What is the essential difference between these two political US president hopefuls? While Donald Trump is well-known and familiar as a President, Kamala Harris remains relatively new and yet to be fully understood. So, what do we know about Donald Trump? That he would use lengthy phrases with no definite meaning to explain his stand on important issues is well known.

However, his business acumen is something he can't suppress from showing up. So, China for exploiting the American market on discriminatory trade practices and Iran and Russia for their oil would figure prominently in his scheme of things. For Kamala Harris, these issues will be central, but she is likely to move ahead with political give-and-take, which the contemporary world has plenty to offer thanks to trouble hotspots such as Syria, Iraq, and West Asia.

An important element in Donald Trump's election campaign this time is the kind of support he is receiving. For example, Elon Musk has been backing his head and shoulders above others. Last time around, Trump's election campaign was noted for an astounding number of women who came out to label allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Trump tried to counter those allegations by calling to "Make America Great Again." His election campaign last time was also spiced up thanks to his rumoured relationship with adult film star Stormy Daniels, who called on to "Make America Horny Again."

This time, all those allegations by women against sexual misconduct by Donald Trump are absent from the election campaign. Trump is raising various issues and trying to strike a chord with voters and interest groups who could be influenced. For example, his support for the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency industry has attracted global attention.

On the other hand, Kamala Harris has no reason to oppose Bitcoin or the cryptocurrency industry. So, she is also seen as a pro-bitcoin candidate. In this situation, the typical target for everyone is the regulators. Given the bitcoin industry's small size, the support offered by Trump or Harris does not add up to much.

The US election results will have a bearing on world affairs. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is tired of his war on Ukraine, is arguably looking for world leaders who could help Russia come out of the mess it finds itself in. However, the West would not let Russia go cheaply. If Trump wins, Russia has a reason to cheer. If it's Kamala Harris, then Russia will have much manoeuvring to do.

Trump's most formidable test would be the West Asian crisis with Israel's armed offensive against Philistine, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iran. It's increasingly becoming difficult to quickly wrap up its offensive in these countries. The possibility of the armed conflict escalating, potentially leading to a broader clash, with Russia aiding Iran with arms, is more real now. Will Trump have some original out-of-box ideas to stop the world from going into, what many fear, World War III? No doubt, he will offer some of the strangest and, possibly, the funniest quotes and sound bytes to journalists. That will be a lot relaxing, nonetheless!

If Kamala Harris wins the election and becomes the next US President, the American script for West Asia will be familiar and predictable.

Finally, who would win? This has become a question on which bettors have placed billions of dollars. On the crypto betting site Polymarket, nearly $2.5 billion is riding on who wins the US presidential election. On Polymarket and several other online casinos, bettors have placed bets on the US election results as sports bets. However, in recent developments, some stock trading platforms have offered the US presidential election market as a derivative contract. The federal courts have overturned commodity market regulators' objections. The 2024 US presidential election would also be remembered when it became a commodity whose outcomes (future value) could be traded on the market. (IPA Service)