Evening Report — Candidates flock to Rust Belt as crises unfold
Evening Report
© Frank Franklin II and Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press
Candidates flock to Rust Belt amid unfolding crises
The presidential and vice presidential candidates are criss-crossing the Rust Belt with just more than a month to go in the White House race, as crises unfold at home and abroad that could impact the electoral outcome.
- Former President Trump will campaign Thursday in Saginaw, Mich. His running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) headlines events Wednesday in Auburn Hills, Mich., and Marne, Mich.
- Vice President Harris will campaign in Wisconsin Thursday, followed by a trip to Detroit and Flint, Mich., on Friday. VP pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is embarking on a bus tour across Pennsylvania.
The race could not be much closer in those "Blue Wall" battlegrounds. According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ averages, any of those three states could go either way:
MI: Harris 0.5
PA: Harris 0.9
WI: Harris 1.1
One dynamic to watch as the race closes...
- A new poll finds Trump narrowly leading Harris among Arab Americans.
- Democrats typically enjoy a 2-1 advantage here, but frustration with the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza appears to be weighing on Democrats.
- That could matter in Michigan, as the Detroit-metro area boasts the largest population of Arab Americans in the nation.
What’s left that could alter the dynamics of the race in the final month?
- There will almost certainly be no more debates. Harris wants another crack at Trump, but the former president reiterated Tuesday night that he’s “not looking to do that again.”
- Trump also pulled out of an interview with “60 Minutes,” saying the news organization never apologized to him for characterizing damaging information from Hunter Biden’s laptop as Russian disinformation. Harris will push ahead with her planned interview with "60 Minutes."
If Tuesday night’s debate ends up being the final one of the cycle, Republicans are feeling good about it, even if vice presidential debates have in the past proved inconsequential.
- Vance is getting rave reviews for his debating skills. He showed a more empathetic side that many in the public had not seen before.
- Vance acknowledged the GOP needs to recalibrate its message on abortion. Shortly after, Trump made news by saying he’d veto a national abortion ban.
- ........
© The Hill
visit website