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Trump and Harris campaign in battleground states with less than a week until Election Day: Live updates

Both presidential candidates rallied in North Carolina on Wednesday after the vice president delivered ‘closing argument’ speech and defended Joe Biden over his latest gaffe

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad,Mike Bedigan
Wednesday 30 October 2024 22:56
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Kamala Harris says American patriots did not struggle for us to ‘submit to the will of another petty tyrant’

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With less than a week to go in the US presidential election race, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are making their final pitches to voters, with both appearing in battleground North Carolina on Wednesday.

The Democratic presidential nominee has been forced to respond to Joe Biden inadvertently whipping up a conservative media storm by seemingly calling Trump’s supporters “garbage” in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s already-notorious Madison Square Garden joke about Puerto Rico.

Harris told reporters on Wednesday that she “strongly” disagrees with any criticism of the public based on their voting intentions.

Elsewhere, at a rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Trump also addressed the president’s comments.

“Last night, Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters,” he said. “He called them garbage and they mean it... even though, without question, my supporters are far higher quality than Crooked Joe or Lyin’ Kamala.”

He added: “My response to Joe and Kamala is very simple: You can’t lead America if you don’t love Americans.”

On Tuesday, Harris delivered her “closing argument” in Washington DC, speaking on the very same spot from which Trump told his supporters to “fight like hell” on January 6, 2021.

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Harris responds to Biden’s ‘garbage’ gaffe: ‘The work I do is about representing all the people’

The Democratic presidential nominee has been forced to respond to Joe Biden inadvertently whipping up a conservative media storm by seemingly calling Trump’s supporters “garbage” in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s already-notorious Madison Square Garden joke about Puerto Rico.

“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters – his – his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American,” the president told Latino voters on a Zoom call on Tuesday.

Harris told reporters on Wednesday that she “strongly” disagrees with any criticism of the public based on their voting intentions.

“You’ve heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career,” she said.

“I believe that the work I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not, and as president of the United States, I will be a president for all Americans, whether you vote for me or not.”

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 15:30
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Arnold Schwarzenegger backs Harris as Buzz Aldrin endorses Trump

Two major celebrity endorsements to bring you news of here, one for each side.

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 15:10
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Seven states will decide the election. They’re all too close to call

With just one week until the election, we are no closer to knowing whether Trump or Harris will be the next president of the United States.

But that question will ultimately be answered by voters in a handful of battleground states, whose 93 electoral college votes will push either candidate over the line.

In each of these seven states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — neither Harris nor Trump has established a secure lead, with polling averages showing that the candidates are within two points of each other.

This means that nearly 100 Electoral College votes are ripe for the taking and will not be secure until next week.

Alicja Hagopian has more.

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 14:50
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Jimmy Kimmel admits own role in ‘dividing’ America in last-ditch 19-minute plea to Republicans

The late-night host, particularly hated by Trump, belatedly reached out to the GOP ahead of Election Day on his show last night.

Rhian Lubin was watching.

Jimmy Kimmel admits role in ‘dividing’ America in 19-minute plea to Republicans

The comedian abandoned his ‘usual roast’ of Trump and, while he still cracked jokes, struck a more serious tone

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 14:30
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Republicans will ‘go big’ in Trump’s first 100 days and ‘take a blowtorch’ to federal agencies, says Speaker Johnson

In a video obtained by NBC News, House Speaker Mike Johnson can be seen addressing an event in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Monday promising that his side will “take a blowtorch” to federal agencies in the first 100 days of a Donald Trump presidency.

“Healthcare reform’s going to be a big part of the agenda,” Johnson tells his audience.

“When I say we’re going to have a very aggressive first 100 days agenda, we got a lot of things still on the table.”

Asked if that would mean no Obamacare, Johnson rolled his eyes and answered: “No Obamacare. The ACA is so deeply ingrained, we need massive reform to make this work, and we got a lot of ideas on how to do that.”

This is what Harris-Walz spokesperson Sarafina Chitika had to say in response:

“Healthcare is on the ballot this November. Speaker Mike Johnson is making it clear – if Donald Trump wins, he and his Project 2025 allies in Congress will make sure there is ‘no Obamacare.’

“That means higher healthcare costs for millions of families and ripping away protections from Americans with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, asthma, or cancer.

“Voters see Trump’s ‘concepts of a plan’ for what they are: Ending the Affordable Care Act, jacking up prices, and leaving millions of Americans without the care they need.”

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 14:10
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How close are Trump and Harris in Arizona and Nevada?

Just one point separates the two presidential candidates in those two must-win battleground states, a new poll finds.

James Liddell has the details.

How close are Trump and Harris in swing states Arizona and Nevada? New poll reveals

Just one point separates the presidential candidates in two must-win battleground states, new poll finds

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 13:50
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Tim Walz tells Good Morning America: ‘We’re winning this thing’

Harris’s running mate was on the breakfast show a little while ago talking to George Stephanopoulos and said of her Ellipse speech last night: “The vice president’s rhetoric is the rhetoric that the president of the United States gives. One that understands we’re all in this together. One that welcomes robust debate about the issues.”

Asked about Joe Biden’s “garbage” blunder, Walz said: “The president has clarified his remarks. Let’s be very clear, the vice president and I have made it absolutely clear that we want everyone as a part of this. Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric is what needs to end.”

On their ticket’s supposed struggle to attract male voters, he said: “I think folks are still undecided. We go again back to those kitchen table issues. Men care about the lives of the women they love in their lives and they do care about the issue of reproductive care.

“They also want to make sure manufacturing jobs are coming back to Michigan. They want to make sure their kids are safe in schools from gun violence. Men are no different than women in that they want to live safe and secure lives. They want an opportunity to thrive.”

Asked how optimistic he was about next Tuesday, Walz declared: “We’re winning this thing... There’s energy out there. People are ready.

“There will be a clear result. My biggest concern is that Donald Trump has brought pessimism to folks. That folks don’t believe that their votes don’t matter. Those votes do matter.”

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 13:30
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Elon Musk agrees that Trump’s economic plans will lead to ‘hardship’ and cause markets to ‘tumble’

The world’s wealthiest man appears to believe that a Trump presidency must crash the economy in order to benefit Americans.

Elon Musk agreed on Tuesday that proposed drastic cuts to the federal government, coupled with Trump’s sweeping deportations, will likely cause global markets to “tumble”.

Alex Woodward has more.

Elon Musk agrees: Trump’s economic plans will lead to ‘hardship’

The former president’s wealthy allies are promoting the idea of economic collapse and high prices as a necessary side effect of Trump’s economic agenda

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 13:10
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‘Nostradamus’ of presidential races reveals why there’s ‘more election anxiety this year than ever’ before

Allan Lichtman, the American political historian is known as the “Nostradamus” of elections because he has successfully predicted the last nine out of 10 presidential races since 1984, has revealed why he believes there is “more election anxiety this year” than ever before.

In a new episode on his YouTube channel, marking one week to go until voters elect either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump as the next president, Lichtman spoke of the “election anxiety” this time around.

“There was more election anxiety this year than I’ve ever seen, and I go back to Kennedy – Nixon in 1960,” Lichtman said.

“I’ve never seen this kind of election anxiety,” he added.

“A lot of people believe the future of the country is on the line here, and the democracy of America could be a thing of the past. I don’t think that’s an illegitimate fear.

“I’m so worried about the future of our election, you know, I think I’ve said this before – democracy is precious but like all precious things, it can be destroyed.”

Rhian Lubin has more.

Election Nostradamus reveals why there’s ‘more anxiety this year than ever’ before

In his latest broadcast, Allan Lichtman urges viewers to ‘ignore the polls’ and keep the faith in his method

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 12:50
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Nikki Haley on Trump: ‘I am choosing policy over personality’

Which policy? Mass deportations?

Trump’s former primary rival was not even invited to speak at Madison Square Garden – shunned in favor of Tony Hinchcliffe, Hulk Hogan, Rudy Giuliani and the crucifix guy – but is nevertheless still out there backing the man who trashed and taunted her for months last winter.

Speaking to Bret Baier on Fox News, “Birdbrain” did at least criticize the Republican nominee for his rhetoric on Puerto Rico and women but are even conservatives listening to her at this point?

Honestly, how embarrassing is this?

Here’s more on her appearance from James Liddell.

Nikki Haley rips Trump and his team for ‘bromance’ MSG rally

Former UN ambassador warned that the Trump campaign’s ‘overly masculine’ rhetoric risks alienating women

Joe Sommerlad30 October 2024 12:30

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