Weather and Predictions Influence 2024 Election

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a tight race, with public polls indicating a neck-and-neck contest. Weather conditions, particularly severe thunderstorms and potential flooding, may influence voter turnout and sentiment on Election Day, possibly favoring Trump due to historical trends linking bad weather to lower Democratic turnout. Financial markets are closely monitoring the election, with strategists outlining potential economic risks associated with either candidate winning, such as inflation from Trump's proposed tariffs or over-regulation under Harris. Historian Allan Lichtman predicts a Harris victory based on his methodology of assessing 13 electoral 'keys,' although market predictions have shown fluctuating support for both candidates. Recent polling data, including a surge for Harris after Iowa polling and a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, shows a slight edge for her in prediction markets, though the gap is narrowing. As Americans prepare to vote, the outcomes of the election and its implications for economic policy remain uncertain.