By Shingi Mararikepress correspondent

Today, America goes to the polls, in what could be one of the closest elections in modern history.

In addition to a race that could be decided by the narrowest of margins, this campaign is a story of two candidates who offer very different visions of America.

Kamala Harris is a former prosecutor, known for her cross-examination skills, while Donald Trump has spent time this year on the other side of the courtroom as a defendant facing a litany of legal problems.

Harris tried to capitalize on joy, taking the stage at campaign events to the soundtrack of Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” while Trump attempted to occupy the role of the outsider, defined by image of him clutching his bloody ear, telling supporters to “fight, fight, fight”.

These differences also influenced the platforms both men chose to occupy.

Highlights of Harris’ latest campaign included an appearance on America’s most popular late-night sketch show, Saturday Night Live, while Trump was interviewed for three hours by popular podcaster Joe Rogan .

After spending time with voters in the swing state of Arizona, I gained some insight into how these competing visions played out in the American public.

One young Republican voter I spoke to, Dane Jensen, directly spoke of Trump’s continued campaign after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, as an admirable show of force, while telling me that the Former president and his supporter Elon Musk – the richest man in the world – represents the ideals for which he aspires.

For others, like Renee Rojas, Trump’s bombastic approach to politics has been a drag. She cited the way Trump talks about women to explain why she decided to turn her back on Republicans for the first time in her life.

The divide between Trump and Harris is more than a superficial one, but it is reflected in the issues that could see this election win or lose.

There is perhaps no better example than the weekend’s shock poll suggesting Harris could win in the red state of Iowa.

The hypothetical outcome is potentially due to strong support from women who trust Harris more on abortion than Trump, the man who added three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, paving the way for overturning Roe v Wade.

Harris has made reproductive rights the focal point of her campaign. On the other hand, Trump’s perception in some quarters as a savvy businessman and pragmatic outsider has translated well in polls on topics such as border security and the economy.

Ultimately, the outcome of this vote will be linked to a very concrete number, the 270 electoral votes needed to ensure victory.

But what this campaign has laid bare, with two very different protagonists at its core, is that it is perception as much as policy proposals that can prove decisive.