of violence or a refusal by Trump to recognise the results if he loses, as he continues to do over his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden.