As Tim Walz was confirmed as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for the upcoming US Presidential race, the betting markets reacted with the odds shortening once again in the Democrats’ favor.
The Minnesota Governor has been thrust into the spotlight as the Democrats seek to build on the momentum gained in recent weeks, following President Joe Biden’s decision to stand aside, but Donald Trump is ready to respond.
The former US President commenced the campaign as a strong favorite, even in the immediate aftermath of Harris’ promotion as the Democrat front-runner.
Trump was as short as 7/20 (implying a 74% chance of victory) the day before Biden withdrew from the race, but since Harris’ elevation, his chances have fallen to 55%.
Current odds in the race for the White House
In a show of Democratic unity on Wednesday in Philadelphia, the incumbent VP introduced the 60-year-old Governor as “the kind of vice-president America deserves” as they present their campaign as the “fight for the future”.
On the other side of the fence, Trump has teased a “major interview” with X owner Elon Musk, with no further information on when and where the conversation will be screened. He made the revelation on his Truth Social platform on Monday, but so far the Tesla boss has remained tight-lipped on what could follow.
Oddschecker currently lists Harris as the slight favorite to win the race on 10/11 with Trump just behind at 21/20.
Harris’ chances were rated as long as 9/2 the day before the dramatic announcement that President Biden would not stand for another term and since then, her campaign has breathed new life into the Democrats’ prospects for a consecutive term in the White House.
However, the current bulwark of US conservatism, the formidable figure of Donald Trump will have plenty to say as the race gears up ahead of November 5 as he strives to become just the second President to serve nonconsecutive terms, since the precedent of Democrat Grover Cleveland, from 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897.
Image credit: Via Ideogram
