Washington | A late campaign surge has kept Donald Trump's hopes of winning a shock against-the-odds second term alive, with both sides slugging it out over the pandemic, tax cuts, energy policy and fitness for office.

Closing his campaign with 10 rallies over two days – during which he spoke before large, enthusiastic and sometimes hastily organised crowds for a total of more than 10 hours – Mr Trump entered the dying hours of the 2020 race in the fight of his political life to close a persistent gap to Joe Biden.