In their hands Seven battleground states that will decide the presidency

Come 5 November, seven battleground states will decide the outcome of one of the most consequential elections in modern times.

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Their names are seared into the minds of politically aware Americans: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Under America's arcane electoral system, the occupant of the Oval Office is elected not through the popular vote but by electoral college votes harvested state by state.

ARIZONA | TRUMP +1

'Why isn't Trump doing a little better here?' The Trumpification of the state GOP, as well as rapid population growth, a large number of young Hispanic voters and a suburban shift away from Republicans have created an opening for Democrats in recent election cycles, turning once rubyred Arizona into a battleground.

Polling has showed Donald Trump with a narrow edge over Kamala Harris in the presidential race. The Senate race, which is critical to the party's slim hope of maintaining control of the chamber, appears to trend in Democrat Ruben Gallego's favour. The state also features two of the most competitive House races in the country, both key to winning the Speaker's gavel. Arizonans are also voting on an initiative to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution.

In 2020, Trump lost the state by less than 11,000 votes, the narrowest of any margin. It was the first time the Democratic presidential candidate had won Arizona since Bill Clinton in 1996.

"Arizona has had very high inflation rates, very high increases in the cost of living, and an increase in the cost of gas," said Samara Klar, a professor of political science at the University of Arizona. "It's a border state during a border crisis. A Republican candidate should be cleaning up in Arizona. So the question is - why isn't Trump doing a little better here?" Lauren Gambino Chandler, Arizona

GEORGIA HARRIS <1