thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-08--Senate majority within sight for Democrats

Democrats have their eyes set on the Senate , knowing that if they want to erase traces of the Trump era , they need to clinch both the White House and Congress in November .
Republicans start at a disadvantage as they try to protect their 53-47 Senate majority .
The chamber 's 2020 elections map has the GOP defending 23 seats to Democrats ' 12 .
The most obvious Democratic targets are Sens .
Martha McSally of Arizona , Cory Gardner of Colorado , Susan Collins of Maine , Steve Daines of Montana , and Thom Tillis of North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as toss-ups by the Cook Political Report , with McSally and Gardner the most vulnerable .
McSally trails retired astronaut Mark Kelly , the husband of former Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords and the apparent nominee , by an average of 6.7 percentage points , according to RealClearPolitics .
The outlet has Democratic Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon , the primary favorite , 2.4 points ahead of Collins and ex-North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham in front of Tillis by 3 points , too .
Two-term Colorado Gov .
John Hickenlooper only earned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , yet a Democratic Public Policy Polling survey conducted at the end of June gave him an 11-point lead on the incumbent .
Earlier public opinion research reflected other double-digit differences between the pair .
Another June poll , this time by the University of Montana , put Steve Bullock , himself the state 's sitting two-term governor , with a 4-point advantage on Daines .
But given the study 's margin of error , the rivals are in a statistical tie .
Polls indicate Democratic Alabama Sen. Doug Jones has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term , regardless of whether he faces former Attorney General Jeff Sessions or ex-Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville in the fall .
The Republican primary runoff is set for July 14 .
Democratic Michigan Sen. Gary Peters has a similarly difficult path in the battleground state that 's also pivotal to President Trump and presumptive 2020 Democratic standard-bearer Joe Biden as they vie for the White House .
But Michigan 's junior senator has more favorable polls than Jones against his likely Republican challenger , businessman John James .
If Democrats keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only need to flip three or four seats to seize control of the Senate , depending on the presidential race and whether a hypothetical Biden administration could dispatch its vice president to break any voting tie .
Democrats have opportunities in Georgia , Iowa , and Kansas as well , though the Cook Political Report said those states lean Republican .
Democrat Theresa Greenfield , a self-described Iowa `` farm kid , '' has an average 1-point buffer between herself and Republican Sen. Joni Ernst , according to RealClearPolitics .
An internal Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arm found the same gap between former GOP Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier as voters decide who should replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Roberts .
The National Republican Senatorial Committee data , however , gave GOP Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall better odds against Bollier .
The primary is on Aug. 4 .
Meanwhile , Georgia presents two chances for Democrats .
A Fox News poll last month put Republican Sen. David Perdue ahead of Democratic documentary filmmaker Jon Ossoff by 3 points .
In the special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Kelly Loeffler , who was appointed after Sen. Johnny Isakson retired , Democratic front-runner Raphael Warnock only does well against Loeffler , a Public Policy Polling survey found late last month .
Loeffler 's bid has been hampered by accusations of insider trading .
Warnock 's 3-point lead evaporates against Georgia Rep. Doug Collins , the other prominent GOP lawmaker seeking the office via a nonpartisan `` jungle primary . ''
Helen Kalla , a spokeswoman for the Senate Democrat 's campaign committee , pointed to Democratic fundraising and Republican spending as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four months out from the elections .
`` The grassroots support for Democratic candidates is a sign of voters ’ motivation to hold Senate Republicans accountable for their toxic agenda this November , '' she said .
Tom Schaller , a political science professor with the University of Maryland , Baltimore County , predicted Democrats would have Arizona and Colorado on their ledger in the fall .
He believed the balance of power would come down to Iowa , Maine , Montana , and North Carolina .
`` I suspect if Cunningham wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big night for the Democrats , and if they lose Maine , it ’ s probably a good night for the GOP , '' he told the Washington Examiner .
For Schaller , Trump added a layer of complexity for Senate Republicans .
`` As usual , members of the president ’ s party face a dilemma : Either stick with the White House , which is risky , or try to gain separation , which can be even riskier , '' Schaller said .
`` Trump is a liability in most states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to run on local and state issues is always smart play for endangered GOP incumbents , whereas Democrats want to nationalize the race by hanging Trump around their necks . ''

Democrats have their eyes set on the Senate, knowing that if they want to erase traces of the Trump era, they need to clinch both the White House and Congress in November.
Republicans start at a disadvantage as they try to protect their 53-47 Senate majority. The chamber's 2020 elections map has the GOP defending 23 seats to Democrats' 12.
The most obvious Democratic targets are Sens. Martha McSally of Arizona, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Susan Collins of Maine, Steve Daines of Montana, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Their contests are all listed as toss-ups by the Cook Political Report, with McSally and Gardner the most vulnerable.
McSally trails retired astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of former Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords and the apparent nominee, by an average of 6.7 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics. The outlet has Democratic Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, the primary favorite, 2.4 points ahead of Collins and ex-North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham in front of Tillis by 3 points, too.
Two-term Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper only earned the right to take on Gardner last week, yet a Democratic Public Policy Polling survey conducted at the end of June gave him an 11-point lead on the incumbent. Earlier public opinion research reflected other double-digit differences between the pair.
Another June poll, this time by the University of Montana, put Steve Bullock, himself the state's sitting two-term governor, with a 4-point advantage on Daines. But given the study's margin of error, the rivals are in a statistical tie.
Polls indicate Democratic Alabama Sen. Doug Jones has an uphill battle to secure his first full term, regardless of whether he faces former Attorney General Jeff Sessions or ex-Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville in the fall. The Republican primary runoff is set for July 14.
Democratic Michigan Sen. Gary Peters has a similarly difficult path in the battleground state that's also pivotal to President Trump and presumptive 2020 Democratic standard-bearer Joe Biden as they vie for the White House. But Michigan's junior senator has more favorable polls than Jones against his likely Republican challenger, businessman John James.
If Democrats keep their Alabama and Michigan holdings, they only need to flip three or four seats to seize control of the Senate, depending on the presidential race and whether a hypothetical Biden administration could dispatch its vice president to break any voting tie.
Democrats have opportunities in Georgia, Iowa, and Kansas as well, though the Cook Political Report said those states lean Republican.
Democrat Theresa Greenfield, a self-described Iowa "farm kid," has an average 1-point buffer between herself and Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, according to RealClearPolitics.
An internal Republican poll by the party's Senate campaign arm found the same gap between former GOP Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier as voters decide who should replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. The National Republican Senatorial Committee data, however, gave GOP Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall better odds against Bollier. The primary is on Aug. 4.
Meanwhile, Georgia presents two chances for Democrats.
A Fox News poll last month put Republican Sen. David Perdue ahead of Democratic documentary filmmaker Jon Ossoff by 3 points.
In the special election for the seat held by Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed after Sen. Johnny Isakson retired, Democratic front-runner Raphael Warnock only does well against Loeffler, a Public Policy Polling survey found late last month. Loeffler's bid has been hampered by accusations of insider trading. Warnock's 3-point lead evaporates against Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the other prominent GOP lawmaker seeking the office via a nonpartisan "jungle primary."
Helen Kalla, a spokeswoman for the Senate Democrat's campaign committee, pointed to Democratic fundraising and Republican spending as positive signs for her party's chances four months out from the elections.
"The grassroots support for Democratic candidates is a sign of voters’ motivation to hold Senate Republicans accountable for their toxic agenda this November," she said.
Joanna Rodriguez, Kalla's Republican counterpart, hit back: “In states across the country, Democrats have nominated scandal-plagued candidates accused of misleading voters and found in violation of their states’ ethics laws. These candidates are untested and their unapologetic support for the Democrats’ socialist agenda will be rejected this fall.”
Tom Schaller, a political science professor with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, predicted Democrats would have Arizona and Colorado on their ledger in the fall. He believed the balance of power would come down to Iowa, Maine, Montana, and North Carolina.
"I suspect if Cunningham wins North Carolina, it’s a big night for the Democrats, and if they lose Maine, it’s probably a good night for the GOP," he told the Washington Examiner.
For Schaller, Trump added a layer of complexity for Senate Republicans.
"As usual, members of the president’s party face a dilemma: Either stick with the White House, which is risky, or try to gain separation, which can be even riskier," Schaller said. "Trump is a liability in most states with competitive races except Alabama, so trying to run on local and state issues is always smart play for endangered GOP incumbents, whereas Democrats want to nationalize the race by hanging Trump around their necks."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-08--Is Lindsey Graham's Senate seat up for grabs?

South Carolina , which has n't elected a Democratic senator since 1998 , is getting renewed attention as Sen. Lindsey Graham 's challenger 's eye-popping fundraising provides hope to Democrats that 2020 may represent a sea change for Southern politics .
On Tuesday , Democrat Jaime Harrison announced that he raised over $ 13.9 million from April to June , nearly double the amount he raised in the first quarter of this year .
Harrison 's fundraising in 2020 sits at over $ 20 million .
Harrison , the former Democratic Party chairman of South Carolina and a senior official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging Graham , an incumbent Republican , for his Senate seat in November .
“ After 25 years in Washington , Lindsey Graham has lost all idea of the most basic challenges facing South Carolina families , and voters know it , ” a spokesman for Harrison said in a statement .
Despite those impressive numbers , Graham still holds a financial edge , raising $ 26.1 million as of June 20 .
Graham 's campaign has not released his second-quarter fundraising totals yet .
But despite Harrison 's impressive war chest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue remain slim .
Graham won reelection in 2014 by just under 15 points .
President Trump won the state in 2016 by a similar margin .
Polling remains sparse in the Senate race , although one survey from March bolstered Democratic hopes that Harrison has a shot at unseating Graham .
That survey found Graham and Harrison tied at 42 % , with Trump leading presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden by 10 points .
Although most Republicans and election forecasters dismissed the poll as an outlier , there are early signs that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers down .
Throughout the past few weeks , Graham has notably broken from Trump on a number of issues ranging from a U.S. attorney nomination , masks to stop the spread of the coronavirus , and a temporary freeze on work visas for foreigners .
When Trump attacked NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace for the allegation that someone placed a noose in his garage — an FBI investigation later determined that no hate crime was committed — Graham said Wallace had nothing `` to apologize for . ''
`` You saw the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance that it was a threat against Bubba Wallace , [ the drivers ] all rallied to Bubba ’ s side , '' Graham said on Fox News Radio .
`` I would be looking to celebrate that kind of attitude more than being worried about it being a hoax.
” The last Democrat to win a Senate seat in South Carolina was Ernest `` Fritz '' Hollings , whose final term ended in 2005 .
A conservative Democrat and a personal friend of Biden , Hollings died in 2019 .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retired in 2013 .

South Carolina, which hasn't elected a Democratic senator since 1998, is getting renewed attention as Sen. Lindsey Graham's challenger's eye-popping fundraising provides hope to Democrats that 2020 may represent a sea change for Southern politics.
On Tuesday, Democrat Jaime Harrison announced that he raised over $13.9 million from April to June, nearly double the amount he raised in the first quarter of this year. Harrison's fundraising in 2020 sits at over $20 million.
Harrison, the former Democratic Party chairman of South Carolina and a senior official in the Democratic National Committee, is challenging Graham, an incumbent Republican, for his Senate seat in November.
“After 25 years in Washington, Lindsey Graham has lost all idea of the most basic challenges facing South Carolina families, and voters know it,” a spokesman for Harrison said in a statement.
Despite those impressive numbers, Graham still holds a financial edge, raising $26.1 million as of June 20. Graham's campaign has not released his second-quarter fundraising totals yet.
But despite Harrison's impressive war chest, Democratic hopes of slowly turning the state blue remain slim. Graham won reelection in 2014 by just under 15 points. President Trump won the state in 2016 by a similar margin.
Polling remains sparse in the Senate race, although one survey from March bolstered Democratic hopes that Harrison has a shot at unseating Graham. That survey found Graham and Harrison tied at 42%, with Trump leading presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden by 10 points.
Although most Republicans and election forecasters dismissed the poll as an outlier, there are early signs that Graham believes the president is dragging his numbers down. Throughout the past few weeks, Graham has notably broken from Trump on a number of issues ranging from a U.S. attorney nomination, masks to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and a temporary freeze on work visas for foreigners.
When Trump attacked NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace for the allegation that someone placed a noose in his garage — an FBI investigation later determined that no hate crime was committed — Graham said Wallace had nothing "to apologize for."
"You saw the best in NASCAR. When there was a chance that it was a threat against Bubba Wallace, [the drivers] all rallied to Bubba’s side," Graham said on Fox News Radio. "I would be looking to celebrate that kind of attitude more than being worried about it being a hoax.”
The last Democrat to win a Senate seat in South Carolina was Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, whose final term ended in 2005. A conservative Democrat and a personal friend of Biden, Hollings died in 2019. He was succeeded by Republican Jim DeMint, who retired in 2013.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-08--Rasmussen: Election is Trump’s to lose, and he's doing that, 40% to Biden's 50%

In the latest example of how President Trump ’ s reelection chances have recently sunk , a polling outfit he often cites as being fair to him just revealed results showing the Republican losing big to former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden , 40 % -50 % .
The voter breakdown from Rasmussen Reports showed Trump winning a majority from Republican likely voters .
But even among those voters , Trump is winning only 74 % , as 19 % sided with Biden when asked who they would vote for today .
The outfit was also the latest to suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump — and thus his to win or lose .
Separately , it said that 51 % are more likely to vote against Trump , with 44 % more likely to vote for him .
Team Trump remains confident , however .
They note that there is pent-up anger in the country over how the media treats him and also a backlash to the riots and targeting of U.S. history .
Trump also believes that 2020 's polling is repeating 2016 's error in not accounting for his `` silent majority '' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the survey , most of those planning to vote against Trump don ’ t care who the Democratic nominee is — a big benefit for Biden , who still lacks voter enthusiasm .
“ That ’ s potential good news for Democrats who appear about to choose former Vice President Joe Biden as their nominee , '' read the polling analysis .
`` Thirty-eight percent ( 38 % ) of voters think Biden is suffering from some form of dementia , and 61 % believe it is important for him to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are always under attack from partisans , Rasmussen has won respect from GOP critics because it slightly oversamples Democrats and also black people .
Still , it has over time found a higher job approval of Trump than most others .
Trump has often touted the results .
Because of that , Rasmussen has sometimes come under fire , and critics instead like to cite Gallup .
But the two poll from different pools ( Rasmussen with likely voters and Gallup with adults ) , and likely voters are considered a more accurate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1,500 likely voters were surveyed , a higher number than most polls ' average .
Rasmussen said the new survey is part of its new `` White House Watch '' feature that will appear weekly until Election Day .

In the latest example of how President Trump’s reelection chances have recently sunk, a polling outfit he often cites as being fair to him just revealed results showing the Republican losing big to former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, 40%-50%.
The voter breakdown from Rasmussen Reports showed Trump winning a majority from Republican likely voters. But even among those voters, Trump is winning only 74%, as 19% sided with Biden when asked who they would vote for today.
The outfit was also the latest to suggest that the election is a referendum on Trump — and thus his to win or lose.
THE SILENT MAJORITY IS STRONGER THAN EVER, JUST WATCH!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020
Separately, it said that 51% are more likely to vote against Trump, with 44% more likely to vote for him.
Team Trump remains confident, however. They note that there is pent-up anger in the country over how the media treats him and also a backlash to the riots and targeting of U.S. history. Trump also believes that 2020's polling is repeating 2016's error in not accounting for his "silent majority" of supporters.
Still and significantly, according to the survey, most of those planning to vote against Trump don’t care who the Democratic nominee is — a big benefit for Biden, who still lacks voter enthusiasm.
“That’s potential good news for Democrats who appear about to choose former Vice President Joe Biden as their nominee," read the polling analysis. "Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters think Biden is suffering from some form of dementia, and 61% believe it is important for him to address the dementia issue publicly.”
While polls are always under attack from partisans, Rasmussen has won respect from GOP critics because it slightly oversamples Democrats and also black people. Still, it has over time found a higher job approval of Trump than most others. Trump has often touted the results.
Rasmussen Reports' logo for its new feature. (Image courtesy of Rasmussen Reports)
Because of that, Rasmussen has sometimes come under fire, and critics instead like to cite Gallup. But the two poll from different pools (Rasmussen with likely voters and Gallup with adults), and likely voters are considered a more accurate gauge.
In its 2020 race survey, 1,500 likely voters were surveyed, a higher number than most polls' average.
Rasmussen said the new survey is part of its new "White House Watch" feature that will appear weekly until Election Day.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-09--Trump and Bolton waging proxy war in Maine GOP congressional primary

Former national security adviser John Bolton and his newfound opposition to President Trump have become a campaign issue in the Republican primary in Maine ’ s Democratic-controlled 2nd Congressional District , a top GOP target this fall .
“ John Bolton lies about President Trump , and now , his henchmen are doing the exact same thing to Trump conservative Eric Brakey , ” says a new ad from the Protect Freedom PAC .
“ They ’ re scared of Brakey because they know he will stand with Trump , fight to drain the swamp , and advance an America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman , Michael Biundo , urged Maine Republican voters to “ ignore the Bolton lies.
” The television spot comes after a new super PAC called the American Policy Fund spent $ 61,000 on mailings opposing Brakey , a former state senator , in a district where fewer than 35,000 people voted in the competitive 2014 GOP primary that pitted Maine ’ s state senate president against a former state treasurer .
The super PAC ’ s treasurer , Republican operative Cabell Hobbs , has also served as treasurer of the John Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Its financing need not be disclosed until after the primary is over .
The race is also a contest between libertarian-leaning conservatives aligned with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul , a Brakey ally , and those holding foreign policy views closer to Bolton ’ s .
But it may also test the continued influence of the Bolton name with the Republican base after his break with Trump , even if the former national security adviser and the president themselves remain on the sidelines .
Trump has not endorsed anyone in the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he looms large in the race .
He carried the district by 10 points in 2016 , good for one of the state ’ s electoral votes , and multiple candidates are trying to position themselves as reliable Trump supporters .
Former state Rep. Dale Crafts and former Gov .
Paul LePage press secretary Adrienne Bennett are also running .
Bolton split with Trump after his departure from the administration , most dramatically with his recent tell-all book The Room Where It Happened : A White House Memoir .
He claims Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that he compromised national security to further political goals , including asking for Chinese concessions to help win reelection .
Bolton does still support Republican retention of the Senate .
The former national security adviser has a long history in GOP politics , including raising money for candidates , and was a staple of the conservative speaking circuit before his break with Trump .
A veteran Republican strategist called Bolton ’ s book “ fodder for the Never Trumpers and nothing more.
” Trump said he fired Bolton for giving him bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States into war .
This message has been amplified by other members of Trump ’ s team .
“ He 's a warmonger , ” said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany of Bolton in an interview with Fox News .
“ He 's someone who would have had us at war with North Korea and with Iran if it was up to him.
” The Maine congressional seat is currently held by freshman Democratic Rep. Jared Golden , who only narrowly won in 2018 .
It is viewed as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House pickup opportunities in a challenging election year .
The Club for Growth super PAC and the National Association for Gun Rights PAC spent money on behalf of Brakey prior to the American Policy Fund intervening against him .
That ’ s when Protect Freedom PAC dropped its own 30-second ad making the Bolton connection .
A spokesperson for Bolton ’ s own PAC did not respond to a request for comment .
The primary for Maine ’ s 2nd District takes place on July 14 .

Former national security adviser John Bolton and his newfound opposition to President Trump have become a campaign issue in the Republican primary in Maine’s Democratic-controlled 2nd Congressional District, a top GOP target this fall.
“John Bolton lies about President Trump, and now, his henchmen are doing the exact same thing to Trump conservative Eric Brakey,” says a new ad from the Protect Freedom PAC. “They’re scared of Brakey because they know he will stand with Trump, fight to drain the swamp, and advance an America First agenda.” The group’s spokesman, Michael Biundo, urged Maine Republican voters to “ignore the Bolton lies.”
The television spot comes after a new super PAC called the American Policy Fund spent $61,000 on mailings opposing Brakey, a former state senator, in a district where fewer than 35,000 people voted in the competitive 2014 GOP primary that pitted Maine’s state senate president against a former state treasurer. The super PAC’s treasurer, Republican operative Cabell Hobbs, has also served as treasurer of the John Bolton PAC and the John Bolton super PAC. Its financing need not be disclosed until after the primary is over.
The race is also a contest between libertarian-leaning conservatives aligned with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, a Brakey ally, and those holding foreign policy views closer to Bolton’s. But it may also test the continued influence of the Bolton name with the Republican base after his break with Trump, even if the former national security adviser and the president themselves remain on the sidelines.
Sarah Tinsley, director of John Bolton PAC, told the Washington Examiner the Protect Freedom PAC ad is wrong to tie the former national security adviser to the anti-Brakey mailings. She said neither Bolton nor any associated PAC have endorsed or spent any money in the race and merely use the same accountant as the group opposed to Brakey.
Trump has also not endorsed anyone in the primary, according to his reelection campaign, but he looms large in the contest. He carried the district by 10 points in 2016, good for one of the state’s electoral votes, and multiple candidates are trying to position themselves as reliable Trump supporters. Former state Rep. Dale Crafts and former Gov. Paul LePage press secretary Adrienne Bennett are also running.
Bolton split with Trump after his departure from the administration, most dramatically with his recent tell-all book The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir. He claims Trump is not competent to serve as president and that he compromised national security to further political goals, including asking for Chinese concessions to help win reelection. Bolton does still support Republican retention of the Senate.
The former national security adviser has a long history in GOP politics, including raising money for candidates, and was a staple of the conservative speaking circuit before his break with Trump. A veteran Republican strategist called Bolton’s book “fodder for the Never Trumpers and nothing more.”
Trump said he fired Bolton for giving him bad foreign policy advice that would have led the United States into war.
This message has been amplified by other members of Trump’s team. “He's a warmonger,” said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany of Bolton in an interview with Fox News. “He's someone who would have had us at war with North Korea and with Iran if it was up to him.”
The Maine congressional seat is currently held by freshman Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who only narrowly won in 2018. It is viewed as one of the Republican Party’s best House pickup opportunities in a challenging election year.
The Club for Growth super PAC and the National Association for Gun Rights PAC spent money on behalf of Brakey prior to the American Policy Fund intervening against him. That’s when Protect Freedom PAC dropped its own 30-second ad making the Bolton connection.
The primary for Maine’s 2nd District takes place on July 14.
This story has been updated with a response from a Bolton spokesperson denying his involvement in the race and noting he has not endorsed a candidate.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-09--Trump counting on a 'silent majority' that may never be heard

President Trump is staking his reelection on a “ silent majority ” of people who he believes will rally to him as the last line of defense against urban lawlessness and attacks on national symbols .
But the silent majority may not translate into either a popular vote or an electoral majority , Republican strategists increasingly fear .
“ Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders , deface our most sacred memorials , and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities , ” Trump said in his Fourth of July celebration remarks at Mount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural conflicts and traditional “ law-and-order ” themes , Trump declared , “ The American people are strong and proud , and they will not allow our country and all of its values , history , and culture , to be taken from them.
” Trump tweeted last month : “ THE VAST SILENT MAJORITY IS ALIVE AND WELL !
!
!
We will win this Election big . ''
At his June 20 Tulsa rally , Trump decried an “ unhinged left-wing mob ” but vowed , `` the silent majority is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase is borrowed from Richard Nixon , who was elected president in 1968 during a similar period of unrest .
While accepting the Republican nomination , he celebrated “ the great majority of Americans , the forgotten Americans , the non-shouters , the non-demonstrators.
” He added , “ They ’ re not racist or sick , they ’ re not guilty of the crime that plagues the land .
They are good people ; they are decent people .
They work hard , and they save , and they pay their taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to how Trump describes the MAGA base .
His backers also frequently talk about “ hidden voters ” who exist undetected by pollsters and aided his unexpected 2016 win .
Still , recent polling shows Trump far from the 49-state landslide reelection Nixon won in 1972 .
The current president ’ s numbers have gotten worse since the George Floyd protests began , suggesting the silent majority is even quieter than it was before — or no longer a majority .
“ There was never a silent majority for Trump in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something other than an homage to Nixon ’ s message from the ‘ 70s is silly , ” said Republican strategist Nicholas Everhart .
“ There were an enormous number of disaffected partisan voters that stayed home or voted for third parties in industrial Midwest states that had been in the Democrat column for decades , coupled with Hillary Clinton ostensibly playing the role of ‘ incumbent ’ upon which a referendum was being decided .
She lost the referendum , and Trump embodied change , but it wasn ’ t a silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in just enough states to thread the needle.
” A Monmouth University poll released Wednesday found that 77 % of adults understood “ defund the police ” to mean “ change the way the police departments operate , ” compared to only 18 % who believed it meant their abolition , suggesting that Trump ’ s messaging on this particular issue isn ’ t getting through .
More broadly , violent protests and even an uptick in shootings don ’ t seem to have dented sympathy for those demonstrating on behalf of Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
Yet neither has Trump mollified voters looking for order to be restored .
“ He 's talking about a ‘ silent majority ’ when he should be saying , ‘ I will be your voice ’ — his best line from the 2016 campaign , ” said veteran Republican consultant Frank Luntz .
“ He should be personalizing his messaging instead of making blanket statements about society .
The silent majority was a strategy , not an applause line.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his Democratic challenger , by 8.7 points in the national RealClearPolitics polling average .
“ The president is in trouble , and it ’ s a toxic political environment right now , period , ” said Everhart .
“ Unless you worked in [ Democratic wave election year ] 2006 , you ’ ve got no idea how thin the ice is right now .
”

President Trump is staking his reelection on a “silent majority” of people who he believes will rally to him as the last line of defense against urban lawlessness and attacks on national symbols. But the silent majority may not translate into either a popular vote or an electoral majority, Republican strategists increasingly fear.
“Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities,” Trump said in his Fourth of July celebration remarks at Mount Rushmore. Zeroing in on both the cultural conflicts and traditional “law-and-order” themes, Trump declared, “The American people are strong and proud, and they will not allow our country and all of its values, history, and culture, to be taken from them.”
Trump tweeted last month: “THE VAST SILENT MAJORITY IS ALIVE AND WELL!!! We will win this Election big." At his June 20 Tulsa rally, Trump decried an “unhinged left-wing mob” but vowed, "the silent majority is stronger than ever before."
The phrase is borrowed from Richard Nixon, who was elected president in 1968 during a similar period of unrest. While accepting the Republican nomination, he celebrated “the great majority of Americans, the forgotten Americans, the non-shouters, the non-demonstrators.” He added, “They’re not racist or sick, they’re not guilty of the crime that plagues the land. They are good people; they are decent people. They work hard, and they save, and they pay their taxes, and they care.”
This is similar to how Trump describes the MAGA base. His backers also frequently talk about “hidden voters” who exist undetected by pollsters and aided his unexpected 2016 win.
Still, recent polling shows Trump far from the 49-state landslide reelection Nixon won in 1972. The current president’s numbers have gotten worse since the George Floyd protests began, suggesting the silent majority is even quieter than it was before — or no longer a majority.
“There was never a silent majority for Trump in 2016, so the idea that it is something other than an homage to Nixon’s message from the ‘70s is silly,” said Republican strategist Nicholas Everhart. “There were an enormous number of disaffected partisan voters that stayed home or voted for third parties in industrial Midwest states that had been in the Democrat column for decades, coupled with Hillary Clinton ostensibly playing the role of ‘incumbent’ upon which a referendum was being decided. She lost the referendum, and Trump embodied change, but it wasn’t a silent majority … it was just a majority in just enough states to thread the needle.”
A Monmouth University poll released Wednesday found that 77% of adults understood “defund the police” to mean “change the way the police departments operate,” compared to only 18% who believed it meant their abolition, suggesting that Trump’s messaging on this particular issue isn’t getting through. More broadly, violent protests and even an uptick in shootings don’t seem to have dented sympathy for those demonstrating on behalf of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Yet neither has Trump mollified voters looking for order to be restored.
“He's talking about a ‘silent majority’ when he should be saying, ‘I will be your voice’ — his best line from the 2016 campaign,” said veteran Republican consultant Frank Luntz. “He should be personalizing his messaging instead of making blanket statements about society. The silent majority was a strategy, not an applause line.”
Trump is presently trailing Joe Biden, his Democratic challenger, by 8.7 points in the national RealClearPolitics polling average.
“The president is in trouble, and it’s a toxic political environment right now, period,” said Everhart. “Unless you worked in [Democratic wave election year] 2006, you’ve got no idea how thin the ice is right now.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-09--Democratic Senate challengers stun Republicans with massive fundraising haul

Energized grassroots liberals flooded Democratic Senate challengers with campaign cash during the second quarter , shocking Republicans who now confront opponents armed with millions in small-dollar donations .
In interviews Wednesday , veteran Republican strategists reacted with unusual astonishment .
They described fundraising by Democratic Senate candidates in April , May , and June as “ unprecedented ” — collectively and race by race .
Historically , incumbent senators of both parties harbored significant fundraising advantages over challengers .
As recently as the previous election cycle , an incumbent who raised a few million dollars during a three-month period would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a race in small states such as Iowa and Maine .
In that context , what Democratic challengers accomplished in the second quarter of this year has left Republicans astounded .
In Iowa , Democrat Theresa Greenfield , challenging Republican Sen. Joni Ernst , raked in $ 6 million from donations averaging $ 30.44 .
In Maine , Democrat Sara Gideon raised $ 9 million and now has more cash on hand than Republican Sen. Susan Collins .
In Montana , Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock , challenging Republican Sen. Steve Daines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In North Carolina , Democrat Cal Cunningham , running against Republican Sen. Thom Tillis , collected $ 7.4 million .
In South Carolina , a red state where Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is favored , Democrat Jaime Harrison raised $ 13.9 million .
Across the Senate playing field , from Arizona to Colorado , to Georgia , to Kansas , Democratic challengers are raising sums to boast about , and Republican insiders are now quietly beginning to think triage and ponder which 2020 incumbents the party might be forced to abandon down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Read more : Is Lindsey Graham 's Senate seat up for grabs ? ]
Some strategists are sounding the alarm that GOP incumbents , both the vulnerable and some presumed safe , are on track to be overwhelmed this fall just as House Republicans were in midterm elections two years ago .
The massive accumulation of resources came amid a coronavirus-induced recession that has left tens of millions of Americans jobless .
Republicans active in defending the party ’ s 53-seat majority say that dynamic reveals a Democratic electorate highly motivated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blowing a hole in GOP assumptions the president stands to benefit from an enthusiasm edge compared to presumptive nominee Joe Biden .
“ No question , the environment for Democrats is as good as it gets , ” said Josh Holmes , a Republican strategist and close confidant of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky .
“ Anyone questioning Democratic enthusiasm is an idiot , ” added a Republican strategist advising GOP congressional candidates .
“ This is looking like a repeat of 2018.
” Even Republicans jittery about the state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the 2018 midterm elections and this year ’ s campaign is providing a ray of hope about November : WinRed .
The internet platform was created last year by the GOP to rival its Democratic counterpart , Act Blue , and bundles grassroots contributions for the party ’ s candidates and builds lucrative lists of small donors who give repeatedly online over the course of an election cycle .
But growing pessimism is the prevailing sentiment in Republican circles as party operatives digest Democratic Senate candidates ’ second-quarter fundraising numbers .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doom and gloom .
“ Democrats will need to spend every penny to defend records that are disqualifying in the eyes of mainstream voters who will decide the outcome in key Senate races , ” spokesman Jesse Hunt said .
Republicans emphasize that a disparity in resources is not the primary source of their concern .
Although problematic , candidates do not necessarily need the most money to win , just enough to prosecute an effective campaign .
The avalanche of donations to Democratic candidates might represent a commitment to vote that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything to do with rebuking Trump .
“ Democrats are more motivated right now , and it ’ s reflected in their fundraising , ” said a Republican consultant whose experience spans the blue waves of 2006 , 2008 , and 2018 and the red waves of 2010 and 2014 .
“ They really don ’ t care who the candidates are.
” '' Democratic Senate candidates have had strong grassroots fundraising all cycle , and these latest record-breaking numbers reflect the growing interest in these Senate battlegrounds and an unprecedented motivation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Passalacqua , spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , the party ’ s Senate campaign arm .

Energized grassroots liberals flooded Democratic Senate challengers with campaign cash during the second quarter, shocking Republicans who now confront opponents armed with millions in small-dollar donations.
In interviews Wednesday, veteran Republican strategists reacted with unusual astonishment. They described fundraising by Democratic Senate candidates in April, May, and June as “unprecedented” — collectively and race by race.
Historically, incumbent senators of both parties harbored significant fundraising advantages over challengers. As recently as the previous election cycle, an incumbent who raised a few million dollars during a three-month period would have been considered incredibly successful, especially in a race in small states such as Iowa and Maine. In that context, what Democratic challengers accomplished in the second quarter of this year has left Republicans astounded.
In Iowa, Democrat Theresa Greenfield, challenging Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, raked in $6 million from donations averaging $30.44. In Maine, Democrat Sara Gideon raised $9 million and now has more cash on hand than Republican Sen. Susan Collins. In Montana, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, challenging Republican Sen. Steve Daines, enjoyed a $7.7 million haul. In North Carolina, Democrat Cal Cunningham, running against Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, collected $7.4 million.
In South Carolina, a red state where Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is favored, Democrat Jaime Harrison raised $13.9 million. Across the Senate playing field, from Arizona to Colorado, to Georgia, to Kansas, Democratic challengers are raising sums to boast about, and Republican insiders are now quietly beginning to think triage and ponder which 2020 incumbents the party might be forced to abandon down the stretch of the fall campaign.
[Read more: Is Lindsey Graham's Senate seat up for grabs?]
Some strategists are sounding the alarm that GOP incumbents, both the vulnerable and some presumed safe, are on track to be overwhelmed this fall just as House Republicans were in midterm elections two years ago.
The massive accumulation of resources came amid a coronavirus-induced recession that has left tens of millions of Americans jobless. Republicans active in defending the party’s 53-seat majority say that dynamic reveals a Democratic electorate highly motivated to oust President Trump and his allies, blowing a hole in GOP assumptions the president stands to benefit from an enthusiasm edge compared to presumptive nominee Joe Biden.
“No question, the environment for Democrats is as good as it gets,” said Josh Holmes, a Republican strategist and close confidant of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
“Anyone questioning Democratic enthusiasm is an idiot,” added a Republican strategist advising GOP congressional candidates. “This is looking like a repeat of 2018.”
Even Republicans jittery about the state of the Senate majority say a key difference between the 2018 midterm elections and this year’s campaign is providing a ray of hope about November: WinRed. The internet platform was created last year by the GOP to rival its Democratic counterpart, Act Blue, and bundles grassroots contributions for the party’s candidates and builds lucrative lists of small donors who give repeatedly online over the course of an election cycle.
But growing pessimism is the prevailing sentiment in Republican circles as party operatives digest Democratic Senate candidates’ second-quarter fundraising numbers.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is rejecting the doom and gloom. “Democrats will need to spend every penny to defend records that are disqualifying in the eyes of mainstream voters who will decide the outcome in key Senate races,” spokesman Jesse Hunt said.
Republicans emphasize that a disparity in resources is not the primary source of their concern. Although problematic, candidates do not necessarily need the most money to win, just enough to prosecute an effective campaign. The avalanche of donations to Democratic candidates might represent a commitment to vote that has little to do with the candidates and everything to do with rebuking Trump.
“Democrats are more motivated right now, and it’s reflected in their fundraising,” said a Republican consultant whose experience spans the blue waves of 2006, 2008, and 2018 and the red waves of 2010 and 2014. “They really don’t care who the candidates are.”
"Democratic Senate candidates have had strong grassroots fundraising all cycle, and these latest record-breaking numbers reflect the growing interest in these Senate battlegrounds and an unprecedented motivation to hold Republicans accountable,” said Lauren Passalacqua, spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the party’s Senate campaign arm.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-09--Pence raises $1M in campaign swing through Pennsylvania

MALVERN , Pennsylvania — Vice President Mike Pence raised $ 1 million for President Trump 's reelection campaign during an outdoor fundraiser hosted by a wealthy Republican donor in this key swing state .
Pence headlined the Trump campaign fundraiser Thursday , his first stop on a daylong bus tour through central Pennsylvania , a region critical to the president 's 2020 prospects .
The event , adjacent to the home of Republican donor Ron Kreider on picturesque farmland in Lancaster County , was held outdoors under tents to accommodate the 150 attendees , as required by local regulations implemented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
The $ 1 million raised by Pence was a significant haul for a sitting vice president .
He and Trump are going to need the extra resources .
Public polls show a tight race in Pennsylvania between the president and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , who also traveled to the state Thursday .
Meanwhile , the bus tour was Pence 's first since the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the economy in mid-March .
Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller told reporters that two people who were planning to attend a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the vice president at the Rajant Corporation in Malvern tested positive for COVID-19 hours before he arrived and were asked to leave .
They were asymptomatic , but all attendees to the vice president 's events are tested , Miller said , and this happens on occasion .
At Rajant , a technology company that uses three-dimensional printers to manufacture face masks for use during the pandemic , Pence stumped for a second Trump term .
He told assembled executives that the president was prioritizing defeating the pandemic while also focusing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I were determined , first , to focus on the health of the American people , '' Pence said .
`` The good news is , even in the midst of outbreaks we 're seeing in Sun Belt states , we are opening up America again . ''
`` We think this economy is coming back , '' Pence added .

MALVERN, Pennsylvania — Vice President Mike Pence raised $1 million for President Trump's reelection campaign during an outdoor fundraiser hosted by a wealthy Republican donor in this key swing state.
Pence headlined the Trump campaign fundraiser Thursday, his first stop on a daylong bus tour through central Pennsylvania, a region critical to the president's 2020 prospects. The event, adjacent to the home of Republican donor Ron Kreider on picturesque farmland in Lancaster County, was held outdoors under tents to accommodate the 150 attendees, as required by local regulations implemented to mitigate health risks posed by the coronavirus.
The $1 million raised by Pence was a significant haul for a sitting vice president. He and Trump are going to need the extra resources. Public polls show a tight race in Pennsylvania between the president and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who also traveled to the state Thursday. Meanwhile, the bus tour was Pence's first since the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the economy in mid-March.
Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller told reporters that two people who were planning to attend a separate afternoon "roundtable" campaign event with the vice president at the Rajant Corporation in Malvern tested positive for COVID-19 hours before he arrived and were asked to leave. They were asymptomatic, but all attendees to the vice president's events are tested, Miller said, and this happens on occasion.
At Rajant, a technology company that uses three-dimensional printers to manufacture face masks for use during the pandemic, Pence stumped for a second Trump term. He told assembled executives that the president was prioritizing defeating the pandemic while also focusing on the economic recovery.
"President Trump and I were determined, first, to focus on the health of the American people," Pence said. "The good news is, even in the midst of outbreaks we're seeing in Sun Belt states, we are opening up America again."
"We think this economy is coming back," Pence added.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-09--Pollster: Trump must ‘drive Biden’s negatives up’ to win, like in 2016

President Trump is having trouble adding to his national support of about 46 % , so he will have to drive up Democrat Joe Biden ’ s “ negatives ” to win in the fall , a strategy that worked in the 2016 fight against Hillary Rodham Clinton , according to a top GOP pollster .
“ For them to have any hope of winning this election , they are going to have to drive Joe Biden ’ s negatives up also over 50 % , ” said Ed Goeas , president of the Tarrance Group in Washington .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base is so strong in support of the president that it ’ s going to be fairly easy for them to do so.
” Goeas , detailing his view of the election to a conference hosted by the centrist GOP Ripon Society , said that the presidency is at “ rock bottom ” as the White House fights with the spike in coronavirus infections , the Black Lives Matter movement , and unemployment .
Still , he said , the president has the support of about 46 % of the country .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support is not high enough on its own to win , so playing up Biden ’ s faults to raise disapproval ratings could work , said the pollster .
“ The reason why that is important is that , in this election , I think what we ’ re going to find is the same 19 % to 24 % of the electorate who are unfavorable towards both candidates .
For the second time in a row , I believe the true swing vote in this campaign is going to be that group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he told the group in a video meeting .
He added that Trump should get back to talking about issues , such as jobs and the economy , because voters like to hear that .
“ I truly believe we are at rock bottom right now in the presidential race for Donald Trump .
The advantage he usually has is when he is talking about the issues , particularly talking about the economy or taxes or jobs .
His numbers go up because he gets a majority support in the country for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both the combination of the coronavirus months that we have gone through and the social and racial unrest that we have gone through , what people are hearing from him is not his policies , but they ’ re hearing and seeing his persona .
So , it is the worst of all worlds for Trump , ” said Goeas .

President Trump is having trouble adding to his national support of about 46%, so he will have to drive up Democrat Joe Biden’s “negatives” to win in the fall, a strategy that worked in the 2016 fight against Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a top GOP pollster.
“For them to have any hope of winning this election, they are going to have to drive Joe Biden’s negatives up also over 50%,” said Ed Goeas, president of the Tarrance Group in Washington.
But, he added, “the Trump base is so strong in support of the president that it’s going to be fairly easy for them to do so.”
Goeas, detailing his view of the election to a conference hosted by the centrist GOP Ripon Society, said that the presidency is at “rock bottom” as the White House fights with the spike in coronavirus infections, the Black Lives Matter movement, and unemployment.
Still, he said, the president has the support of about 46% of the country.
Just like in 2016, Trump’s support is not high enough on its own to win, so playing up Biden’s faults to raise disapproval ratings could work, said the pollster.
“The reason why that is important is that, in this election, I think what we’re going to find is the same 19% to 24% of the electorate who are unfavorable towards both candidates. For the second time in a row, I believe the true swing vote in this campaign is going to be that group of voters that dislike both candidates,” he told the group in a video meeting.
He added that Trump should get back to talking about issues, such as jobs and the economy, because voters like to hear that.
“I truly believe we are at rock bottom right now in the presidential race for Donald Trump. The advantage he usually has is when he is talking about the issues, particularly talking about the economy or taxes or jobs. His numbers go up because he gets a majority support in the country for those issues. I think, unfortunately, both the combination of the coronavirus months that we have gone through and the social and racial unrest that we have gone through, what people are hearing from him is not his policies, but they’re hearing and seeing his persona. So, it is the worst of all worlds for Trump,” said Goeas.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-10--It may take weeks to know the presidential election winner

Election night this November could feel a lot like the start of the 2000 Florida recount that took 36 days to decide who the next president would be , due to rapid rules changes in states adopting mail-in and absentee ballot systems .
Logistical hurdles to counting mass amounts of ballots and legal challenges revolving around ballots that are not counted could delay full results for days or weeks , which may include uncertainty over whether President Trump or Joe Biden won the election if the race is close in some states .
“ The public needs to have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tune in to CNN and get answers at 11 or midnight on Election Day , ” Joe Ready , director of the Democracy for the People campaign at U.S. PIRG , told the Washington Examiner .
“ In many cases , a significant number of the votes won ’ t be counted ” by then .
Sharp increases for demand in absentee ballots have already overwhelmed elections administrators in primaries held this year .
New York didn ’ t start counting absentee ballots for its primaries until this past Tuesday , after its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Any state that does not have a significant history of large-scale absentee voting , I think is going to be struggling in November to deal with the demand , '' Jason Snead , executive director of the Honest Elections Project , told the Washington Examiner .
In the state of Washington , which has a total vote-by-mail system , Secretary of State Kim Wyman has warned that building up systems to process mail-in ballots quickly and accurately takes a long time .
“ You can ’ t just flip a switch and go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % vote-by-mail , ” Wyman the New York Times in April .
“ It took five years to get all 39 of our counties to move to vote-by-mail.
” Laws that are not designed for a large portion of mail-in and absentee ballots will also slow down the counting of votes .
In some states , administrators are allowed to process and verify mail-in ballots , which can include matching affidavit signatures on the front of the envelope to a voter file , days or weeks ahead of Election Day , while others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of .
Those states of Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , and Michigan .
Other states , including Florida and New Hampshire , allow processing to happen earlier but bar tallying ballots before the polls close .
But what could really drag out election results , and delay the results of the presidential election if Trump and Biden are very close in crucial states , is lawsuits over the counting of mail-in ballots .
[ Opinion : How states can protect at-risk voters , the right way ] “ You could be looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You could be looking at weeks of litigation depending on how bad those problems are , ” Snead said .
There could be lawsuits about whether or not to count mail-in ballots that were thrown out for technical reasons — the 2020 version of “ hanging chads ” on Florida ballots that led to a weekslong legal battle over the counting of ballots in the state in which the distribution of Electoral College votes decided the 2000 presidential election .
Many absentee ballots are thrown out and never counted because of technical issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envelope that contains the mail-in ballot could be thrown out , as would be ballots that are not returned in the proper envelope .
Nearly 1 in 10 mail-in ballots in a May special election in New Jersey were not counted , to NJ Spotlight .
In Florida , of ballots were not counted because they were received after Election Day rather than the legal requirement of before Election Day .
Even if the race is not so close in key states that it delays election results for weeks , political ramifications are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making a case that the election was illegitimate because of all of these rules changes that were imposed at the last minute by courts because people were bringing partisan lawsuits trying to manipulate the election process , ” Snead said .
State elections officials are warning the public that there are unlikely to be enough results available on election night to call key races .
`` We 've gotten accustomed to this idea that by the middle of the evening of election night , we 're going to know all the results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LaRose the Associated Press in May .
`` Election night reporting may take a little longer.
” '' It may be several days before we know the outcome of the election , ” said Jocelyn Benson , Michigan ’ s secretary of state .
“ We have to prepare for that now and accept that reality . ''

Election night this November could feel a lot like the start of the 2000 Florida recount that took 36 days to decide who the next president would be, due to rapid rules changes in states adopting mail-in and absentee ballot systems.
Logistical hurdles to counting mass amounts of ballots and legal challenges revolving around ballots that are not counted could delay full results for days or weeks, which may include uncertainty over whether President Trump or Joe Biden won the election if the race is close in some states.
“The public needs to have an expectation that they're not going to tune in to CNN and get answers at 11 or midnight on Election Day,” Joe Ready, director of the Democracy for the People campaign at U.S. PIRG, told the Washington Examiner. “In many cases, a significant number of the votes won’t be counted” by then.
Sharp increases for demand in absentee ballots have already overwhelmed elections administrators in primaries held this year. New York didn’t start counting absentee ballots for its primaries until this past Tuesday, two weeks after its primary elections, Ready noted.
"Any state that does not have a significant history of large-scale absentee voting, I think is going to be struggling in November to deal with the demand," Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, told the Washington Examiner.
In the state of Washington, which has a total vote-by-mail system, Secretary of State Kim Wyman has warned that building up systems to process mail-in ballots quickly and accurately takes a long time.
“You can’t just flip a switch and go from real low absentee ballots to 100% vote-by-mail,” Wyman told the New York Times in April. “It took five years to get all 39 of our counties to move to vote-by-mail.”
Laws that are not designed for a large portion of mail-in and absentee ballots will also slow down the counting of votes.
In some states, administrators are allowed to process and verify mail-in ballots, which can include matching affidavit signatures on the front of the envelope to a voter file, days or weeks ahead of Election Day, while others are barred from doing so until the day of. Those states include the crucial Electoral College swing states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Other states, including Florida and New Hampshire, allow processing to happen earlier but bar tallying ballots before the polls close.
But what could really drag out election results, and delay the results of the presidential election if Trump and Biden are very close in crucial states, is lawsuits over the counting of mail-in ballots.
[Opinion: How states can protect at-risk voters, the right way]
“You could be looking at longer than just a few days. You could be looking at weeks of litigation depending on how bad those problems are,” Snead said.
There could be lawsuits about whether or not to count mail-in ballots that were thrown out for technical reasons — the 2020 version of “hanging chads” on Florida ballots that led to a weekslong legal battle over the counting of ballots in the state in which the distribution of Electoral College votes decided the 2000 presidential election.
Many absentee ballots are thrown out and never counted because of technical issues. Signatures on the cover of the envelope that contains the mail-in ballot could be thrown out, as would be ballots that are not returned in the proper envelope.
Nearly 1 in 10 mail-in ballots in a May special election in New Jersey were not counted, according to NJ Spotlight. In Florida, thousands of ballots were not counted because they were received after Election Day rather than the legal requirement of before Election Day.
Even if the race is not so close in key states that it delays election results for weeks, political ramifications are likely.
“You could see people making a case that the election was illegitimate because of all of these rules changes that were imposed at the last minute by courts because people were bringing partisan lawsuits trying to manipulate the election process,” Snead said.
State elections officials are warning the public that there are unlikely to be enough results available on election night to call key races.
"We've gotten accustomed to this idea that by the middle of the evening of election night, we're going to know all the results," Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose told the Associated Press in May. "Election night reporting may take a little longer.”
"It may be several days before we know the outcome of the election,” said Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s secretary of state. “We have to prepare for that now and accept that reality."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-10--Trump balances defense of Confederate symbols with unrelenting attack on Biden race record

As President Trump has been going to the mattresses over monuments , statues , and military base names , even when they honor figures associated with the Confederacy , and attacking “ cancel culture , ” his campaign has continued to hit Democratic challenger Joe Biden on politically incorrect utterances throughout his nearly 50 years in public life .
So at the same time Trump is tweeting about whether Bubba Wallace has apologized for the NASCAR noose scandal , which the FBI concluded was not a hate crime directed at the black driver , his campaign is circulating memoranda to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with segregationist Democrats in the Senate .
While Trump is questioning whether NASCAR hurt its ratings by banning the Confederate flag at races , his campaign is highlighting that Biden , in 1993 , called a group that flew the flag “ fine people.
” They have hit Biden for eulogizing Robert Byrd , the longtime Democratic senator from West Virginia who was in the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s , and also Strom Thurmond , the onetime segregationist senator from South Carolina who spent his final four decades in Congress as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump team might blast Biden for not distancing himself sufficiently from the “ defund the police ” movement .
“ Biden ’ s call to defund the police is further evidence that there is zero daylight between Biden and his cabal of left-wing advisers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , ” said a Republican National Committee spokesman .
On another , the campaign or the RNC might accuse Biden of distorting his record on legislation “ that led to the mass incarceration of thousands of Black Americans , which hurt families , communities , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s racist comments were shocking , ” read a Trump War Room message after the presumptive Democratic nominee ’ s controversial interview with Charlamagne tha God .
“ Biden — a 77-year-old white man — clearly got offended when a Black radio host said he wanted to ask him more questions about his record and policies.
” It ’ s part of a delicate needle Trump is trying to thread in his quest for a second term : turning out his base , which includes people who are opposed to toppling statues of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to renaming military installations named for Confederate generals , while making inroads with black and suburban white voters to help close the gap with Biden in swing states .
Trump needs strong turnout from rural voters , some of whom might admire Robert E. Lee or fly the Confederate battle flag , while at the same time dampening minority enthusiasm for the former vice president .
This task has been made even more difficult by the nationwide protests that followed the death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump wants to demonstrate that he is the candidate of law and order and a strong supporter of the police in the face of accusations of systemic racism while also contrasting his record signing criminal justice reform into law with Biden ’ s role in passing a 1994 crime bill many blame for worsening the mass incarceration of black people .
While difficult , the 2016 Trump campaign was largely able to hit that balance .
Black turnout for Hillary Clinton lagged , despite her strong showing with African American voters in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural and working-class white people came out for Trump in big numbers .
They were also able to neutralize some Trump negatives by pointing to Clinton liabilities , whether Bill or Hillary 's , driving up her unfavorable ratings .
All this helped turn the industrial Midwest red for the first time since the 1980s , delivering Trump the White House .
This has all proven more difficult with Biden , who started with higher favorability ratings than Clinton , and after the Floyd protests , which appear to have galvanized black voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on issues related to race .
And whether to prioritize the rural Lee fan over the jittery suburban centrist has opened a strategic divide within the campaign .
Trump ’ s numbers with minority voters have held steady in most polls while he ’ s taken his biggest hits with white voters , especially with college degrees .
But neither the Trump campaign nor the White House have stopped trying .
Trump spoke Thursday in the Rose Garden to tout the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative .
`` We achieved the highest ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American groups and communities , ” he said .
“ We built the greatest economy in history , not only for our country but for the world .
We were No .
1 by far.
” “ It ’ s about Biden ’ s hypocrisy , ” said a Republican strategist who is advising the Trump reelection campaign .
“ It ’ s complicated messaging , but it needs to be hit .
”

As President Trump has been going to the mattresses over monuments, statues, and military base names, even when they honor figures associated with the Confederacy, as well as attacking “cancel culture,” his campaign has continued to hit Democratic challenger Joe Biden on politically incorrect utterances throughout his nearly 50 years in public life.
So at the same time Trump is tweeting about whether Bubba Wallace has apologized for the NASCAR noose scandal, which the FBI concluded was not a hate crime directed at the black driver, his campaign is circulating memoranda to the press noting Biden’s work with segregationist Democrats in the Senate.
While Trump is questioning whether NASCAR hurt its ratings by banning the Confederate flag at races, his campaign is highlighting that Biden, in 1993, called a group that flew the flag “fine people.” They have hit Biden for eulogizing Robert Byrd, the longtime Democratic senator from West Virginia who was in the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s, and also Strom Thurmond, the onetime segregationist senator from South Carolina who spent his final four decades in Congress as a Republican.
One day, the Trump team might blast Biden for not distancing himself sufficiently from the “defund the police” movement. “Biden’s call to defund the police is further evidence that there is zero daylight between Biden and his cabal of left-wing advisers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” said a Republican National Committee spokesman. On another, the campaign or the RNC might accuse Biden of distorting his record on legislation “that led to the mass incarceration of thousands of Black Americans, which hurt families, communities, and generational wealth.”
“Joe Biden’s racist comments were shocking,” read a Trump War Room message after the presumptive Democratic nominee’s controversial interview with Charlamagne tha God. “Biden — a 77-year-old white man — clearly got offended when a Black radio host said he wanted to ask him more questions about his record and policies.”
It’s part of a delicate needle Trump is trying to thread in his quest for a second term: turning out his base, which includes people who are opposed to toppling statues of Founding Fathers who once owned slaves or to renaming military installations named for Confederate generals, while making inroads with black and suburban white voters to help close the gap with Biden in swing states. Trump needs strong turnout from rural voters, some of whom might admire Robert E. Lee or fly the Confederate battle flag, while at the same time dampening minority enthusiasm for the former vice president.
This task has been made even more difficult by the nationwide protests that followed the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in the custody of a white police officer. Trump wants to demonstrate that he is the candidate of law and order and a strong supporter of the police in the face of accusations of systemic racism while also contrasting his record signing criminal justice reform into law with Biden’s role in passing a 1994 crime bill many blame for worsening the mass incarceration of black people.
While difficult, the 2016 Trump campaign was largely able to hit that balance. Black turnout for Hillary Clinton lagged, despite her strong showing with African American voters in that year’s Democratic primaries, while rural and working-class white people came out for Trump in big numbers. They were also able to neutralize some Trump negatives by pointing to Clinton liabilities, whether Bill or Hillary's, driving up her unfavorable ratings. All this helped turn the industrial Midwest red for the first time since the 1980s, delivering Trump the White House.
This has all proven more difficult with Biden, who started with higher favorability ratings than Clinton, and after the Floyd protests, which appear to have galvanized black voters while making it more difficult to triangulate on issues related to race. And whether to prioritize the rural Lee fan over the jittery suburban centrist has opened a strategic divide within the campaign. Trump’s numbers with minority voters have held steady in most polls while he’s taken his biggest hits with white voters, especially with college degrees.
But neither the Trump campaign nor the White House have stopped trying. Trump spoke Thursday in the Rose Garden to tout the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative. "We achieved the highest ever incomes for Hispanic Americans and many other American groups and communities,” he said. “We built the greatest economy in history, not only for our country but for the world. We were No. 1 by far.”
“It’s about Biden’s hypocrisy,” said a Republican strategist who is advising the Trump reelection campaign. “It’s complicated messaging, but it needs to be hit.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-10--Mike Pence unloads on Joe Biden during Pennsylvania swing

PHILADELPHIA , Pennsylvania — Vice President Mike Pence told a gathering of Philadelphia police officers that Joe Biden views them as the “ enemy , ” warning the presumptive Democratic nominee would gut funding for local law enforcement and jeopardize public safety .
Pence delivered the aggressive speech to an indoor gathering of approximately 300 police officers and family members at a Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Philadelphia at the tail end of a bus tour campaign swing through Pennsylvania on Thursday .
President Trump trails Biden in this critical swing state in public opinion polls , and Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as one between order and chaos .
“ Minneapolis , as reported , has begun dismantling their police department .
New York City ’ s mayor , [ Bill ] de Blasio , has actually cut the NYPD ’ s budget by about $ 1 billion , ” Pence said .
“ And , I heard that just yesterday , Joe Biden said that well-armed police , in his words , ‘ become the enemy . '
And he said that he would , quote , absolutely , cut funding for law enforcement.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition to the blanket defunding of police departments advocated by some liberals , has never described the police as being “ the enemy.
” But Republicans are attacking the former vice president for saying in recent comments that the police “ have become ” the enemy in the eyes of some Americans because of certain law enforcement tactics and use of military-style weapons .
“ Surplus military equipment for law enforcement ?
They don ’ t need that , ” Biden said .
“ They have become they enemy .
They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before taking the stage , Pence met with a group of healthcare system administrators , nurses and physicians to discuss the ongoing challenges posed by the coronavirus , which has seen a summer resurgence , especially in states across the South and Southwest .
The meeting was not made available for press coverage .
The vice president also talked privately with the surviving family members of James “ Jimmy ” O ’ Connor , a Philadelphia police officer who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hours-long standoff in August of last year .
In public remarks that followed , Pence vowed that he and Trump would stand with the police in the wake of criticism emanating from the death of George Floyd , a black man who died in late May after a white Minneapolis police knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
“ I want you to hear this directly from me : Under this president and this administration , we ’ re not going to defund the police , ” he added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Left to slash taxpayer funding for law enforcement .
“ We will join with you to stand against the rioters and the looters and the anarchists who would pull down our statues and try and destroy our communities . ''
Pence began Thursday in Lancaster County in central Pennsylvania , a region that could hold the key to Trump 's prospects in the state .
After raising $ 1 million for the Trump campaign at an outdoor fundraiser adjacent to the private home of a wealthy Republican donor , the vice president traveled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pictures of himself and Trump and the slogan “ Keep America Great , '' stopping for a “ round table ” with technology company executives and a meeting with Philadelphia police officers and their families .
The trip turned out to be a bracketing exercise of sorts , coming the same day that Biden traveled to a community near Scranton , Pennsylvania , to unveil his `` Build Back Better '' plan to revitalize an American economy devastated by the coronavirus .
“ Donald Trump loves to talk and talk and talk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of big promises , what do the American people have to show for all the talk ? ''
the presumptive Democratic nominee said , according to pool reports .
Speaking to Ragant Corporation executives , Pence countered that Biden would raise taxes , ratchet up job-killing regulations and hamper the economic recovery .
“ Not far from here , Joe Biden is at another company to talk about his plans for the economy going forward , and I think the choice has never been clearer for the American people , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that under the Obama-Biden administration , this lost economy lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs .
In fact , Pennsylvania lost 51,000 manufacturing jobs .
In the first three years , 500,000 manufacturing jobs were added because of the policies of this president .
”

PHILADELPHIA — Vice President Mike Pence told a gathering of Philadelphia police officers that Joe Biden views them as the “enemy,” warning the presumptive Democratic nominee would gut funding for local law enforcement and jeopardize public safety.
Pence delivered the aggressive speech to an indoor gathering of approximately 300 police officers and family members at a Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Philadelphia at the tail end of a bus tour campaign swing through Pennsylvania on Thursday. President Trump trails Biden in this critical swing state in public opinion polls, and Pence presented the choice before voters in November as one between order and chaos.
“Minneapolis, as reported, has begun dismantling their police department. New York City’s mayor, [Bill] de Blasio, has actually cut the NYPD’s budget by about $1 billion,” Pence said. “And, I heard that just yesterday, Joe Biden said that well-armed police, in his words, ‘become the enemy.' And he said that he would 'absolutely, cut funding for law enforcement.'”
Biden, who previously announced his opposition to the blanket defunding of police departments advocated by some liberals, has never described the police as being “the enemy.”
But Republicans are attacking the former vice president for saying in recent comments that the police “have become” the enemy in the eyes of some Americans because of certain law enforcement tactics and use of military-style weapons.
“Surplus military equipment for law enforcement? They don’t need that,” Biden said. “They have become the enemy. They’re supposed to be protecting these people.”
Before taking the stage, Pence met with a group of healthcare system administrators, nurses, and physicians to discuss the challenges posed by the coronavirus, which has seen a summer resurgence, especially in states across the South and Southwest. The meeting was not made available for press coverage.
The vice president also talked privately with the surviving family members of James “Jimmy” O’Connor, a Philadelphia police officer who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year, as well as officers who were shot and wounded during an hourslong standoff in August of last year.
In public remarks that followed, Pence vowed that he and Trump would stand with the police in the wake of criticism emanating from the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in late May after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
“I want you to hear this directly from me: Under this president and this administration, we’re not going to defund the police,” he added, referring to calls from some on the Left to slash taxpayer funding for law enforcement. “We will join with you to stand against the rioters and the looters and the anarchists who would pull down our statues and try and destroy our communities."
Pence began Thursday in Lancaster County in central Pennsylvania, a region that could hold the key to Trump's prospects in the state. After raising $1 million for the Trump campaign at an outdoor fundraiser adjacent to the private home of a wealthy Republican donor, the vice president traveled to Philadelphia in campaign bus emblazoned with pictures of himself and Trump and the slogan “Keep America Great," stopping for a “round table” with technology company executives and a meeting with Philadelphia police officers and their families.
The trip turned out to be a bracketing exercise of sorts, coming the same day that Biden traveled to a community near Scranton, Pennsylvania, to unveil his "Build Back Better" plan to revitalize an American economy devastated by the coronavirus.
“Donald Trump loves to talk and talk and talk. But after three and a half years of big promises, what do the American people have to show for all the talk?" the presumptive Democratic nominee said, according to pool reports.
Speaking to Ragant Corporation executives, Pence countered that Biden would raise taxes, ratchet up job-killing regulations, and hamper the economic recovery.
“Not far from here, Joe Biden is at another company to talk about his plans for the economy going forward, and I think the choice has never been clearer for the American people," he said. "It’s remarkable to think that under the Obama-Biden administration, this lost economy lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs. In fact, Pennsylvania lost 51,000 manufacturing jobs. In the first three years, 500,000 manufacturing jobs were added because of the policies of this president.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-10--Facebook considering ban on political advertisements ahead of 2020 election

Facebook is considering reining in political advertisements on its platforms after a swath of companies recently pulled content in protest of lax moderation standards .
Discussions are taking place inside the tech behemoth regarding whether to impose a ban on the platform ahead of the 2020 election , according to multiple reports on Friday .
Proponents say the move would help mitigate the spread of misinformation , while critics suggest it will make it harder for candidates with less money to reach their target audiences .
Several major companies , including Unilever and Verizon , have already pulled advertising from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active users .
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly stated that he does not believe Facebook should be the arbiter of truth , but other tech platforms , such as Twitter , have already moved to wipe their platforms clean of political advertising in the last year .
Facebook profits off the more than 100,000 political advertisements that run every day on its platform .
There has yet to be a detailed report on how a shift in policy might affect the company 's bottom line .
A representative from Facebook declined to comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached by Bloomberg .

Facebook is considering reining in political advertisements on its platforms after a swath of companies recently pulled content in protest of lax moderation standards.
Discussions are taking place inside the tech behemoth regarding whether to impose a ban on the platform ahead of the 2020 election, according to multiple reports on Friday.
Proponents say the move would help mitigate the spread of misinformation, while critics suggest it will make it harder for candidates with less money to reach their target audiences. Several major companies, including Unilever and Verizon, have already pulled advertising from the site that has billions of monthly active users.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly stated that he does not believe Facebook should be the arbiter of truth, but other tech platforms, such as Twitter, have already moved to wipe their platforms clean of political advertising in the last year.
Facebook profits off the more than 100,000 political advertisements that run every day on its platform. There has yet to be a detailed report on how a shift in policy might affect the company's bottom line.
A representative from Facebook declined to comment about a possible change in policy when reached by Bloomberg.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-10--Biden tax plan would lower stock values by 20-25%, Trump economist says

Joe Biden 's tax plan would reduce stock values by 20 % to 25 % , according to a new analysis conducted by an economic adviser to President Trump .
`` This is the biggest assault on investors in 50 years `` Stephen Moore , an outside economic adviser to Trump and a member of his economic recovery task force , said in a statement to the Washington Examiner .
`` The three stock killers are the corporate tax rise , the cap gains increase , and the death tax on stocks , '' said Moore , who also serves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization FreedomWorks and is a contributor to the Washington Examiner .
Moore 's analysis shows Biden ’ s `` progressive tax rates '' would result in the corporate tax rate increasing to 28 % , from 21 % currently , and the capital gains tax jumping to 39.6 % from 23.8 % .
Moore said that taxes for small businesses and income and payroll taxes would also increase under Biden 's tax plan .
[ Also read : Biden no tax increase pledge contradicts campaign plan ] With a new “ Buy American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden is trying to peel working-class voters away from Trump with a COVID-19 economic recovery pitch that echoes the incumbent 's nationalist `` America First '' policy agenda .
Biden 's proposal is a two-pronged criticism of Trump .
It aims to undermine the president 's economic message , already hurt by his response to the coronavirus .
It 's also an attempt to erode Trump 's support among working-class voters who were pivotal to his White House win four years ago over then-Democratic rival Hillary Clinton .
Trump and his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to push back .
Moore claims that `` Biden ’ s Good-Bye America Tax Plan '' would be a `` disaster for stocks . ''

Joe Biden's tax plan would reduce stock values by 20% to 25%, according to a new analysis conducted by an economic adviser to President Trump.
"This is the biggest assault on investors in 50 years , " Stephen Moore, an outside economic adviser to Trump and a member of his economic recovery task force, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
"The three stock killers are the corporate tax rise, the cap gains increase, and the death tax on stocks," said Moore, who also serves as an economist at the conservative advocacy organization FreedomWorks and is a contributor to the Washington Examiner.
Moore's analysis shows Biden’s "progressive tax rates" would result in the corporate tax rate increasing to 28%, from 21% currently, and the capital gains tax jumping to 39.6% from 23.8%. Moore said that taxes for small businesses and income and payroll taxes would also increase under Biden's tax plan.
[Also read: Biden no tax increase pledge contradicts campaign plan]
With a new “Buy American” economic plan released earlier this week, Biden is trying to peel working-class voters away from Trump with a COVID-19 economic recovery pitch that echoes the incumbent's nationalist "America First" policy agenda.
Biden's proposal is a two-pronged criticism of Trump. It aims to undermine the president's economic message, already hurt by his response to the coronavirus. It's also an attempt to erode Trump's support among working-class voters who were pivotal to his White House win four years ago over then-Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
Trump and his supporters, like Moore, are therefore trying to push back. Moore claims that "Biden’s Good-Bye America Tax Plan" would be a "disaster for stocks."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-10--Trump campaign postpones New Hampshire rally, citing tropical storm

The Trump campaign is postponing its rally in New Hampshire on Saturday , pinning the decision on concerns about Tropical Storm Fay .
“ The rally scheduled for Saturday in Portsmouth , New Hampshire , has been postponed for safety reasons because of Tropical Storm Fay , '' the reelection campaign said on Friday .
`` It will be rescheduled , and a new date will be announced soon.
” Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters traveling to Florida with President Trump that it would likely be held in one or two weeks ' time .
The decision is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event would mark a major reset after the disappointment of its recent rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , which was dominated by headlines about poor turnout and staff members contracting COVID-19 .
Trump is lagging far behind his Democratic rival Joe Biden in national polls and is eager to show that life is returning to normal .
This time around , the event was due to be held in an open-sided aircraft hangar to reduce the threat of coronavirus transmission .
And officials were careful not to predict how many people would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provoke questions about whether a disappointing number of people RSVPd .
Tropical Storm Fay is forecast to hit the northeastern seaboard on Friday , bringing heavy rain and the potential for flooding , according to the National Weather Service .

The Trump campaign is postponing its rally in New Hampshire on Saturday, pinning the decision on concerns about Tropical Storm Fay.
“The rally scheduled for Saturday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been postponed for safety reasons because of Tropical Storm Fay," the reelection campaign said on Friday. "It will be rescheduled, and a new date will be announced soon.”
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters traveling to Florida with President Trump that it would likely be held in one or two weeks' time.
The decision is a bitter blow for a campaign that hoped the event would mark a major reset after the disappointment of its recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was dominated by headlines about poor turnout and staff members contracting COVID-19.
Trump is lagging far behind his Democratic rival Joe Biden in national polls and is eager to show that life is returning to normal.
This time around, the event was due to be held in an open-sided aircraft hangar to reduce the threat of coronavirus transmission. And officials were careful not to predict how many people would attend.
However, the change will provoke questions about whether a disappointing number of people RSVPd.
Tropical Storm Fay is forecast to hit the northeastern seaboard on Friday, bringing heavy rain and the potential for flooding, according to the National Weather Service.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-10--Biden and Trump clash over Venezuela ahead of Trump Florida visit

Joe Biden is condemning President Trump 's visit to Florida and reminding voters about the White House incumbent 's shifting Venezuela foreign policy .
Biden , the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee , ripped Trump Friday as he flies south to Doral , Florida , for cooling on Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido .
Trump repeated last month that he was open to meeting Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro .
`` Just like his response to this pandemic , the president has been unreliable and self-centered in his approach to the issues closest to the Venezuelan people , '' Biden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two-term vice president and 36-year Delaware senator , reiterated his pledge to grant Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans in the United States .
He also vowed to lead a coordinated international effort to help to those hurt by Venezuela 's continued economic scarcity problems .
The Trump campaign , in turn , upped its attacks on Biden , a key foreign policy player during President Barack Obama 's administration .
Trump 's campaign staff pinned Biden to the Democratic Party 's move to the left during the primary .
They touted strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As Joe Biden and the socialist Democrats fight to turn our country into the next Cuba or Venezuela , President Trump is defending the principles that make our country great , '' Trump spokeswoman Ali Pardo said .
She added : `` Biden ’ s record of failing the Hispanic community and turning a blind eye to hostile , foreign dictators is a direct threat to American democracy , freedom , and the very opportunities President Trump has ensured for our communities . ''
Florida 's 29 electoral votes , like in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 general election .
Trump won the state in 2016 over then-Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by 1.2 percentage points .
But four years later , Biden is polling ahead of the president by 5 points , according to RealClearPolitics .
FiveThirtyEight has Biden in front by 6.3 points .
Florida is demographically diverse , with almost a quarter of the population identifying as Hispanic .
While Cuban Americans typically lean Republican , younger Cuban Americans are a target for Democrats as they are n't as opposed to socialist ideas discussed by the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing influence .
But U.S. relations with Venezuela remain an important topic for the Hispanic community .
Trump told Axios last month he `` was n't necessarily in favor '' of Guaido , who has n't gained control of the military , the government bureaucracy , and Venezuela 's state enterprises since becoming the acting head of state in January 2019 .
Maduro and Guaido have been locked in a constitutional crisis over who is the legitimate leader of the country after complaints regarding discrepancies with the 2018 presidential election .
Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maduro during former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff ’ s swearing-in ceremony in Brasilia .
Trump is traveling to Florida on Friday despite a surge in positive COVID-19 tests , hospitalizations , and deaths in the state .
The president will visit U.S. Southern Command for a drug trafficking briefing before holding a fundraiser later in the day .

Joe Biden is condemning President Trump's visit to Florida and reminding voters about the White House incumbent's shifting Venezuela foreign policy.
Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, ripped Trump Friday as he flies south to Doral, Florida, for cooling on Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. Trump repeated last month that he was open to meeting Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
"Just like his response to this pandemic, the president has been unreliable and self-centered in his approach to the issues closest to the Venezuelan people," Biden said in a statement Friday.
Biden, the two-term vice president and 36-year Delaware senator, reiterated his pledge to grant Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans in the United States. He also vowed to lead a coordinated international effort to help to those hurt by Venezuela's continued economic scarcity problems.
The Trump campaign, in turn, upped its attacks on Biden, a key foreign policy player during President Barack Obama's administration. Trump's campaign staff pinned Biden to the Democratic Party's move to the left during the primary. They touted strong Hispanic American unemployment numbers as well.
“As Joe Biden and the socialist Democrats fight to turn our country into the next Cuba or Venezuela, President Trump is defending the principles that make our country great," Trump spokeswoman Ali Pardo said.
She added: "Biden’s record of failing the Hispanic community and turning a blind eye to hostile, foreign dictators is a direct threat to American democracy, freedom, and the very opportunities President Trump has ensured for our communities."
Florida's 29 electoral votes, like in previous cycles, could decide the Nov. 3 general election. Trump won the state in 2016 over then-Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by 1.2 percentage points. But four years later, Biden is polling ahead of the president by 5 points, according to RealClearPolitics. FiveThirtyEight has Biden in front by 6.3 points.
Florida is demographically diverse, with almost a quarter of the population identifying as Hispanic. While Cuban Americans typically lean Republican, younger Cuban Americans are a target for Democrats as they aren't as opposed to socialist ideas discussed by the party thanks to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders's growing influence.
But U.S. relations with Venezuela remain an important topic for the Hispanic community.
Trump told Axios last month he "wasn't necessarily in favor" of Guaido, who hasn't gained control of the military, the government bureaucracy, and Venezuela's state enterprises since becoming the acting head of state in January 2019. Maduro and Guaido have been locked in a constitutional crisis over who is the legitimate leader of the country after complaints regarding discrepancies with the 2018 presidential election.
Biden was famously photographed in January 2015 smiling with Maduro during former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s swearing-in ceremony in Brasilia.
Trump is traveling to Florida on Friday despite a surge in positive COVID-19 tests, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state. The president will visit U.S. Southern Command for a drug trafficking briefing before holding a fundraiser later in the day.