Election 2024: Harris stumps with Liz Cheney in Wisconsin; Trump rallies in Michigan (2024)

Harris’ campaign launches ad aimed at persuadable Republicans

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey went head-to-head with Republican challenger Dave McCormick in a bitter first debate tonight that reflected the close nature and high stakes of the Pennsylvania Senate race, which could help determine the balance of power in Washington.

The hourlong showdown touched on topics from the economy to abortion to energy — and it frequently got personal, with each candidate repeatedly trying to paint the other as a liar. Casey targeted questions about McCormick’s residency and his work as a hedge fund manager, while McCormick attacked Casey, a three-term incumbent, as a career politician who’s a rubber-stamp for Democratic leaders.

"Probably the biggest lie told in the whole election," Casey said in response to multiple off-topic questions by the debate’s moderator, "was a lie when my opponent said he lived in Pennsylvania when he was living in Connecticut."

Read the full story here.

Biden tonight praised the agreement between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance ending the dockworkers' strike after the groups decided to extend their current contract through Jan. 15.

"I congratulate the dockworkers from the ILA, who deserve a strong contract after sacrificing so much to keep our ports open during the pandemic," he said in a statement. "And I applaud the port operators and carriers who are members of the US Maritime Alliance for working hard and putting a strong offer on the table."

In a similar statement, Harris said, "I want to applaud all involved for their efforts."

"As I have said, this is about fairness — and our economy works best when workers share in record profits," she said in the statement, which was in her official capacity as vice president, rather than with her campaign. "Dockworkers deserve a fair share for their hard work getting essential goods out to communities across America."

Walz addressed a Democratic Muslim voter group tonight as the Harris campaign works to engage a group of voters who threaten to defect in large numbers over the Biden administration’s handling of thedeteriorating situationin the Middle East.

The virtual event, organized by Emgage Action, whichendorsed Harris last week, was the most direct pitch yet to conflicted Muslim and Arab voters from Harris or Walz.

The appearance, which coincided with the launch of a group called Arab Americans for Harris-Walz, comes after Harris’ top national security advisermet withArab and Muslim community leaders.

Read the full story here.

NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Julie Tsirkin reports for "Meet the Press NOW" from Pennsylvania ahead of the first debate in the state’s Senate race between Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican nominee Dave McCormick.

Walz is set to take on late-night TV with an appearance on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Monday, a Harris campaign official said.

The appearance, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, will come as Walz campaigns on the West Coast.

The interview in Los Angeles will be less than a month before the election and nearly a week after Walz debated Vance.

Biden told reporters tonight that he thought Liz Cheney's speech supporting Harris today was "one of the most consequential speeches I’ve ever heard."

"What she did not took only political courage, but physical courage. Physical courage it took to do," he said.

Cheney delivered remarks supporting Harris' candidacy, laying out a forceful case for why she decided to cast a ballot for a Democrat for the first time.

After a day of campaigning in battleground Michigan, Vance acknowledged that while the Trump campaign may still have “a lot of work to do” in that region, he feels confident about its chances in other parts of the country.

“I think we feel very good about the Sun Belt,” Vance said in an interview on the “Ruthless” podcast recorded earlier today.

“I think the Rust Belt, we’ve got a lot of work to do. And, you know, that works out, too, because I like being here, and it’s a beautiful time of year to be here,” he continued.

Former first lady Melania Trump appeared to discuss her views on women’s rights today in a video on X, one day after publication of an excerpt from her coming memoir in which she reportedly takes a strong stance in support ofabortion rights.

In the28-second video, Trump says: “Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth.”

“Individual freedom. What does my body my choice really mean?” she added.

Read the full story here.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican, emphasized her conservative credentials as she delivered a forceful speech backing Harris for president tonight — and continued to focus on Trump's actions leading up to and during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Cheney insisted that she remains "a Ronald Reagan conservative" who believes in limited government. She also emphasized the value of "fidelity to our Constitution."

"I am a Ronald Reagan conservative. I believe in limited government, I believe in low taxes, I believe in a strong national defense, and I believe that the private sector is the engine of growth of our economy. I believe that the family and not the government is the most important structure in our society," she told the Wisconsin crowd.

A former Coloradocounty clerkwho promoted 2020 election conspiracy theories was sentenced today to nine years behind bars after she was convicted of charges including official misconduct in connection with a security breach of Mesa County’s voting system.

Tina Peters was convicted of four felony and three misdemeanor charges in August for using another person’s security badge to allow someone associated with MyPillow founderMike Lindell, a prominent election denier and ally of Trump's, access to county election equipment involvingDominionVoting Systems.

Read the full story here.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said the "ugly practice of blackface" was the "furthest thing from my mind" after The New York Times obtained a photo of him wearing blackface as part of a Halloween costume he reportedly wore as a college student in 2006.

"I am a student of history and for anyone who takes offense tothe photo, I am sorry," Lawler said in a statement about the Michael Jackson costume. "All you can do is live and learn, and I appreciate everyone’s grace along the way."

“Rather, my costume was intended as the sincerest form of flattery, a genuine homage to one of my childhood idols since I was a little kid trying to moonwalk through my Mom’s kitchen,” he said.

Trump said the White House has nearly no money to deal with Hurricane Helene, saying “they spent it all on illegal migrants” even though the federal government announced new resources in recent days to help hurricane victims.

“This is the worst response in the history of hurricanes. A certain president — I will not name him — destroyed his reputation with Katrina. And this is doing even worse," Trump said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a requestfor comment.

Biden announced yesterday that he was deploying 1,000 troops to help with recovery and response efforts in affected areas. The White House has also deployed FEMA personnel.

Bruce Springsteen endorsed Harris for president in a video on Instagram, calling Trump “the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime.”

“His disdain for the sanctity of our Constitution, the sanctity of democracy, the sanctity of the rule of law and the sanctity of the peaceful transfer of power should disqualify him from the office of president ever again. He doesn’t understand the meaning of this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American,” Springsteen said in the video. “Come Nov. 5 I’ll be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

Springsteen backed Biden in the 2020 general election and narrated a campaign ad about Biden's hometown.

Reporting from Damascus, Virginia

Vance said today that he supports calls to reconvene Congress to address Hurricane Helene’s devastation across the southeastern U.S.

“People, I think, need the help and certainly need the support,” Vance said alongside Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, adding that he “of course” supports efforts to have Congress back in session to pass legislation to help storm-ravaged areas like southwest Virginia.

Vance said the government’s immediate focus should be helping communities where people are still being rescued.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has partially granted Trump’s request to delay the deadline for his response to Jack Smith’s immunity brief, which was filed yesterday.

Trump’s response in the case in Washington, where he is charged with trying to overturn the 2020 election, is now due after the election, on Nov. 7,and it can be up to 180 pages. The new briefing schedule now runs through Dec. 5, meaning we won’t get any immunity determinations from Chutkan until then.

Trump's campaign announced today that Biden will join GOP Gov. Brian Kemp in Georgia tomorrow to survey damage from Hurricane Helene. He will also deliver remarks.

Trump said during a rally in Michigan that he used to "hate" paying overtime, reiterating that he would try to hire other workers to avoid paying overtime.

"I shouldn't tell you this. I'd go out and get other people and let them work regular time. It's terrible," Trump said. "I'd say, 'No, get me 10 other guys, I don't want to have time-and-a-half."

The Harris campaign has criticized similar comments Trump has made about hating to pay workers overtime.

"It’s exactly what he did in the White House — trying to rip away tips and overtime pay for millions of workers — and exactly what he plans to do in a second term," Harris campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said late last month. "Trump is a scab, plain and simple."

Trump said toward the top of his remarks at a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, that if he thought he lost the 2020 presidential election, he wouldn't be running again.

“It was a rigged election. You have to tell Kamala Harris that’s why I’m doing it again. If I thought I lost, I wouldn’t be doing this again. You know where I’d be? Right down on the beaches of Monte Carlo, baby, or some place having a nice life," Trump said.

He made the remarks a day after special counsel Jack Smith released a court filing that lays out in detail the government's case charging Trump over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Trump has at other times appeared to admit that he lost the election.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis urged the U.S. Supreme Court to deny former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows' bid to move the state Georgia election interference case against him to federal court.

In a brief filed with the high court today, Willis' office contends Meadows misrepresented an appeals court ruling on the issue and said there's no reason the case can't be heard in state court.

The appeals court decision "analyzed a question for the very first time, and Petitioner overstates the urgency of the matter while also distorting the Eleventh Circuit’s reasoning in his efforts to argue for immediate review," the filing says, adding the court "should deny review" and let the ruling stand.

In filing to the high court in July, attorneys for Meadows argued, “It is hard to imagine a case in which the need for a federal forum is more pressing than one that requires resolving novel questions about the duties and powers of one of the most important federal offices in the Nation.”

The International Association of Fire Fighters announced today that it will not be endorsing a presidential candidate.

IAFF President Edward A. Kelly said the executive board had voted by a margin of 1.2% not to endorse Trump or Harris.

"Over the past year, the IAFF took unprecedented steps to hear our members’ views on the candidates and the policy issues that matter most to them," he said in a statement.

Read more here.

As Biden tours Hurricane Helene damage in Florida, at least 202 storm-related deaths have been confirmed. The push to deliver emergency supplies is ramping up, with Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway now serving as a relief center.

Reporting from WASHINGTON

Trump and his campaign have accused special counsel Jack Smith of violating long-standing Justice Department norms by including new revelations about the former president’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in a filing released yesterday.

In reality, a federal judge, not Smith, made the decision to release that filing to the public.

Trump today called it a “weaponization of government” to release the filing just a month before Election Day, alleging that Smith and federal law enforcement officials were improperly influencing a presidential election.

Walz will participate in a virtual event tonight with a major Muslim group to “address the critical issues that matter most to Muslim American communities both domestically and globally.” The event comes as Harris faces renewed backlash from Muslim and Arab voters over her support of Israel amid the expansion of the war in the Middle East and ahead of the Oct. 7 anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Emgage Action, which is one of the few Muslim groups that have endorsed Harris, said it’s “the first time a Democratic Vice Presidential candidate will directly engage with the Muslim American community on this scale ahead of a critical election” in a news release.

The virtual event will also feature Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, California Rep. Ro Khanna and former Michigan Rep. Andy Levin.

Giffords PAC, an organization founded by former democratic Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords announced the launch of Giffords Gun Owners for Harris Walz. The group said it has more than 400 members across 45 states and Washington, D.C.

“As a gun owner, I know supporting the Second Amendment and commonsense gun safety policies go hand-in-hand, and so do many gun owners. That’s why we’re launching GIFFORDS Gun Owners for Harris-Walz,” Giffords said in a statement.

“Gun violence is the number one killer of children and teens in the United States — and it’s affecting Republicans and Democrats alike,” she added. “That’s why the vast majority of gun owners support policies like background checks on all gun sales.”

The former congresswoman said she believes the Harris-Walz ticket is the only one that “will support responsible gun ownership and put public safety first,” noting that both Harris and Walz are gun owners “who are committed to saving lives.”

President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program can take effect after a judge yesterday let a temporary restraining order on the plan expire.

It’s a minor victory for the Biden administration just weeks ahead of the presidential election. The lawsuit was brought by seven red-leaning states — Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota and Ohio — against Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

U.S. District Judge Randall Hall wrote in his order, filed in the Southern District of Georgia, that Georgia lacks standing to challenge the plan “because it failed to show an injury that is concrete, particularized, actual, or imminent.”

“Without standing, the Court finds it proper to dismiss Georgia as a party to the suit for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and turns to Defendants’ arguments related to venue,” he wrote.

Reporting from TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott is set to place roughly $10 million in new TV ads in the homestretch of a Florida Senate race in which he is widely seen as the favorite but Democrats have continued to make noise.

The Scott TV buy, first shared with NBC News, will focus mostly on the Tampa, Orlando and Miami media markets, with spot buys in other parts of the state, according to campaign advisers.

He is running against former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who has been massively outspent in the race but is getting some national help from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the final weeks of the race.

Read the full story here.

MILWAUKEE —Trump has never stopped propagating falsehoods that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.But now, heis increasingly turning his attention to pre-emptive claims the 2024 election is being rigged to prevent him from returning to the White House.

This year, Trump and his campaign have cited more than a dozen examples of so-called election interference activities by Americans to claim the coming election is being unfairly manipulated. But asgeneral election voting beginsaround the country, the campaign has provided no evidence of actual cheating and no specific allegations related to potentially illegal efforts by Americans to tamper with this fall’s election proceedings.

“The Democrat Party is guilty of the Worst Election Interference in American History,” Trump wrote yesterday on social media after the judge overseeing his federal election interference casein Washingtonreleased a redacted filingfrom special counsel Jack Smith. Trump went on to call the release“another obvious attempt by the Harris-Biden regime to…INTERFERE IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.”

Former Trump White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson said last night that she plans to vote for Harris for president and also Democrats running for Congress.

"I have known for quite a long time, No. 1, that I would never in my life vote for Donald Trump ever again," Hutchinson said during an interview on MSNBC's "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell."

"I have also known for a long time, whether the nominee was at one point going to be Joe Biden, now Kamala Harris, that I was going to cast my vote for either candidate, now Kamala Harris and Tim Walz," she continued.

Hutchinson said that she also plans to vote for Democrats in the House and Senate because she said, "I think it is so important that we get past this period of Donald Trump for America to begin healing."

Former first lady Melania Trump appeared to defend abortion rights in a video posted on X this morning.

“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth. Individual freedom. What does my body, my choice really mean?” she says in the video.

In a new court filing, special counsel Jack Smith is detailing new evidence in the case against Trump, saying the former president “resorted to crimes” to stay in office after his 2020 loss and that he allegedly told an aide “so what” after learning his own vice president was endangered Jan. 6. NBC’s Garrett Haake reports and Laura Jarret breaks down what to know about the case.

The Harris campaign announced the launch of Wisconsin Republicans for Harris ahead of the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign event in Ripon, Wisconsin, with former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., this afternoon.

The group is led by more than 20 Republicans from across the state, including longtime Republican county party chairs and elected county district attorneys.

“Donald Trump does not align with Wisconsin values. To ensure our democracy and our economy remain strong for another four years, we must elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House,” the group wrote in an open letter

Trump will deliver remarks in University Center, Michigan, at 3 p.m.

Vance does not have public events scheduled. He will depart Michigan, where he held campaign events yesterday, before returning to Washington, D.C.

Biden will travel to Florida and Georgia today to tour damage from Hurricane Helene.

He is scheduled to take an aerial tour of affected areas en route to Perry, Florida, and will receive an operational briefing in Keaton Beach. The president will then tour damaged areas in Ray City, Georgia, before delivering remarks in the afternoon.

Harris heads to Ripon, Wisconsin, to campaign with former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., a vocal Trump critic who endorsed Harris last month.

Harris will arrive in the state in the afternoon and deliver remarks at 6 p.m. ET.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick have each sought to strike a balance with the top of their ticket in Pennsylvania, a state that will play a key role in determining control of both the White House and the Senate.

The two Senate candidates have regularly appeared at rallies with Harris and Trump in the state and have eagerly highlighted policies on which they are in agreement. But they have also noted areas in which they diverge with their party’s presidential nominee in an effort to show independence in the narrowly divided state —and rebut attacks from their opponent.

It’s a dynamic that will likely be on display tonight, when Casey and McCormick meet for their first debate less than five weeks out from Election Day.

Read the full story here.

The major Republican super PAC involved in House races is ramping up its ad spending in California and Arizona as Republicans look to keep control of the House and expand their slim majority by picking up some Democratic-held seats.

The Congressional Leadership Fund’s $3.5 million ad buy, shared first with NBC News, includes an additional $2.1 million in spending in the Los Angeles media market, $1.1 million in Phoenix and $315,000 in Palm Springs, California.

Republicans are defending multiple House seats in California and Arizona, but the buy also includes cable advertising aimed at one of the GOP's pickup opportunities: California’s 47th District, an open race since Democratic Rep. Katie Porter made an unsuccessful run for Senate instead of running for re-election to the House. Republican Scott Baugh, a former state legislator who is running again after he lost to Porter by 3 points in 2022, faces Democratic state Sen. Dave Min.

CLF, which is aligned with House Republican leadership, has spent or reserved a combined $179 million on the airwaves in the fight for the House.

Liz Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman and daughter of a former Republican vice president, will join Harris today at a campaign event in Ripon, Wisconsin, the city commonly recognized as the birthplace of the Republican Party.

Cheney will campaign for Harris for the first time amid a larger effort by the Democratic ticket to capture the support of Republicans disillusioned with Trump.

Read the full story here.

A group of Wisconsin Republicans, including one current and six former local officials, endorsed Harris in an open letter.

"We have plenty of policy disagreements with Vice President Harris. But what we do agree upon is more important," the letter said. "We agree that we cannot afford another four years of the broken promises, election denialism, and chaos of Donald Trump’s leadership."

The local GOP leaders are launching Republicans for Harris-Walz in Wisconsin, the campaign said in a news release, saying it "will play a pivotal role in facilitating Republican-to-Republican voter contact, including by hosting Republican voter outreach phone banking and building local networks with Republican organizations, businesses, and community groups."