Many readers sent in their thoughts on our endorsement of Kamala Harris (“What could possibly go wrong?”, November 2nd). Here is a selection of their letters.

Kamala Harris “has abandoned the Democrats’ most left-wing ideas and is campaigning near the centre”, you say. I see little evidence for your statement. My concern is that Ms Harris will at a minimum continue the leftist direction of America that has been pursued, or at least tolerated, by Joe Biden. Not to mention the violation of basic constitutional rights that the president tried to introduce with his vaccine mandate during the pandemic.

Kirsten Baier
Miami

Donald Trump’s bark is surely worse than his bite, but his unpredictability is what keeps America’s adversaries in check. Ms Harris’s incompetent shilly-shallying will certainly embolden those who wish America harm.

Mr Trump will cut bureaucracy and regulations to unleash creativity and productivity in the American economy, especially manufacturing. Ms Harris will inflict taxes and spending that will spur higher deficits and inflation.

Despite his personal flaws, Mr Trump would be a far more effective and consequential president, whereas Ms Harris would flail haplessly with the wind, putting herself in the hands of self-serving minders making up her mind for her.

Anil Bhalla
New York

You argue that Mr Trump’s policies “would be inflationary, potentially setting up a conflict with the Federal Reserve”. You are correct, but consider the actions of the Biden-Harris administration, which gave us the worst inflation in 40 years. You don’t mention that.

Micheal Lamers
St Catharines, Canada

You did not mention President Biden even once. It sure seems that the results of his term have something to do with your position too.

Tom Friel
Camarillo, California

You overlooked the unacceptable risks posed by the Democratic Party and Vice-President Harris. These include support for censorship, political correctness, selective prosecution and soft totalitarianism. The Republicans spend more, impose tariffs, and obsess on immigration whereas the Democrats tax more, regulate more and censor. Neither party confronts the hard choices required to limit monetary expansion, deficits and entitlements that gnaw at the dollar. I choose the Republicans because I value freedom of speech and oppose the totalitarianism implied in weaponising the Justice Department.

Mitchell Langbert
West Shokan, New York

Your endorsement read as though it was penned by a Trump lover under duress in a hostage video. It argued that supporting Mr Trump is merely risky, and its tepid endorsement of Ms Harris was an afterthought.

There was little sense of the thoroughgoing dishonesty of Mr Trump’s entire political project, destructive to America’s civic culture and the global order. You referred to his despicable character only with second-hand quotes. Virtually ignoring his twisted psyche.

Voting for Trump is not merely risky, it’s insane.

Frank Robinson
Albany, New York

When covid-19 hit, Mr Trump took every single opportunity to use the national emergency to further divisions in America. He did this pretty much every single day from the podium in the White House. It perfectly demonstrated his evil genius. He knew instinctively how to inflame issues which would normally have been non-partisan and drive wedges between Americans. That is what he does. His continued political support depends on continued outrage among his supporters. And the pandemic provided an abundance of issues to base new outrage and division on.

Thomas Israelsen
Copenhagen

Although I appreciate your economic analysis of the first Trump term, I feel you underplayed the first Trump administration’s impact on individual freedoms and protections and the concerning risks to them under a potential second one. I value the liberal values of The Economist. Downplaying the bullying and cruel nature of Mr Trump and his core supporters is a serious error.

One of the greatest values of democracy is restraining its leaders against those that parts of the majority may want to attack. It allows the development of diverse perspectives, and in many ways, drives the growth of individual freedom.

Mike Rapach
Pittsburgh

Although you endorsed Ms Harris you put Mr Trump’s picture on the cover. Probably more people saw that cover on newsstands than read the endorsement. The Economist’s logo coupled with Mr Trump’s glistening smile suggests to many that you’ve endorsed him and not her. What were you thinking? Or were you hedging your bets?

Ed Ferrell
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

It is absolutely bonkers that your cover featured the presidential candidate who failed to earn your endorsement and excluded the person who did.

Jeff Cavano
Pittsburgh

I enjoyed your thoughtful essay lamenting the rise of negative partisanship (“The anti-politics eating the West”, November 2nd). But it was jarring to then read your endorsement of Ms Harris, which barely mentioned the poor woman except to identify her as Mr Trump’s opponent.

Sam Wilkin
Brussels