The United States’ latest “most important” election is almost here. And after two years, two assassination attempts, one eleventh-hour candidate swap, and a projected $US15.9 billion in federal election spending, Americans still can’t predict who is going to win.

The candidates are effectively tied, both in national polls and in the swing states each needs to win to eke out a victory in the electoral college. Despite a significant cash advantage and a pop-culture endorsement blitz, Kamala Harris has struggled to do more than close the gap with Donald Trump since she took over the Democratic nomination.