Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In a bit of a surprise, Donald Trump didn’t campaign at all on Labor Day. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in Detroit and Pittsburgh on the holiday. In the latter event, the Democratic nominee was joined by President Joe Biden.
* Speaking of the incumbent president, the latest USA Today/Suffolk poll found Biden’s approval rating up to 48%, which is the strongest support I’ve seen for him in a national poll in quite a while. (Click the link for information on the survey’s methodology and margins of error.)
* In Montana’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, there’s new local reporting that suggests Republican candidate Tim Sheehy made racist and disparaging comments about Native Americans at a fundraiser last fall. Montana is home to one of the largest Native American populations in the United States. (The local reporting is based on an audio recording that hasn’t been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News.)
* The Harris campaign’s latest television ad focuses on contrasting her economic vision with Trump’s.
The Harris campaign just released a new ad, 'Focused' — part of the $370 million buy running through Election Day — contrasting Vice President Harris' economic agenda with Trump's Project 2025 plans. pic.twitter.com/V4Ra9Z0Ftp
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 3, 2024
* Trump’s golf club in New Jersey was scheduled to host a fundraising event in support of Jan. 6 rioters this week, but the event has been postponed.
* About a week ago, Trump, pointing to election irregularities that don’t exist, said, “I guarantee you, if Jesus came down and was the vote counter, I would win California.” A few days later, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley conceded there’s no evidence to support the former president’s claim, adding that Trump’s rhetoric was a “bit of a stretch.” (If Trump fires Whatley, at least we’ll know why.)
* And in Texas, State Rep. Shawn Thierry of Houston lost in a Democratic primary in May after she partnered with Republicans on anti-transgender legislation. Late last week, Thierry formally joined the GOP.
