Spending US Election Day in South Dakota is like being in the eye of the storm. In recent decades, this has been a solid 'red' state, with Donald Trump winning it in 2016 and 2020 by over 60 per cent of the vote.
That was not always the case. They were notable Democrat wins at the state and federal level in the late 20th century, including senators George McGovern, the Democratic candidate for president in 1972 and James Abourezk, the first US senator of Lebanese descent, and Tom Daschle, former Senate majority whip.
While TV screens have been flooded with election advertising, particularly for Trump, and also Harris (and even more spent by both sides of a right-to-abortion initiative at the state level), there are few billboards and lawn posters backing Trump or Harris here in Rapid City, the state's second biggest city (population 80,000).
Perhaps it's a sign of a country tired of being at odds with their neighbors over politics, undoubtedly a bigger concern in the Trump era.
Last Saturday I had a beer and long lunch with eight guys I went to high school with 49 years ago. We met at Joe's Place, a bar on the industrial outskirts of Rapid City, so nondescript the back door looks exactly like the front door and the parking lot is full of pick-up trucks. There were football games on TV screens on every wall (no sound), friendly waitresses and the conversation was rich with tales of the past, chat about people and places, and a sincere interest about how I found the lifestyle in Australia.
But the word Trump never came up.
Later in the afternoon I was talking one-on-one with one of the boys, now a retired coal miner who lives in Gillette, Wyoming, about politics.
He saw the deep divide in the country as a distinct city versus country issue, a matter of perspective about how good or bad things were.
I think he was right.
Folks in the country really value their independence, their freedom. Deer hunting season opened in the Black Hills on November 1. Shooting a deer is nearly a god-given right in these parts (my dad hunted deer and pheasants his whole life). South Dakota is an open carry state (anyone 18 or older who can legally possess a firearm can openly carry it without a permit).
But, of course, guns in cities mean something else. And social infrastructure (ie government aid) is more a part of life in metropolitan areas.
Standing in line at US Customs on Los Angeles on my way into the US (I am a dual citizen), it struck me how by looking at the faces of those in line just how diverse Americans are. The languages, skin colour, clothing and brands were global. It was a timely reminder that America, too, is a melting pot of nationalities.
Spending two days in Los Angeles (even in suburban Orange County) was another reminder: the Hispanic culture is part of the fabric of America. It makes Trump's scare tactics about illegal migrants seem disingenuous.
I took my brother to a hospital today. He was wheeled in by a Latvian person and wheeled out by a Nigerian one.
By my observation, the saturation TV coverage revealed a Donald Trump truly out of ideas, grasping for attention with rude remarks and outrageous claims. He was getting more attention, but looking worse for wear.
The night time entertainment hosts have been ruthlessly critical of Trump. Steven Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel gave full blast to Trump's hiccups, like pretending to fellate a microphone at a rally in Michigan, and throwing insults at his opponent like a punch drunk boxer flailing around while bleeding from the head. Seth Meyers continued the kicks later in the night.
There is no mistake: this election is about Trump. Hate him or love him. He is the entertainer, poor taste and all.
Jim Kellar is a former Newcastle Herald journalist currently travelling in the USA
