WASHINGTON — After the vice presidential debate, voters in one snap poll released Wednesday declared a tie between Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance.
Tuesday’s debate this is the last scheduled in-person meeting between presidential campaigns. Both Midwestern candidates were cordial, and the debate passed without any major clashes. The two men even reached general agreement on some policy issues, such as providing families with child care support and reducing the threat of gun violence.
According to them, voters were split 50-50 on which candidate performed better quick poll by POLITICO/Focaldata likely voters, which were conducted after a CBS-sponsored event in New York.
The mostly affable exchange featured several landmark moments, such as Walz pressing Vance on former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss, to which Vance did not respond.
“I’m pretty shocked by this,” Walz said during the debate. “He lost the election. This is not a debate.”
The next major televised interview with a presidential candidate will be an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, on the CBS news program “60 Minutes.”
“For more than half a century, 60 Minutes has invited Democrats and Republicans to appear on our show as Americans head to the polls.” published on social media. “This year, both the Harris and Trump campaigns agreed to sit on 60 Minutes.”
However, after initial approval, Trump “decided not to participate,” the post continued.
The interview will air Monday night at 8 Eastern, but only with Harris.
“Our original invitation was for former President Donald Trump to be interviewed on 60 Minutes,” the post reads.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung – he wrote on social media that while there were preliminary discussions about a job interview, “nothing was ever planned or decided.”
He also disagreed with live fact-checking.
Harris goes to Georgia
On Wednesday, Harris traveled to Augusta, Georgia, with Senator Jon Ossoff, Democrat of Georgia, to survey damage from Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that hit the southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. At least 600 people were not included.
Late Wednesday, Harris provided an update on ongoing federal economic recovery efforts.
“I’ve read and heard about the work you’ve done over the last few days, and I think it truly represents the best of what each of us knows can be done, especially as we coordinate with local, state, federal resources to meet needs of people who need to be seen and heard,” she said during her visit to the Augusta Emergency Operations Center, according to White House summary reports.
Harris also plans to travel to North Carolina in the coming days. The hurricane severely impacted western North Carolina.
President Joe Biden was scheduled to visit North Carolina on Wednesday and survey the damage in Asheville by helicopter to avoid disrupting recovery efforts on the ground.
Trump visited on Monday damaged furniture store in Valdosta, Georgia, where he made the remarks.
“We are here today to express our complete solidarity with the people of Georgia and all who are suffering in the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Trump said.
Dockers strike
Harris issued a statement Wednesday in support of the strike by unionized longshoremen belonging to the 85,000-member International Longshoremen’s Association.
“This strike is about justice,” she said. “Foreign shipping companies have achieved record profits and executive salaries have increased. Longshoremen, who play a key role in transporting indispensable goods across America, deserve a fair share of these record profits.
They are striking for higher wages, more health benefits and a ban on the automation of port operations.
The Trump campaign also released a statement saying that if Trump had been president, the strike would never have happened.
“This is only happening because of the inflation caused by Kamala Harris’ two votes for massive, out-of-control spending and her decision to stop energy exploration,” he said. “The American people who thrived under President Trump cannot survive even because of Kamala Harris – this strike is a direct result of her actions.”
Back to the battlefields
Less than five weeks until November 5 novel poll from the Cook Political Report featuring the Amy Walter Swing State Project Survey shows Harris either has a slight lead or is tied with Trump in almost all seven battleground states except Georgia.
Harris has a 2-point lead in Arizona and Wisconsin with margin of error; Michigan by 3 points; and in Nevada and Pennsylvania by 1 point. Trump leads in Georgia 49% to 47%, and in North Carolina the field is 49%.
Trump will deliver a speech at a campaign rally in Saginaw, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon.
On Thursday, Harris will travel to Wisconsin for a campaign event in the Fox Valley, then travel to Detroit, Michigan.
On Friday, Vance will travel to Lindale, Georgia, to deliver a speech, and Trump will travel to Fayetteville, North Carolina, for a town hall.
Harris will be in Detroit on Friday for various campaign events before returning to Washington
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