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Republicans outpacing Democrats in North Carolina early voting, data shows

Republicans outpacing Democrats in North Carolina early voting, data shows

Republicans in North Carolina are outpacing Democrats in the state in early voting going into Saturday, according to new data from the state. North Carolina Board of Elections data of ballots cast through Friday shows over 1.4 million (59.95%) registered Republicans have cast their early vote compared to 1.35 million (55.19%) registered Democrats in the battleground state. In-person early voting in North Carolina ends on Saturday. The data shows a massive shift in early voting in the state, where four years earlier Democrats outpaced Republicans in early voting by more than a million votes, according to the state election board. Republicans have put an emphasis on encouraging voters to vote early this election year after seeing lower early turnout for the party compared to Democrats last cycle. REPUBLICANS ARE RUNNING A ‘SUCCESSFUL’ EARLY VOTING CAMPAIGN IN BATTLEGROUND NORTH CAROLINA: NRCC CHAIR North Carolina saw record turnout on the first day of early voting in the state, Oct. 17, when 353,000 registered voters cast their ballots. EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING ENDING SATURDAY IN NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA The North Carolina Elections Board passed a bipartisan emergency resolution that reformed the state’s early voting process in 13 counties, including changing or adding voting sites and maintaining their availability, extending the hours and adding or reducing when any site is open within the early voting period, according to the election board. As of Friday, about 53.33% of ballots were already cast in North Carolina for the 2024 election.  Fox News Digital’s Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.

Trump poised to hit Harris over disastrous jobs report: ‘Hurricane Kamala’

Trump poised to hit Harris over disastrous jobs report: ‘Hurricane Kamala’

Former President Trump plans to take a final swipe at Vice President Kamala Harris over the latest jobs report on Friday. Prepared remarks for Trump’s upcoming rally in North Carolina later Saturday show him blaming Harris for tens of thousands of lost jobs. The report itself from the Department of Labor blames the losses on the fallout from hurricanes Helene and Milton. “Yesterday, it was announced that our country lost nearly 30,000 private sector jobs last month alone, along with nearly 50,000 manufacturing jobs in a single month. They’re trying to blame the Hurricane for the jobs numbers—but it wasn’t Hurricane Helene, it was Hurricane Kamala,” Trump is set to say. “Under her catastrophic economic agenda, more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs have been wiped out since the start of this year. 150,000 Americans joined the unemployment rolls last month, and nearly a quarter of a million people dropped out of the labor force,” the remarks continue. WHY TRUMP IS MAKING LAST-MINUTE STOPS AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY IN TWO BLUE-LEANING STATES U.S. job growth slowed down in October, coming in well short of economists’ expectations, while the unemployment rate was unchanged. SWING-STATE’S SUPREME COURT ISSUES PIVOTAL RULING ON MAIL-IN BALLOTS SENT WITHOUT POSTMARK The Labor Department on Friday reported that employers added 12,000 jobs in October, well below the 113,000 gain that was predicted by LSEG economists and the lowest tally since December 2020. The unemployment rate was 4.1%, in line with expectations. The number of jobs added in the prior two months were both revised downward, with job creation in August revised down by 81,000 from a gain of 159,000 to 78,000, while September was revised down by 31,000 from a gain of 254,000 to 223,000. Private sector payrolls contracted by 28,000 in October after LSEG economists projected they would rise by 90,000. The manufacturing sector saw employment decline by 46,000 jobs in October, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted was largely due to strike activity in the transportation equipment manufacturing sector. About 33,000 unionized machinists at Boeing have been on strike since early September. 26 REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL JOIN VIRGINIA IN PETITIONING SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON VOTER ROLL The construction sector added 8,000 jobs — below the average of 20,000 jobs per month in the past 12 months. Health care added 52,300 jobs in October, near its average monthly gain of 58,000 in the last year. The government added 40,000 jobs in October, mostly in line with its average monthly gain of 43,000 over the past 12 months. The BLS noted that Hurricane Helene made landfall in the southeast before the reference period for its employment surveys, while Hurricane Milton hit the same region during the report period. Fox Business’ Eric Revell contributed to this report

Dem insiders head into final election stretch confident on Harris win: ‘Nauseously optimistic’

Dem insiders head into final election stretch confident on Harris win: ‘Nauseously optimistic’

Democratic insiders and strategists heading into the final hours of the election are expressing confidence that Vice President Kamala Harris will defeat former President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the ballot box.  “Nauseously optimistic,” is how Democrats described themselves to New York magazine as the clock continues ticking for the final 100 hours of the election cycle.  Trump and Harris both delivered what were their respective closing arguments earlier this week, with Trump addressing massive crowds at a historic rally at Madison Square Garden, and Harris delivering her final pitch in the nation’s capital Tuesday at the Ellipse, located just south of the White House and north of the National Mall.  Polls are neck-and-neck, with a Fox News national survey published last month finding that Trump had a two-point edge over Harris, while the pair have zeroed-in on campaigning in key battleground states to increase the weight on their respective political scales. As of Saturday morning, Trump has nine events scheduled until Election Day, zig-zagging from battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania and Michigan to Georgia and also Virginia.  CNN DATA GURU BREAKS DOWN SIGNS POINTING TO HARRIS VICTORY: PERHAPS DEMS WILL ‘SURPRISE A LOT OF FOLKS’ Harris is expected to travel to Georgia and North Carolina on Saturday, before delivering her final pitch to voters in Michigan’s rust belt on Sunday. As she caps off her final leg of the campaign since ascending the top of the Democratic ticket in July, when President Biden dropped out of the race, her allies have touted that she has a win within her grasp.  HARRIS HOLDS COMMANDING 10-POINT LEAD OVER TRUMP IN VIRGINIA: POLL David Plouffe, a senior adviser to the Harris campaign, said this weekend that voters deciding for whom to cast their ballot late into the election are going to benefit the Harris campaign and carry them to a victory.  “The question is, of the people who have not yet decided who to vote for, who are actually going to vote?” he said on CNN Friday, noting that current polls show Harris and Trump tied. “And our sense in the last week is that the people who have made up their mind in the last week we’re doing quite well with, and we like the people who have yet to make a decision . . . .” DEM STRATEGIST JAMES CARVILLE CERTAIN HARRIS WILL WIN, KNOCKS ‘SWEATY’ DEMOCRATS “It’s very important to look at who those undecideds are,” Plouffe added. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville, who worked as lead strategist for former President Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 election, touted that Harris’ financial backing and “united” Democrat Party sets her up for a win over Trump come Tuesday.  “I think she’s going to win,” Carville said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Friday. “She’s got more money, more energy, has a more united party, has better surrogates, and he’s stone-a–nuts.” New York magazine detailed in a piece this week that the buzz among Democrats is they are cautiously optimistic of a win on Tuesday, “largely based on the campaign’s close monitoring of early voting data from the seven battleground states, and its evolving understanding of who has already cast ballots and who’s left to convince.” “The posture is driven both by reports from the field, especially from canvassers in competitive suburbs, and by senior advisers staring at the analytics in Wilmington. It’s far from a prediction of a win. Instead, it’s a belief that Harris maintains achievable paths to winning a majority or plurality of the vote in the tightly contested states — each of which they see as effectively tied, and almost all of which they see as home to a Democratic advantage in get-out-the-vote operations,” the outlet reported.  Other Democratic insiders are reporting more or less the same on social media and during media interviews.  DEMOCRATS HAVE AN ENORMOUS DILEMMA IF KAMALA HARRIS LOSES Jon Favreau, former President Barack Obama’s director of speechwriting, posted on X, for example, that though the race is an “extremely close toss-up,” he argued that Trump isn’t ending on a strong note, pointing to jokes made by a comedian at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally that were viewed negatively by the media and Democrats and other political issues he sees as election demerits.  Daily Beast columnist and political affairs analyst David Rothkopf declared in a column on Friday that, “Kamala Harris is going to be the next president of the United States,” pointing to Harris’ “exceptional campaign,” speeches that were “suffused with a new energy and vision” for the nation, and her “‘closing argument’ on the Ellipse in Washington.”  “On January 20, 2025, she will become America’s first woman president, America’s first woman of color to be commander-in-chief and America’s first person of Asian heritage to become the country’s chief executive,” he wrote.  CNN senior political data reporter Harry Enten said Thursday that there are “clear” signs of a Harris win.  “And the number-one sign is that Harris, simply put, is more popular than Donald Trump,” he said.  The Trump campaign and its allies have meanwhile remained steadfast that the Republican ticket will be victorious on Tuesday, as Trump rallies his base to vote early and attracts new supporters through his “make America great again” pleddge following the Biden-Harris administration. As the cycle entered its final weeks, Trump said during a Las Vegas rally last month that the Harris campaign is “imploding” and has a victory in his sights.  “[Harris is] actually imploding, if you take a look. Because, look, I’m not supposed to say it, but we are leading by so much,” Trump said last Thursday.  TRUMP CAMP TAKES VICTORY LAP FOLLOWING ELECTION CASE LEGAL WIN IN BATTLEGROUND STATE “Now, we’re leading by a lot in Nevada. We’re leading by a lot in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. Even states that are typically never in play for 50, 60, 70 years. . . . But the fact is that states, other states too, big states, are all in play and they like us. But you know what? They think she

Cardi B suffers teleprompter glitch during Harris rally in Wisconsin

Cardi B suffers teleprompter glitch during Harris rally in Wisconsin

Rapper Cardi B took the stage in Wisconsin to deliver a speech at a campaign rally for Vice President Harris on Friday, but an apparent teleprompter glitch had the performer stumbling before she could begin. Cardi B was among the celebrities at Harris’ third and final Wisconsin rally, in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis. Milwaukee is home to the most Democratic votes in Wisconsin, but its conservative suburbs are where most Republicans live. As Cardi B stood before the podium, it appeared the teleprompter wasn’t displaying her speech. “One second guys, one second,” the rapper said as the crowd cheered. 10 CELEBRITIES CAMPAIGNING FOR HARRIS IN ELECTION’S FINAL WEEKS For nearly two minutes, the “WAP” singer tried to work the crowd until the apparent glitch was fixed. “I’m a little nervous, guys! I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life,” she said as the crowd continued to cheer the rapper on. “I need Patience over here. Patience, where are you girl?” Cardi B said, referring to a staffer. A woman eventually brought Cardi B a cell phone on which the rapper could begin her speech. “I took my time writing this speech so I’m going to make sure I deliver it right,” Cardi B told the crowd. ELECTION 2024: TRUMP, HARRIS’ TOP HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY SUPPORTERS At one point during the speech, the rapper addressed former President Trump. “Did you hear what Donny Trump said the other day?” Cardi B said, referring to Trump saying he’ll protect women “whether they like it or not.” “Donny, don’t,” she said. “Please.” Trump held a dueling rally across town in Milwaukee in the same arena where the Republican convention took place in July. Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016 but lost in 2020 to President Biden. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Gaza factor in the US election

The Gaza factor in the US election

Voters distraught over the war in Gaza are torn between Harris and Trump. With the United States presidential election just days away, the race for the White House is too close to call. Given the Biden administration’s support for the war in Gaza, many Arab American voters who normally vote Democrat are now leaning towards Trump, creating panic in the Democratic Party’s electoral machine. Contributors:Shadi Hamid – Columnist, The Washington PostSamraa Luqman – Trump supporterWa’el Alzayat – CEO, EmgageYumna Patel – Editor-in-Chief, Mondoweiss On our radar: As US media outlets brace for a possible Trump victory, major publications like The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times have chosen to withhold presidential endorsements. Meenakshi Ravi breaks down the implications of this. More than three years after a military coup halted Myanmar’s democratic progress, journalists continue to report – often covertly or from abroad. Among them, the Mizzima network has become a symbol of the nation’s enduring struggle against military rule. Featuring:Mu Philista – Journalist, Kantarawaddy TimesSein Win – Managing Editor, MizzimaSoe Myint – Co-founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mizzima Adblock test (Why?)

Donald Trump targets Liz Cheney as he courts Arab, Muslim voters

Donald Trump targets Liz Cheney as he courts Arab, Muslim voters

NewsFeed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump again attacked Republican ex-lawmaker Liz Cheney, who has campaigned with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, saying she “always wants war” and suggesting she would be a coward on a battlefield. Trump has been courting Arab and Muslim voters in Michigan. Published On 2 Nov 20242 Nov 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

In Context: What Trump said about Cheney facing a firing squad

In Context: What Trump said about Cheney facing a firing squad

EXPLAINER With widespread interpretations of Trump’s remarks, we review his comments in their original context. So what did he say — and what did he likely mean? By Amy Sherman | PolitiFact Published On 2 Nov 20242 Nov 2024 Former US President Donald Trump called former US Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney a “radical war hawk” and said she should see how it feels to face guns “trained on her face”. Trump made the comments to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at an October 31 campaign event in Glendale, Arizona. Carlson asked Trump whether it was “weird” for him to see Cheney, the daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, campaigning against him. Liz Cheney has vocally supported Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and her father also said he would vote for Harris. With widespread interpretations of Trump’s remarks, we review his comments in their original context. So what did he say – and what did he likely mean? Trump’s answer to Carlson’s question lasted several minutes and covered his feelings about former President George W. Bush and Dick Cheney; the pardon of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who was a former Dick Cheney aide; and the US House Select Committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol. Trump’s comments about Liz Cheney and a firing squad drew the most public attention. When asked about Liz Cheney campaigning for Harris, Trump said, “Well, I think it hurts Kamala a lot. Actually. Look, [Cheney is] a deranged person. The reason she doesn’t like me is that she wanted to stay in Iraq.” Trump covered many other topics, then said, “I don’t want to go to war. [Liz Cheney] wanted to go, she wanted to stay in Syria. I took [troops] out. She wanted to stay in Iraq. I took them out. I mean, if it were up to her, we’d be in 50 different countries. And you know, number one, it’s very dangerous. Number two, a lot of people get killed. And number three, I mean, it’s very, very expensive.” Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in a fireside chat with Tucker Carlson at ‘Tucker Carlson Live on Tour’ at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on October 31, 2024 [Brendan McDermid/Reuters] Later, Trump added, “I don’t blame [Dick Cheney] for sticking with his daughter, but his daughter is a very dumb individual, very dumb. She is a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Let’s see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face.” Liz Cheney replied on November 1 on X: “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.” Her post included the hashtags #Womenwillnotbesilenced and #VoteKamala. Some people, including former Republican presidential candidate and Illinois representative Joe Walsh, a Trump critic, said Trump’s main point was about Liz Cheney’s stance on war. Trump’s campaign defended his remarks, publishing multiple statements: Campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt wrote on November 1 on X: “To every FAKE NEWS reporter taking President Trump’s words out of context: President Trump was CLEARLY explaining that warmongers like Liz Cheney are very quick to start wars and send other Americans to fight them, rather than go into combat themselves. In a November 1 statement to the press, the Trump campaign wrote, “The press has been disgracefully covering these remarks by saying that President Trump suggested that Liz Cheney should be put in front of a ‘firing squad’. Are these reporters malicious or dumb? President Trump was clearly describing a combat zone.” In another November 1 statement to the press, the campaign wrote, “Nowhere did President Trump suggest War Hawk Liz Cheney be put in front of a ‘firing squad’, be ‘executed’, or be ‘shot’ — he was making the point that War Hawks are quick to start endless foreign wars and send other Americans to fight, with zero regard for the human cost.” In 2002, Dick Cheney made the George W. Bush administration’s case for preemptive military action against Iraq based on allegations about weapons of mass destruction. In 2007, the Institute for Defense Analyses, a nonprofit research branch of the Pentagon’s Joint Forces Command, completed an assessment of the Bush administration’s rationale, basing its conclusions on more than half a million captured Iraqi documents. That study “found no ‘smoking gun’ (i.e., direct connection) between Saddam’s Iraq and al-Qaida”. When Liz Cheney represented Wyoming as a Republican in Congress, she supported Trump’s legislative agenda while he was president but broke with him after the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. She dismissed Trump’s false claims of a fraudulent 2020 election and has blamed him for inciting the Capitol riot. Cheney served on the US House January 6 select committee that held public hearings about the riot. She lost her reelection bid in 2022. Adblock test (Why?)