thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Biden's perceived centrism unlikely to hold if he becomes president

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s new openness to liberal priorities such as eliminating the legislative filibuster and packing the Supreme Court raise fresh questions about how durable his centrism and institutionalism will be once under pressure from his left flank on Capitol Hill .
Biden won the Democratic primaries by ignoring the online Left and steamrolling the progressive supporters of socialist Bernie Sanders .
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , the New York Democratic congresswoman who has become a liberal sensation , played a smaller role in the convention that nominated him than longtime Republicans like John Kasich .
The former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a threat to his campaign by traveling to Kenosha , Wisconsin , denouncing the violence , and distancing himself from defunding the police .
“ I am the Democratic Party right now , ” Biden insisted in his first debate with President Trump .
“ The platform of the Democratic Party is what , I , in fact , approved of.
” His running mate , Kamala Harris , the California Democrat who was rated the most liberal senator in 2019 , tried the same approach in her debate with Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden would ban fracking or raise taxes on anyone making less than $ 400,000 a year , even though some believe the Biden-Sanders `` unity plan '' will force such changes and despite the policy preferences of some Democrats .
But Biden has suggested his position on nuking the Senate filibuster , which requires a supermajority to end debate and pass most legislation , would be contingent on how much Republicans used the procedural move to block his agenda , after opposing the idea as recently as February .
`` It 's going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Biden told reporters over the summer .
“ But I think you ’ re going to just have to take a look at it . ''
While Biden and Harris have steadfastly refused to answer questions about expanding the Supreme Court to appoint more liberal justices to counteract conservative Trump nominees , the former vice president has suggested Republican behavior might influence his position there too .
“ I have not been a fan of court-packing , ” Biden said in his town hall appearance last week , but it “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
Senate Republicans , the “ they ” in Biden ’ s sentence , have said they will move forward with a vote on Barrett ’ s confirmation to the Supreme Court Monday .
This strongly suggests that if Democrats had the votes to pass court-packing legislation , Biden would sign it into law .
A recent Washington Examiner/YouGov poll little public support for the proposal .
Biden ’ s feint toward court-packing follows reversals of other longstanding positions that have fallen out of favor with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for the Hyde Amendment , which bans most taxpayer funding of abortion .
Biden has come out in favor of its repeal .
This raises the question of what Biden will do on other issues where he has not taken the most liberal position , such as `` Medicare for all '' or the `` Green New Deal , '' but where many Democrats in Congress are far to the left .
Congressional Democrats are likely to be outraged by Barrett ’ s confirmation , especially if it results in a reliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely expected .
“ Biden is not strong enough to be a centrist anymore , ” said Republican strategist John Feehery .
“ If he becomes president , which I doubt , he won ’ t confront the progressives , he will capitulate to them.
” Trump has repeatedly argued that Biden , who will turn 78 soon after the election , will allow the Sanders supporters he beat in the primaries to do the heavy lifting in government .
“ It belies the fact that they are a centrist ” if a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the former attorney general of Tennessee whose bipartisan group , Keep Nine , was founded before the presidential campaign or the Barrett nomination fight to oppose Supreme Court expansion .
He pointed to Franklin D. Roosevelt ’ s unsuccessful attempt to pack the court in 1937 as a warning to Biden .
“ FDR was as strong as he ’ d ever been , ” Summers said .
“ It diluted his support from his party , and it increased his opposition from the opposite party , and it failed miserably .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevertheless , some Democrats think it would be a huge missed opportunity not to enact the liberal agenda if Biden is elected alongside a Democratic Senate .
“ Biden is right to not answer these questions and keep his options open , ” said a Democratic strategist .
“ Just like Trump won ’ t say what he ’ ll do if Roe v. Wade is overturned .
”

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s new openness to liberal priorities such as eliminating the legislative filibuster and packing the Supreme Court raise fresh questions about how durable his centrism and institutionalism will be once under pressure from his left flank on Capitol Hill.
Biden won the Democratic primaries by ignoring the online Left and steamrolling the progressive supporters of socialist Bernie Sanders. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Democratic congresswoman who has become a liberal sensation, played a smaller role in the convention that nominated him than longtime Republicans like John Kasich. The former vice president weathered riots that once appeared to be a threat to his campaign by traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, denouncing the violence, and distancing himself from defunding the police.
“I am the Democratic Party right now,” Biden insisted in his first debate with President Trump. “The platform of the Democratic Party is what, I, in fact, approved of.” His running mate, Kamala Harris, the California Democrat who was rated the most liberal senator in 2019, tried the same approach in her debate with Vice President Mike Pence. She repeatedly denied Biden would ban fracking or raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year, even though some believe the Biden-Sanders "unity plan" will force such changes and despite the policy preferences of some Democrats.
But Biden has suggested his position on nuking the Senate filibuster, which requires a supermajority to end debate and pass most legislation, would be contingent on how much Republicans used the procedural move to block his agenda, after opposing the idea as recently as February.
"It's going to depend on how obstreperous they become,” Biden told reporters over the summer. “But I think you’re going to just have to take a look at it."
While Biden and Harris have steadfastly refused to answer questions about expanding the Supreme Court to appoint more liberal justices to counteract conservative Trump nominees, the former vice president has suggested Republican behavior might influence his position there too. “I have not been a fan of court-packing,” Biden said in his town hall appearance last week, but it “depends on how much they rush” the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Senate Republicans, the “they” in Biden’s sentence, have said they will move forward with a vote on Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court Monday. This strongly suggests that if Democrats had the votes to pass court-packing legislation, Biden would sign it into law. A recent Washington Examiner/YouGov poll found little public support for the proposal.
Biden’s feint toward court-packing follows reversals of other longstanding positions that have fallen out of favor with the Left, such as his erstwhile support for the Hyde Amendment, which bans most taxpayer funding of abortion. Biden has come out in favor of its repeal.
This raises the question of what Biden will do on other issues where he has not taken the most liberal position, such as "Medicare for all" or the "Green New Deal," but where many Democrats in Congress are far to the left. Congressional Democrats are likely to be outraged by Barrett’s confirmation, especially if it results in a reliable 6-3 conservative Supreme Court majority, as widely expected.
“Biden is not strong enough to be a centrist anymore,” said Republican strategist John Feehery. “If he becomes president, which I doubt, he won’t confront the progressives, he will capitulate to them.”
Trump has repeatedly argued that Biden, who will turn 78 soon after the election, will allow the Sanders supporters he beat in the primaries to do the heavy lifting in government.
“It belies the fact that they are a centrist” if a candidate supports court-packing, said Paul Summers, the former attorney general of Tennessee whose bipartisan group, Keep Nine, was founded before the presidential campaign or the Barrett nomination fight to oppose Supreme Court expansion. He pointed to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unsuccessful attempt to pack the court in 1937 as a warning to Biden.
“FDR was as strong as he’d ever been,” Summers said. “It diluted his support from his party, and it increased his opposition from the opposite party, and it failed miserably. It hasn't been tried since.”
Nevertheless, some Democrats think it would be a huge missed opportunity not to enact the liberal agenda if Biden is elected alongside a Democratic Senate. “Biden is right to not answer these questions and keep his options open,” said a Democratic strategist. “Just like Trump won’t say what he’ll do if Roe v. Wade is overturned.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Democrats 'scarred' by 2016 election fear a late Trump surge

Democratic insiders are plagued by a nagging case of political PTSD as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden carries a lead into the final two weeks of a hard-fought White House campaign , confident in their party ’ s nominee but afraid to count President Trump out after the unlikely comeback he pulled off four years ago .
Logically , Democrats look at Biden ’ s position relative to Trump and are heartened .
The former vice president leads the incumbent by 8.6 percentage points nationally .
He tops Trump in key Rust Belt battlegrounds , is on offense in traditionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa and Ohio — states the president won big in 2016 .
Compared to Hillary Clinton , the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee , Biden is overperforming with key voting blocs that could decide the election .
But Democrats have been here before .
Four years ago , Trump erased Clinton ’ s significant leads in Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin in the final 10 days of the campaign and won a dogfight in Florida to score a sizable Electoral College victory .
Democratic strategists believe the polling data .
But “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise optimistic party insider put it , Democrats are bracing for the possibility that the race could tighten , either naturally or because of surprise developments .
“ Every Democrat working in politics was traumatized by 2016 , ” said Meredith Kelly , a communications operative who worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018 , when Democrats captured the House majority .
“ But Trump ’ s win also taught us lessons on messaging , polling strategies , and smarter places and ways to spend our money.
” Beyond making strategic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rests on two assumptions : Biden is a stronger candidate than Clinton , and Trump ’ s antics , an advantage as a challenger four years ago , have worn thin with voters as an incumbent leading amid the coronavirus crisis .
Democrats also feel better about the broader political environment than they did in 2016 .
In 2016 , Republicans were running strong down the ballot and improving their position as Election Day neared .
This year , 14 days from the election and with heavy early and absentee voting , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republican insiders are worried about losing the Senate majority and shedding more House seats .
Some Democrats say that , try as they might , they can not find any serious obstacles between Biden and victory over Trump .
Yet the overriding emotion among many Democratic strategists is “ dread.
” “ We are indeed climbing the walls right now , ” a Democratic operative said .
“ Sure , the odds are good .
But you won ’ t convince us to focus on the odds instead of the threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Democrats to be jittery .
Despite Biden ’ s 8.6-point lead in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls , his advantage over Trump in critical battleground states has tightened to 3.9 points .
Meanwhile , Democratic strategists concede that they can not rule out Trump drawing more white people without a college degree to the polls than he did in 2016 .
They also remain concerned about both the president ’ s voter turnout operation and their party ’ s shrinking voter registration edge over the GOP in states such as Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes for worry .
Democrats are voting overwhelmingly via mail-in ballots to avoid the risk of becoming infected by the coronavirus when voting in person .
If large numbers of mail-in ballots are thrown out due to technicalities or because they were filled out improperly , that could affect Biden ’ s vote total .
Trump constantly casts aspersions on mail-in ballots , and most Republican voters are expected to vote in person on Election Day .
Those are “ things that cause me to sleep with one eye open at night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party .
He , like other Democrats , is otherwise optimistic about Biden ’ s chances .
Some Democrats are more bullish on a Biden victory , pondering only how big of a rebuke Trump is poised to suffer on Nov. 3 .
On Friday , Markos Moulitsas , founder of the Daily Kos , a blog website popular with grassroots liberals , penned a lengthy post explaining why Biden was in great shape .
“ The lesson here ?
We ’ re winning , ” Moulitsas wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough that we can actually accomplish systemic political change .
That ’ s awesome .
It ’ s motivating .
Let ’ s get it done !
”

Democratic insiders are plagued by a nagging case of political PTSD as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden carries a lead into the final two weeks of a hard-fought White House campaign, confident in their party’s nominee but afraid to count President Trump out after the unlikely comeback he pulled off four years ago.
Logically, Democrats look at Biden’s position relative to Trump and are heartened. The former vice president leads the incumbent by 8.6 percentage points nationally. He tops Trump in key Rust Belt battlegrounds, is on offense in traditionally red Arizona and Georgia, and threatens in Iowa and Ohio — states the president won big in 2016. Compared to Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, Biden is overperforming with key voting blocs that could decide the election.
But Democrats have been here before. Four years ago, Trump erased Clinton’s significant leads in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the final 10 days of the campaign and won a dogfight in Florida to score a sizable Electoral College victory.
Democratic strategists believe the polling data. But “scarred by 2016,” as one otherwise optimistic party insider put it, Democrats are bracing for the possibility that the race could tighten, either naturally or because of surprise developments.
“Every Democrat working in politics was traumatized by 2016,” said Meredith Kelly, a communications operative who worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018, when Democrats captured the House majority. “But Trump’s win also taught us lessons on messaging, polling strategies, and smarter places and ways to spend our money.”
Beyond making strategic adjustments, the Democrats’ cautious confidence rests on two assumptions: Biden is a stronger candidate than Clinton, and Trump’s antics, an advantage as a challenger four years ago, have worn thin with voters as an incumbent leading amid the coronavirus crisis. Democrats also feel better about the broader political environment than they did in 2016.
In 2016, Republicans were running strong down the ballot and improving their position as Election Day neared. This year, 14 days from the election and with heavy early and absentee voting, the polling for GOP congressional candidates is precarious. Republican insiders are worried about losing the Senate majority and shedding more House seats. Some Democrats say that, try as they might, they cannot find any serious obstacles between Biden and victory over Trump.
Yet the overriding emotion among many Democratic strategists is “dread.”
“We are indeed climbing the walls right now,” a Democratic operative said. “Sure, the odds are good. But you won’t convince us to focus on the odds instead of the threat of doom.”
However, there are reasons for Democrats to be jittery.
Despite Biden’s 8.6-point lead in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls, his advantage over Trump in critical battleground states has tightened to 3.9 points. Meanwhile, Democratic strategists concede that they cannot rule out Trump drawing more white people without a college degree to the polls than he did in 2016. They also remain concerned about both the president’s voter turnout operation and their party’s shrinking voter registration edge over the GOP in states such as Florida and Pennsylvania.
Mail-in ballots also are causes for worry. Democrats are voting overwhelmingly via mail-in ballots to avoid the risk of becoming infected by the coronavirus when voting in person. If large numbers of mail-in ballots are thrown out due to technicalities or because they were filled out improperly, that could affect Biden’s vote total. Trump constantly casts aspersions on mail-in ballots, and most Republican voters are expected to vote in person on Election Day.
Those are “things that cause me to sleep with one eye open at night,” said T.J. Rooney, the former chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. He, like other Democrats, is otherwise optimistic about Biden’s chances.
Some Democrats are more bullish on a Biden victory, pondering only how big of a rebuke Trump is poised to suffer on Nov. 3. On Friday, Markos Moulitsas, founder of the Daily Kos, a blog website popular with grassroots liberals, penned a lengthy post explaining why Biden was in great shape.
“The lesson here? We’re winning,” Moulitsas wrote. “We’re winning big enough that we can actually accomplish systemic political change. That’s awesome. It’s motivating. Let’s get it done!”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Trump and Biden must answer critical budget questions

With the final of just two presidential debates fast approaching , President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are running out of opportunities to explain their vision for 2021 and beyond .
While the COVID-19 crisis and other issues will be a focus , Trump and Biden should also present their long-term plans — specifically , how to manage our nation ’ s risky fiscal outlook .
The national debt will hit a new record during the next presidential term .
Meanwhile , four of the country ’ s major trust funds , including Social Security , are projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
While addressing the pandemic remains the top priority and that will require more borrowing , whoever takes office in 2021 will need a plan to address these serious fiscal challenges once the economy is strong enough .
Unfortunately , as of right now , neither candidate has a plan to bring the trust funds into balance or get the debt onto a sustainable trajectory .
In fact , when we scored the Trump and Biden campaign agendas , we found that both would add approximately $ 5 trillion to the debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final debate can serve as a platform to have the candidates finally answer these two important questions .
First , the national debt just exceeded the size of the economy for the first time since World War II and will reach record levels during the next presidential term .
Without intervention , the debt could reach a staggering by 2050 .
Once we are out of this recession , what specific actions would Trump and Biden take to bring the debt back down to manageable levels ?
Even though our debt has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , the policy agendas from both the Biden and Trump campaigns in their current forms would make an unsustainable situation even worse .
Although the Biden campaign has responsibly proposed $ 5.8 trillion of tax increases and other savings , his campaign plan includes a staggering $ 11.1 trillion of spending increases and tax cuts .
This would push the national debt to 127 % of GDP by 2030 , well over the current projection of 109 % .
Biden ’ s commitment not to raise taxes on those making below $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly impossible to find enough money to fill in the gap .
Trump has the same problems , different design .
The campaign hasn ’ t released a formal policy agenda but has published a broad that includes a more modest amount of spending increases and tax cuts ( $ 5.45 trillion ) but far fewer offsets ( $ 750 billion ) .
The Trump campaign agenda would raise the debt-to-GDP ratio to 125 % by 2030 .
And given that Trump cut taxes and grew spending in every major area of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has demonstrated that fiscal responsibility is not high on his priority list .
Given what ’ s at stake , the lack of a clear plan isn ’ t acceptable .
Even before the crisis , debt was headed to levels that could lead to lower incomes and slower economic growth .
It ’ s well past time for lawmakers and the next administration to take the debt seriously and stop passing off the bills to the next generation .
Second question : As Social Security ’ s own trustees warn every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sufficient funds to pay promised benefits .
The Congressional Budget Office projects Social Security ’ s trust fund will run out in just 11 years , at which point the law calls for an immediate across-the-board cut of roughly 25 % for all recipients .
What do Trump and Biden think we should do to restore solvency to the program ?
We do n't want to know what they would not do or choices they would avoid ; we want them to tell us what actions they would take to fix it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust fund was projected to exhaust its reserves by 2035 .
Because of the economic downturn , that date has moved up to 2031 .
That means someone retiring this year at 62-years-old could see their benefits cut by about 25 % when they turn 73 .
As with the debt , the grim outlook for Social Security has not yet prompted either candidate to offer a solution that would fully address Social Security ’ s long-term finances .
Currently , payroll taxes for Social Security are capped at $ 137,700 in annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for applying the tax to incomes above $ 400,000 .
This additional revenue could be used to close about 60 % of the program ’ s financial gap .
But instead , the Biden campaign has proposed using about half of this revenue to expand Social Security benefits , leaving the core problem of insolvency unaddressed .
Trump has maintained that he will not touch Social Security retirement benefits , but this pledge does nothing to secure Social Security ’ s future .
On both the debt and Social Security , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could propose .
They involve difficult trade-offs , but they ’ re choices we must make to avoid leaving future generations with an untenable fiscal mess .
Whatever combination of new revenue and reduced costs the candidates are willing to support , they should offer up a plan for fiscal responsibility sooner rather than later .
The longer we wait , the more painful and drastic of a fiscal correction will be required .
Maya MacGuineas ( @ MayaMacGuineas ) is the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget .

With the final of just two presidential debates fast approaching, President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are running out of opportunities to explain their vision for 2021 and beyond. While the COVID-19 crisis and other issues will be a focus, Trump and Biden should also present their long-term plans — specifically, how to manage our nation’s risky fiscal outlook.
The national debt will hit a new record during the next presidential term. Meanwhile, four of the country’s major trust funds, including Social Security, are projected to be insolvent in the next 11 years. While addressing the pandemic remains the top priority and that will require more borrowing, whoever takes office in 2021 will need a plan to address these serious fiscal challenges once the economy is strong enough.
Unfortunately, as of right now, neither candidate has a plan to bring the trust funds into balance or get the debt onto a sustainable trajectory. In fact, when we scored the Trump and Biden campaign agendas , we found that both would add approximately $5 trillion to the debt over a 10-year period. Hopefully, the final debate can serve as a platform to have the candidates finally answer these two important questions.
First, the national debt just exceeded the size of the economy for the first time since World War II and will reach record levels during the next presidential term. Without intervention, the debt could reach a staggering 195% of GDP by 2050. Once we are out of this recession, what specific actions would Trump and Biden take to bring the debt back down to manageable levels?
Even though our debt has been headed toward unprecedented territory for some time, the policy agendas from both the Biden and Trump campaigns in their current forms would make an unsustainable situation even worse.
Although the Biden campaign has responsibly proposed $5.8 trillion of tax increases and other savings, his campaign plan includes a staggering $11.1 trillion of spending increases and tax cuts. This would push the national debt to 127% of GDP by 2030, well over the current projection of 109%. Biden’s commitment not to raise taxes on those making below $400,000 annually means that it will be nearly impossible to find enough money to fill in the gap.
Trump has the same problems, different design. The campaign hasn’t released a formal policy agenda but has published a broad 54-point agenda that includes a more modest amount of spending increases and tax cuts ($5.45 trillion) but far fewer offsets ($750 billion). The Trump campaign agenda would raise the debt-to-GDP ratio to 125% by 2030. And given that Trump cut taxes and grew spending in every major area of the budget when the economy was strong, he has demonstrated that fiscal responsibility is not high on his priority list.
Given what’s at stake, the lack of a clear plan isn’t acceptable. Even before the crisis, debt was headed to levels that could lead to lower incomes and slower economic growth. It’s well past time for lawmakers and the next administration to take the debt seriously and stop passing off the bills to the next generation.
Second question: As Social Security’s own trustees warn every year, the program does not have sufficient funds to pay promised benefits. The Congressional Budget Office projects Social Security’s trust fund will run out in just 11 years, at which point the law calls for an immediate across-the-board cut of roughly 25% for all recipients. What do Trump and Biden think we should do to restore solvency to the program? We don't want to know what they would not do or choices they would avoid; we want them to tell us what actions they would take to fix it.
Before the pandemic, the Social Security trust fund was projected to exhaust its reserves by 2035. Because of the economic downturn, that date has moved up to 2031 . That means someone retiring this year at 62-years-old could see their benefits cut by about 25% when they turn 73.
As with the debt, the grim outlook for Social Security has not yet prompted either candidate to offer a solution that would fully address Social Security’s long-term finances.
Currently, payroll taxes for Social Security are capped at $137,700 in annual income. Biden’s tax plan calls for applying the tax to incomes above $400,000. This additional revenue could be used to close about 60% of the program’s financial gap. But instead, the Biden campaign has proposed using about half of this revenue to expand Social Security benefits, leaving the core problem of insolvency unaddressed.
Trump has maintained that he will not touch Social Security retirement benefits, but this pledge does nothing to secure Social Security’s future.
On both the debt and Social Security, there are plenty of reform options the candidates could propose. They involve difficult trade-offs, but they’re choices we must make to avoid leaving future generations with an untenable fiscal mess. Whatever combination of new revenue and reduced costs the candidates are willing to support, they should offer up a plan for fiscal responsibility sooner rather than later. The longer we wait, the more painful and drastic of a fiscal correction will be required.
Maya MacGuineas (@MayaMacGuineas) is the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--EXCLUSIVE: Allegations Hunter Biden stored child pornography on laptop sent to FBI

Allegations that Hunter Biden stored photos of child pornography on his laptop computer have been forwarded to the FBI for investigation , the Washington Examiner has learned .
In an interview at the Trump Hotel in Washington , D.C. , Tuesday evening , Rudy Giuliani , President Trump 's personal attorney , said Hunter Biden , son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , engaged for years in potentially criminal sexual behavior , while Biden family members knew about it and tried to stop him .
The Washington Examiner did not see any such photographs and has not confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of his allegations .
The former mayor of New York did , however , show the Washington Examiner sexually explicit photographs on a laptop , which appeared to be of Hunter Biden and various adult women .
“ The underage stuff has been given to the police .
Let them decide .
Let ’ s see what they ’ re going to do with it , ” Giuliani said , adding , “ we went there in person.
” Former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik , who was also interviewed , said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a lieutenant , saying , “ We made an investigative referral ... We took a bunch of photos — handed it to them .
We took emails — handed it to them .
Then we explained what we found , when we found it , how we found it , how we came into possession of the hard drive.
” Giuliani added : “ I told them that they have to make a determination of what it is .
You ’ re the cops — I ’ m not .
… We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive .
They have everything … We have a tape recording of it .
They recorded me .
I recorded them.
” Officer Grigori Lopez-Garcia , a public information officer with the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware , declined to answer the Washington Examiner ’ s specific questions Wednesday morning , saying only : “ I can direct you to the Delaware Department of Justice ” and that “ the [ Delaware ] Department of Justice can better answer all of your questions on that incident.
” Mat Marshall , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that the New Castle County Police Department had brought Giuliani ’ s allegations to the attention of the state attorney general and that it had jointly decided to refer the claims and the copy of the hard drive to the FBI instead of investigating it itself .
“ To kind of get to the heart of your question , yes , Mr. Giuliani came into New Castle County PD … So , Mr. Giuliani came in , I don ’ t know exactly what time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , into New Castle County PD .
He had a copy of a hard drive that he claimed was from Hunter Biden ’ s laptop and was asking New Castle County police to investigate .
They called us , and we reached a joint decision to refer this to the FBI , given ongoing questions about the credibility and the veracity of Mr. Giuliani ’ s claims in the matter.
” When asked why the local police or state attorney general ’ s office wouldn ’ t look into the claims themselves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing I can really comment on the particulars as to what is or is not on the hard drive ” but that , in his view , “ referring it to the FBI is not doing nothing.
” Marshall said : “ In Delaware , we frequently deal with child endangerment cases and take them very seriously , and there is nothing in the handling of this case that deviates from that.
” He did not comment on the specific allegations made by Giuliani .
“ Whatever is sort of happening with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI , ” Marshall said .
“ I can tell you that the [ Delaware ] DOJ is not investigating Mr. Biden , never has been , and that we ’ re not in possession of — and I don ’ t know if it was on another thumb drive or if it was actually another hard drive , whatever , but we ’ re not in possession of whatever it was that Mr. Giuliani brought into New Castle County PD .
The FBI has it .
I can confirm to you that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in Delaware , the attorney general has “ all of the prosecutorial authority for the state , ” including “ criminal jurisdiction , which is why the police would normally call us , really in any situation where someone came forward to them believing that either a crime had occurred or trying to report anything.
” Despite this broad criminal authority , he said that no investigators in Delaware are looking into Giuliani ’ s allegations .
“ There is nobody in Delaware at a state or local level who is investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ All of this has been referred over to the FBI , given that our understanding from multiple news reports is that they have ongoing investigations regarding the veracity of this entire story.
” Marshall later added that he was not aware of any official police report ever filed and reiterated that he believed the case was under the jurisdiction of the FBI .
The FBI told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday : “ We have no comment , in keeping with our standard practice of neither confirming nor denying the existence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that the Justice Department and FBI agreed with John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence , that there was no indication that the contents of the laptop were Russian disinformation , which has been suggested .
A senior intelligence official emphasized , “ There is absolutely zero evidence or intel that the laptop or the information contained therein is a Russian op.
” John Paul Mac Isaac , the computer repair shop owner who came into possession of the younger Biden 's computer and hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he made a copy of the hard drive and provided it to a lawyer for Giuliani as well as to federal investigators .
Giuliani was a staunch defender of Trump throughout the impeachment process and worked with numerous sources inside the United States and abroad , including Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach , to push allegations that Joe Biden had abused his power in Ukraine .
Bill Evanina , who leads the National Counterintelligence and Security Center , released an intelligence assessment in early August warning that Russia is “ using a range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , and that Derkach `` is spreading claims about corruption — including through publicizing leaked phone calls — to undermine '' the former vice president .
The Treasury Department announced sanctions against Derkach this summer , but there is no evidence that the leaked emails from Hunter Biden were connected to Derkach or Russia , and the nation ’ s spy chief and a federal law enforcement official have both denied that it is Kremlin disinformation .
So far , neither the Biden campaign nor Hunter Biden has denied the veracity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laptop , though the elder Biden has called it part of a `` smear campaign . ''
Hunter Biden 's lawyer did not respond to the Washington Examiner 's request for comment about Giuliani 's allegations .

Allegations that Hunter Biden stored photos of child pornography on his laptop computer have been forwarded to the FBI for investigation, the Washington Examiner has learned.
In an interview at the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C., Tuesday evening, Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's personal attorney, said Hunter Biden, son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, engaged for years in potentially criminal sexual behavior, while Biden family members knew about it and tried to stop him.
The Washington Examiner did not see any such photographs and has not confirmed that they exist. Giuliani did not provide evidence of his allegations. The former mayor of New York did, however, show the Washington Examiner sexually explicit photographs on a laptop, which appeared to be of Hunter Biden and various adult women.
“The underage stuff has been given to the police. Let them decide. Let’s see what they’re going to do with it,” Giuliani said, adding, “we went there in person.”
Former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik, who was also interviewed, said he and Giuliani spoke with a police captain and a lieutenant, saying, “We made an investigative referral ... We took a bunch of photos — handed it to them. We took emails — handed it to them. Then we explained what we found, when we found it, how we found it, how we came into possession of the hard drive.”
Giuliani added: “I told them that they have to make a determination of what it is. You’re the cops — I’m not. … We gave them a copy of the hard drive. They have everything … We have a tape recording of it. They recorded me. I recorded them.”
In this Aug. 1, 2018 file photo, Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Donald Trump, speaks in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Grigori Lopez-Garcia, a public information officer with the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware, declined to answer the Washington Examiner’s specific questions Wednesday morning, saying only: “I can direct you to the Delaware Department of Justice” and that “the [Delaware] Department of Justice can better answer all of your questions on that incident.”
Mat Marshall, a spokesman for Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that the New Castle County Police Department had brought Giuliani’s allegations to the attention of the state attorney general and that it had jointly decided to refer the claims and the copy of the hard drive to the FBI instead of investigating it itself.
“To kind of get to the heart of your question, yes, Mr. Giuliani came into New Castle County PD … So, Mr. Giuliani came in, I don’t know exactly what time, but I know it was on Monday, into New Castle County PD. He had a copy of a hard drive that he claimed was from Hunter Biden’s laptop and was asking New Castle County police to investigate. They called us, and we reached a joint decision to refer this to the FBI, given ongoing questions about the credibility and the veracity of Mr. Giuliani’s claims in the matter.”
When asked why the local police or state attorney general’s office wouldn’t look into the claims themselves, Marshall said that “there’s nothing I can really comment on the particulars as to what is or is not on the hard drive” but that, in his view, “referring it to the FBI is not doing nothing.”
Marshall said: “In Delaware, we frequently deal with child endangerment cases and take them very seriously, and there is nothing in the handling of this case that deviates from that.” He did not comment on the specific allegations made by Giuliani.
“Whatever is sort of happening with this from this point forward is with the FBI,” Marshall said. “I can tell you that the [Delaware] DOJ is not investigating Mr. Biden, never has been, and that we’re not in possession of — and I don’t know if it was on another thumb drive or if it was actually another hard drive, whatever, but we’re not in possession of whatever it was that Mr. Giuliani brought into New Castle County PD. The FBI has it. I can confirm to you that the FBI has it.”
Marshall emphasized that in Delaware, the attorney general has “all of the prosecutorial authority for the state,” including “criminal jurisdiction, which is why the police would normally call us, really in any situation where someone came forward to them believing that either a crime had occurred or trying to report anything.” Despite this broad criminal authority, he said that no investigators in Delaware are looking into Giuliani’s allegations.
“There is nobody in Delaware at a state or local level who is investigating right now,” Marshall said. “All of this has been referred over to the FBI, given that our understanding from multiple news reports is that they have ongoing investigations regarding the veracity of this entire story.”
Marshall later added that he was not aware of any official police report ever filed and reiterated that he believed the case was under the jurisdiction of the FBI.
The FBI told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday: “We have no comment, in keeping with our standard practice of neither confirming nor denying the existence of an investigation.”
A federal law enforcement official told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that the Justice Department and FBI agreed with John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, that there was no indication that the contents of the laptop were Russian disinformation, which has been suggested. A senior intelligence official emphasized, “There is absolutely zero evidence or intel that the laptop or the information contained therein is a Russian op.”
John Paul Mac Isaac, the computer repair shop owner who came into possession of the younger Biden's computer and hard drive, told the New York Post that he made a copy of the hard drive and provided it to a lawyer for Giuliani as well as to federal investigators.
Giuliani was a staunch defender of Trump throughout the impeachment process and worked with numerous sources inside the United States and abroad, including Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach, to push allegations that Joe Biden had abused his power in Ukraine.
Bill Evanina, who leads the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, released an intelligence assessment in early August warning that Russia is “using a range of measures to primarily denigrate” Joe Biden, and that Derkach "is spreading claims about corruption — including through publicizing leaked phone calls — to undermine" the former vice president. The Treasury Department announced sanctions against Derkach this summer, but there is no evidence that the leaked emails from Hunter Biden were connected to Derkach or Russia, and the nation’s spy chief and a federal law enforcement official have both denied that it is Kremlin disinformation.
So far, neither the Biden campaign nor Hunter Biden has denied the veracity of any of the alleged emails on the laptop, though the elder Biden has called it part of a "smear campaign." Hunter Biden's lawyer did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment about Giuliani's allegations.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--GOP donors on Wall Street abandoning Trump: Report

Many wealthy Wall Street executives who contributed to President Trump 's 2016 campaign have closed their checkbooks to the incumbent , choosing instead to contribute to vulnerable Republican congressional candidates .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden entered October with $ 432 million to spend during the final month of the campaign , far ahead of the $ 251.4 million available to Trump .
Similarly , Republican super PACs are being outspent by their Democratic counterparts .
One reason could be the drop-off in donations from Republican donors who work in finance .
Four years ago , they contributed $ 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various outside groups working to elect him .
This time around , these Republican financiers have given just $ 13 million to entities dedicated to helping Trump win a second term , according to figures provided to CNBC by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
Contributions instead have flowed to Republicans running for the House and the Senate who are in danger of being swamped by a fundraising tsunami fueled by enthusiastic grassroots Democrats .
“ Wall Street craves policy , predictability , and strong government institutions .
Trump has delivered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Streeters the excuse they needed to move , ” said a GOP operative who advises an ex-Trump donor who works in finance , according to a report by CNBC 's Brian Schwartz .
Wall Street was thrilled with the $ 1.3 trillion tax overhaul Trump signed into law in late 2017 .
But it had soured on his disruptive style of leadership , and people were particularly unhappy with his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Some have been discouraged from giving because of concerns that the Trump campaign has mismanaged its books @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finance industry to the president has extended to Republican donors who helped fund his inauguration festivities .
`` Many of the people who donated to his inaugural committee have disappeared from the fundraising scene , '' CNBC reported .
Biden is pledging to raise taxes on people earning more than $ 400,000 per year and on corporations .
But the former vice president is nonetheless raising big money from Wall Street donors .
The prospect is appealing , in their view , that a Biden presidency would be more predictable and stable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his associated political committees raised $ 4 million from finance executives .
Overall , the Biden campaign and outside groups supporting the Democratic nominee have received more than $ 50 million from donors working in finance .

Many wealthy Wall Street executives who contributed to President Trump's 2016 campaign have closed their checkbooks to the incumbent, choosing instead to contribute to vulnerable Republican congressional candidates.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden entered October with $432 million to spend during the final month of the campaign, far ahead of the $251.4 million available to Trump. Similarly, Republican super PACs are being outspent by their Democratic counterparts. One reason could be the drop-off in donations from Republican donors who work in finance.
Four years ago, they contributed $20 million to the president's campaign and various outside groups working to elect him. This time around, these Republican financiers have given just $13 million to entities dedicated to helping Trump win a second term, according to figures provided to CNBC by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Contributions instead have flowed to Republicans running for the House and the Senate who are in danger of being swamped by a fundraising tsunami fueled by enthusiastic grassroots Democrats.
“Wall Street craves policy, predictability, and strong government institutions. Trump has delivered the opposite. The COVID crisis gave Wall Streeters the excuse they needed to move,” said a GOP operative who advises an ex-Trump donor who works in finance, according to a report by CNBC's Brian Schwartz.
Wall Street was thrilled with the $1.3 trillion tax overhaul Trump signed into law in late 2017. But it had soured on his disruptive style of leadership, and people were particularly unhappy with his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Some have been discouraged from giving because of concerns that the Trump campaign has mismanaged its books. The reduction in contributions by the finance industry to the president has extended to Republican donors who helped fund his inauguration festivities.
"Many of the people who donated to his inaugural committee have disappeared from the fundraising scene," CNBC reported.
Biden is pledging to raise taxes on people earning more than $400,000 per year and on corporations. But the former vice president is nonetheless raising big money from Wall Street donors. The prospect is appealing, in their view, that a Biden presidency would be more predictable and stable. In the third quarter, Biden and his associated political committees raised $4 million from finance executives.
Overall, the Biden campaign and outside groups supporting the Democratic nominee have received more than $50 million from donors working in finance.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Biden now trusted over Trump on economic issues, polling shows

Joe Biden is more trusted on economic issues than President Trump , a poll released Wednesday shows .
Another poll from this week also showed that for the first time in many months , more people said Trump 's economic policies have hurt the economy rather than helped .
A new Politico/Morning Consult poll Wednesday shows Biden holds a 45 % to 44 % edge regarding who people trust to handle the economy .
Furthermore , a Financial Times-Peterson Foundation poll from Tuesday found 46 % of people said Trump 's economic policies have hurt the economy , versus 44 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The same poll also showed that a majority of voters , 68 % , said that they are financially worse off or the same since Trump became president , tying a 12-month high .
For much of his presidency , Trump has had higher approval ratings on economic issues than on his overall performance and has made his argument for economic growth a cornerstone of his appeal to voters .
The coronavirus-induced economic recession , with millions unemployed and businesses nationwide struggling , has made it more difficult to make this argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it doesn ’ t see the virus or the economic struggles as a significant roadblock to his reelection .
The campaign has also said it does not place much stock within most national polls taken — besides polls the campaign has conducted itself .

Joe Biden is more trusted on economic issues than President Trump, a poll released Wednesday shows.
Another poll from this week also showed that for the first time in many months, more people said Trump's economic policies have hurt the economy rather than helped.
A new Politico/Morning Consult poll Wednesday shows Biden holds a 45% to 44% edge regarding who people trust to handle the economy. Furthermore, a Financial Times-Peterson Foundation poll from Tuesday found 46% of people said Trump's economic policies have hurt the economy, versus 44% who said his policies have helped. The same poll also showed that a majority of voters, 68%, said that they are financially worse off or the same since Trump became president, tying a 12-month high.
For much of his presidency, Trump has had higher approval ratings on economic issues than on his overall performance and has made his argument for economic growth a cornerstone of his appeal to voters. The coronavirus-induced economic recession, with millions unemployed and businesses nationwide struggling, has made it more difficult to make this argument.
Trump’s campaign has said that it doesn’t see the virus or the economic struggles as a significant roadblock to his reelection. The campaign has also said it does not place much stock within most national polls taken — besides polls the campaign has conducted itself.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kidnap and execute Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

A Maryland man has been arrested after authorities said he threatened to torture and kill Joe Biden and Kamala Harris .
According to the federal affidavit released on Wednesday , James Dale Reed left a graphic and threatening letter at a Frederick , Maryland , home of someone with Biden campaign signs in their yard .
Investigators said Reed , 42 , was captured on a Ring door camera in the early morning hours of Oct. 4 , allowing them to track him down and arrest him .
Part of the letter read , “ when we capture Grandpa Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point of death ” and threatened to sodomize Harris with a gun .
The writer then said that “ for the grand end both will be executed on national television.
” Reed also allegedly threatened homeowners who support the Democratic ticket .
“ This is a warning to anyone reading this letter if you are a Biden/Harris supporter you will be targeted .
We have a list of homes and addresses by your election signs .
We are the ones with those scary guns , we are the ones your children have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the affidavit , a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service said Reed initially denied writing the letter and appearing in the Ring door camera footage during an Oct. 13 interview .
Two days later , Reed reportedly admitted to drafting the missive and was arrested .
Robert Hur , U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland , said the Justice Department takes such threats “ extremely seriously ” and that they “ have no place in our democracy.
” “ The right to vote and peacefully support the candidate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hur said in a statement .
“ Conduct like this that threatens major candidates and fellow citizens only undermines our democracy and the principles upon which America was founded .
We will not tolerate threatening conduct that seeks to intimidate , harass or dissuade Americans from exercising their right to vote.
” Reed was charged with making threats against a major candidate for president or vice president and faces up to five years in prison if convicted .

A Maryland man has been arrested after authorities said he threatened to torture and kill Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
According to the federal affidavit released on Wednesday, James Dale Reed left a graphic and threatening letter at a Frederick, Maryland, home of someone with Biden campaign signs in their yard.
Investigators said Reed, 42, was captured on a Ring door camera in the early morning hours of Oct. 4, allowing them to track him down and arrest him. Part of the letter read, “when we capture Grandpa Biden we will all severely beat him to the point of death” and threatened to sodomize Harris with a gun. The writer then said that “for the grand end both will be executed on national television.”
Reed also allegedly threatened homeowners who support the Democratic ticket.
“This is a warning to anyone reading this letter if you are a Biden/Harris supporter you will be targeted. We have a list of homes and addresses by your election signs. We are the ones with those scary guns, we are the ones your children have nightmares about,” the letter read.
Door camera footage of the man who investigators say is James Reed. (Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland)
In the affidavit, a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service said Reed initially denied writing the letter and appearing in the Ring door camera footage during an Oct. 13 interview. Two days later, Reed reportedly admitted to drafting the missive and was arrested.
Robert Hur, U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, said the Justice Department takes such threats “extremely seriously” and that they “have no place in our democracy.”
“The right to vote and peacefully support the candidate of your choice are bedrocks of our democracy,” Hur said in a statement. “Conduct like this that threatens major candidates and fellow citizens only undermines our democracy and the principles upon which America was founded. We will not tolerate threatening conduct that seeks to intimidate, harass or dissuade Americans from exercising their right to vote.”
Reed was charged with making threats against a major candidate for president or vice president and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Campaign law blackouts limit political speech when public debate is needed the most

As the Senate nears a vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , not everyone is free to speak his or her mind about it .
That ’ s because groups that urge people to tell their senators to vote `` aye '' or `` nay '' are regulated like campaign entities , simply because of the luck of the calendar .
Senators can stop campaigning on a dime to cast their vote , but campaign finance laws can ’ t be put on pause .
Those laws regulate mass communications that merely name candidates in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since many elected officials are also candidates , the law throws a wrench into efforts to alert people about actions in Washington .
For most of the year , groups urge people to contact their legislators about important issues .
They ask you to ask them to confirm or reject judicial nominees , support or oppose legislation , or take up causes that are being ignored .
These are classic examples of free speech : people telling other people about what their government is doing and how they should respond .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , these sorts of messages are deemed “ electioneering communications ” when aired on television or radio and are regulated almost as strictly as full-blown campaign ads .
Groups that make “ electioneering communications ” must publicly report any donors who gave to fund the messages .
Worse , they must endure a permanent headache trying to stay on the right side of our notoriously complex campaign finance laws .
Even the late Justice Antonin Scalia once said that these laws are “ so intricate that I can ’ t figure it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PACs are accustomed to operating within this arcane system , but nonprofit organizations and smaller organizations aren ’ t .
The safest option for them is to stay silent during the two-month “ blackout ” period .
So , while voters hear a tremendous volume of speech about government leading up to Nov. 3 , they may not get much variety .
The law skews who we hear from , which in turn skews what we hear .
“ Electioneering communications ” laws forget that government doesn ’ t shut down when campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nomination of Barrett to the Supreme Court is just one example of important government action that can occur in the lead-up to an election .
In 2018 , almost the entire confirmation battle over Justice Brett Kavanaugh occurred during the blackout period .
The allegations of sexual misconduct , the heated confirmation hearings , and the Senate ’ s final vote all happened within two months of Election Day .
The law also imposes a shorter , one-month blackout period before primaries .
On top of that , some states have their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a patchwork of blackout periods across the country that makes it difficult to organize and speak during election years .
Rules designed for campaigns aren ’ t fit for all speech about government .
Campaign finance laws allow the government to regulate and monitor campaign activities as well as methods of organization and funding .
That would be draconian if applied to every group that speaks about politics .
It would silence key voices .
Therein lies the problem with such laws .
A prohibition against naming candidates near an election lets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a country that claims to value democracy , it should be unacceptable to burden speech when attention to government is at its peak .
Voices that are more concerned with our civic well-being than simply winning the next election might be just what we need during a bitter confirmation battle .
Yet , under our misguided campaign finance laws , they ’ re the last ones you ’ re likely to hear .
Luke Wachob is the communications director at the Institute for Free Speech in Washington , D.C .

As the Senate nears a vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, not everyone is free to speak his or her mind about it. That’s because groups that urge people to tell their senators to vote "aye" or "nay" are regulated like campaign entities, simply because of the luck of the calendar.
Senators can stop campaigning on a dime to cast their vote, but campaign finance laws can’t be put on pause. Those laws regulate mass communications that merely name candidates in the two months prior to the election. Since many elected officials are also candidates, the law throws a wrench into efforts to alert people about actions in Washington.
For most of the year, groups urge people to contact their legislators about important issues. They ask you to ask them to confirm or reject judicial nominees, support or oppose legislation, or take up causes that are being ignored. These are classic examples of free speech: people telling other people about what their government is doing and how they should respond.
In the two months before the election, however, these sorts of messages are deemed “electioneering communications” when aired on television or radio and are regulated almost as strictly as full-blown campaign ads. Groups that make “electioneering communications” must publicly report any donors who gave to fund the messages. Worse, they must endure a permanent headache trying to stay on the right side of our notoriously complex campaign finance laws.
Even the late Justice Antonin Scalia once said that these laws are “so intricate that I can’t figure it out.” Partisan groups and big super PACs are accustomed to operating within this arcane system, but nonprofit organizations and smaller organizations aren’t. The safest option for them is to stay silent during the two-month “blackout” period.
So, while voters hear a tremendous volume of speech about government leading up to Nov. 3, they may not get much variety. The law skews who we hear from, which in turn skews what we hear.
“Electioneering communications” laws forget that government doesn’t shut down when campaign season kicks in. This year’s nomination of Barrett to the Supreme Court is just one example of important government action that can occur in the lead-up to an election. In 2018, almost the entire confirmation battle over Justice Brett Kavanaugh occurred during the blackout period. The allegations of sexual misconduct, the heated confirmation hearings, and the Senate’s final vote all happened within two months of Election Day.
The law also imposes a shorter, one-month blackout period before primaries. On top of that, some states have their own electioneering communications laws. The result is a patchwork of blackout periods across the country that makes it difficult to organize and speak during election years.
Rules designed for campaigns aren’t fit for all speech about government. Campaign finance laws allow the government to regulate and monitor campaign activities as well as methods of organization and funding. That would be draconian if applied to every group that speaks about politics. It would silence key voices.
Therein lies the problem with such laws. A prohibition against naming candidates near an election lets politicians act without full public scrutiny. In a country that claims to value democracy, it should be unacceptable to burden speech when attention to government is at its peak.
Voices that are more concerned with our civic well-being than simply winning the next election might be just what we need during a bitter confirmation battle. Yet, under our misguided campaign finance laws, they’re the last ones you’re likely to hear.
Luke Wachob is the communications director at the Institute for Free Speech in Washington, D.C.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Debate moderator Kristen Welker slammed for bias — but are the allegations true?

NBC 's Kristen Welker has been accused of being a Democratic stooge and a biased reporter who is `` terrible '' at her job and will categorically be `` unfair '' to President Trump ahead of Thursday night 's debate .
The campaign of coordinated attacks against Welker by Trump and his allies is nothing new but has gotten increasingly nasty over the past few days .
Trump has mocked Welker 's voice and preemptively claimed the debate was rigged to favor his Democratic opponent , Joe Biden .
This is n't the first time Trump has called foul .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderator of the first debate , Fox News 's Chris Wallace , and the would-be moderator of the canceled second debate , Steve Scully .
Scully was subsequently suspended by C-SPAN last week after it emerged that he lied about his social media account being hacked with regards to an exchange with Anthony Scaramucci , the former White House communications director .
The goal of the newest attacks against Welker is clear : Discredit her before she even steps foot on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville , Tennessee , the site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Biden before Election Day .
But with so many accusations flying against Welker , what do voters actually know about the veteran White House correspondent and her ability to moderate the last debate fairly ?
The Washington Examiner takes a look at Welker 's past for clues .
Welker is the daughter of Harvey Welker , an engineer , and Julie Welker , a real estate agent .
As a child , she used to watch CBS Evening News with her father when Dan Rather anchored the show .
She recalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field and strapped to a pole while covering a hurricane .
`` My father said , 'That 's what you have to do if you want to be a great reporter .
You have to go into the eye of the hurricane , '' Welker told Philadelphia Magazine in 2010 .
Welker spent her childhood in Philadelphia .
She graduated from Germantown Friends School , a private Quaker school , and attended Harvard University , where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1998 .
At Harvard , Welker majored in history and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist , Welker has worked at ABC affiliates in Rhode Island and California .
She joined NBC affiliate WCAU in Philadelphia as a reporter and weekend anchor .
In 2010 , Welker became a correspondent for NBC News in Burbank , California , and in December of the following year , the network named her its newest White House correspondent .
Welker can be seen regularly on MSNBC and has filled in as an anchor on NBC Nightly News .
Her stock rose at the network when she covered Hillary Clinton 's 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she covered the White House following Trump 's win .
`` Every time I walk through the White House gates , if you do n't stop and take it in and recognize that you are a witness to history , it 's time for you , frankly , to get a new job because every minute of everything that we 're covering is history-making and , frankly , remarkable , '' she told People magazine .
In January , she became a Weekend Today co-host with Peter Alexander .
Welker is married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two were set up by friends in 2014 .
Two years later , while she was on the campaign trail with Clinton , Hughes took her to the Lincoln Memorial and proposed .
The couple got married in 2017 .
They do not have any children .
Recently , Welker has come under fire for donations she reportedly made to the Democratic Party , as well as her alleged cushy relationship with the Obamas .
A recent Facebook post falsely claimed that Welker had donated thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` spent Christmas '' at the White House with the Obamas .
The Saturday Facebook post read : `` Kristen Welker , of NBC , the next debate moderator chosen by the 'unbiased ' presidential commission , gave thousands of dollars to Obama , Clinton and Biden , is registered as a Democrat ( and ) her family spent Christmas with the Obamas at the White House .
Her mother is an activist for Biden ! ''
The post has been flagged as part of Facebook 's recent efforts to combat fake news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has leveled similar complaints against Welker 's alleged bias and has complained that Welker has `` always been terrible & unfair . ''
He has also called her a `` dyed-in-the-wool , radical-left Democrat . ''
Trump 's allegations against Welker seem to stem from a New York Post story .
However , Federal Election Commission records do n't show Welker making any donations to any candidates from any party .
She 's also not a registered Democrat nor has she been since 2016 , according to the District of Columbia Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents have given money to Democratic candidates , including Biden , her mother told PolitiFact that she does not have a role in Biden 's campaign , as suggested in the Post story and by Trump and his allies .
As for Christmas with the Obamas , Welker did attend a press party at the White House , where she took a picture with the president .
She did not spend the holiday frolicking with the first family .
Such parties are attended routinely by White House correspondents of all political persuasions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the allegations leveled against her and has deactivated her Twitter account .
When she takes the stage Thursday , she will become the second black woman in U.S. history to moderate a presidential debate by herself .
The first was ABC News journalist Carole Simpson in the 1992 presidential race between President George H.W .
Bush , then-Gov .
Bill Clinton , and Ross Perot .

NBC's Kristen Welker has been accused of being a Democratic stooge and a biased reporter who is "terrible" at her job and will categorically be "unfair" to President Trump ahead of Thursday night's debate.
The campaign of coordinated attacks against Welker by Trump and his allies is nothing new but has gotten increasingly nasty over the past few days.
Trump has mocked Welker's voice and preemptively claimed the debate was rigged to favor his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.
This isn't the first time Trump has called foul. He also had a problem with the moderator of the first debate, Fox News's Chris Wallace, and the would-be moderator of the canceled second debate, Steve Scully. Scully was subsequently suspended by C-SPAN last week after it emerged that he lied about his social media account being hacked with regards to an exchange with Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director.
The goal of the newest attacks against Welker is clear: Discredit her before she even steps foot on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, the site of the second and final debate between Trump and Biden before Election Day.
But with so many accusations flying against Welker, what do voters actually know about the veteran White House correspondent and her ability to moderate the last debate fairly? The Washington Examiner takes a look at Welker's past for clues.
Welker is the daughter of Harvey Welker, an engineer, and Julie Welker, a real estate agent.
As a child, she used to watch CBS Evening News with her father when Dan Rather anchored the show. She recalled one incident when Rather was in the field and strapped to a pole while covering a hurricane.
"My father said, 'That's what you have to do if you want to be a great reporter. You have to go into the eye of the hurricane," Welker told Philadelphia Magazine in 2010.
Welker spent her childhood in Philadelphia. She graduated from Germantown Friends School, a private Quaker school, and attended Harvard University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1998. At Harvard, Welker majored in history and graduated with honors.
As a broadcast journalist, Welker has worked at ABC affiliates in Rhode Island and California. She joined NBC affiliate WCAU in Philadelphia as a reporter and weekend anchor. In 2010, Welker became a correspondent for NBC News in Burbank, California, and in December of the following year, the network named her its newest White House correspondent.
Welker can be seen regularly on MSNBC and has filled in as an anchor on NBC Nightly News.
Her stock rose at the network when she covered Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and then continued to grow as she covered the White House following Trump's win.
"Every time I walk through the White House gates, if you don't stop and take it in and recognize that you are a witness to history, it's time for you, frankly, to get a new job because every minute of everything that we're covering is history-making and, frankly, remarkable," she told People magazine.
In January, she became a Weekend Today co-host with Peter Alexander.
Welker is married to Merck marketing executive John Hughes. The two were set up by friends in 2014. Two years later, while she was on the campaign trail with Clinton, Hughes took her to the Lincoln Memorial and proposed. The couple got married in 2017. They do not have any children.
Recently, Welker has come under fire for donations she reportedly made to the Democratic Party, as well as her alleged cushy relationship with the Obamas.
A recent Facebook post falsely claimed that Welker had donated thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates, is registered as a Democrat, and "spent Christmas" at the White House with the Obamas.
The Saturday Facebook post read: "Kristen Welker, of NBC, the next debate moderator chosen by the 'unbiased' presidential commission, gave thousands of dollars to Obama, Clinton and Biden, is registered as a Democrat (and) her family spent Christmas with the Obamas at the White House. Her mother is an activist for Biden!"
The post has been flagged as part of Facebook's recent efforts to combat fake news and misinformation on its news feed.
Trump has leveled similar complaints against Welker's alleged bias and has complained that Welker has "always been terrible & unfair." He has also called her a "dyed-in-the-wool, radical-left Democrat."
Trump's allegations against Welker seem to stem from a New York Post story.
However, Federal Election Commission records don't show Welker making any donations to any candidates from any party. She's also not a registered Democrat nor has she been since 2016, according to the District of Columbia Board of Elections records.
While Welker's parents have given money to Democratic candidates, including Biden, her mother told PolitiFact that she does not have a role in Biden's campaign, as suggested in the Post story and by Trump and his allies.
As for Christmas with the Obamas, Welker did attend a press party at the White House, where she took a picture with the president. She did not spend the holiday frolicking with the first family. Such parties are attended routinely by White House correspondents of all political persuasions.
Welker herself has not commented on any of the allegations leveled against her and has deactivated her Twitter account.
When she takes the stage Thursday, she will become the second black woman in U.S. history to moderate a presidential debate by herself. The first was ABC News journalist Carole Simpson in the 1992 presidential race between President George H.W. Bush, then-Gov. Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Philadelphia-area Biden supporters confident they'll make the difference for him in Pennsylvania

Delaware County , Pennsylvania — The path to the White House for Joe Biden could run through the suburbs of Philadelphia .
While there 's little doubt that the former vice president will win the liberal suburbs of Bucks , Chester , Delaware , Montgomery , and Philadelphia counties , the question is : Will Biden 's lead in those five counties be enough to carry him to the Keystone Stone 's 20 Electoral College votes ?
President Trump , after all , in his 2016 upset victory over Hillary Clinton , picked up large swaths of voters in rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That shifted the longtime political equation in Pennsylvania that Republican support outside of the big cities would be offset by overwhelming Democratic turnout in Philadelphia and , to a lesser extent , Pittsburgh .
Delaware County voters who turned out to the polls more than a week before Election Day think they 'll make the difference for Biden in Pennsylvania , a state that both campaigns consider crucial to their White House hopes .
Several voters cited the urgency they 've seen in their own community as the reason why Biden will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who blamed Trump for her hospital 's slow reaction to the coronavirus , told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday morning : `` I want this animal out of the White House .
I am so sickened by everything he 's done . ''
She added that there 's `` most definitely '' a stronger fervor to vote than in previous elections .
`` I 've been voting since I was 18 years old , and I 've never had such a passion for voting , and I voted every single '' election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgusted with the unfairness about everything .
There 's a blatant disregard for life in general .
People want to see their needs met .
They want to hear their voices heard . ''
Another voter , Bill , said he thinks the `` state of the nation is in bad shape and I do not agree with the direction it 's going in , '' and he wants `` change . ''
Bill also specifically mentioned that he lost a relative to COVID-19 .
Four years ago , Hillary Clinton overwhelmingly won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City of Brotherly Love by more than 663,000 votes , and yet , Trump still won the state by about 44,000 votes .
That means he won the remaining 62 Pennsylvania counties by more than 700,000 votes , according to election data from the New York Times .
While Patty and others have turned out to vote in-person ahead of Election Day , there has n't been any reporting released about the number of people who have done so .
But more than 1.1 million people from the five counties have requested a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them have already been returned more than two weeks before the deadline , which extends to Nov. 6 following a Supreme Court ruling , according to data from the United States Elections Project .
Additionally , the 1.1 million people who have requested a mail-in ballot , should they all return them , would account for more than half of the number of people who voted in those areas in 2016 , where just under 2 million people voted .
Stacy , a millennial who noted that young voters generally do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she thinks that will change this year .
`` College kids , normal college kids , '' she said .
`` We do n't tend to vote , but this year we 're all for getting our voices heard .
'Cause we 've seen a lot of crap going on and we 're sick and tired of it .
We 're ready to put our voices in and let it be heard that we can no longer just keep silent and allow certain things to go on . ''
`` I think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she tend not to vote is because they feel like their voices do n't does n't really count or , you know , it 's just some , um , you know , one vote wo n't kill them or whatever .
One vote is n't that important , but you 'd be surprised that one vote does matter , '' Stacy added .
[ Related : Biden counts Pennsylvania as second home , but voters there are n't sold on him ] Dick Bingham , the chairman of the Chester County Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a phone interview that `` enthusiasm is extremely high in Chester County '' and the surrounding areas .
He also specifically said that on an anecdotal level , voter engagement is `` certainly at a much higher level than they were in 2016 . ''
Bingham further pointed to the increase in voter registration within the county as a source of optimism .
In 2016 , 8.7 million Pennsylvanians were registered to vote , and 61 % of the voting-age population voted , according to Pennsylvania 's Department of State website .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people are registered to vote this time around .
Between the five counties , Democrats have 872,000 more registered voters than the Republicans , with a small margin of that coming from Chester County .
Democrats were outnumbered during the last presidential election in voter registration , even though Clinton overwhelmingly won the county .
Bingham said he 'd be `` disappointed '' if Biden does n't carry Chester County in particular by 50,000 votes .

Delaware County, Pennsylvania — The path to the White House for Joe Biden could run through the suburbs of Philadelphia.
While there's little doubt that the former vice president will win the liberal suburbs of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, the question is: Will Biden's lead in those five counties be enough to carry him to the Keystone Stone's 20 Electoral College votes?
President Trump, after all, in his 2016 upset victory over Hillary Clinton, picked up large swaths of voters in rural Pennsylvania that had voted Democratic for decades. That shifted the longtime political equation in Pennsylvania that Republican support outside of the big cities would be offset by overwhelming Democratic turnout in Philadelphia and, to a lesser extent, Pittsburgh.
Delaware County voters who turned out to the polls more than a week before Election Day think they'll make the difference for Biden in Pennsylvania, a state that both campaigns consider crucial to their White House hopes.
Several voters cited the urgency they've seen in their own community as the reason why Biden will win.
Patty, a registered nurse who blamed Trump for her hospital's slow reaction to the coronavirus, told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday morning: "I want this animal out of the White House. I am so sickened by everything he's done." She added that there's "most definitely" a stronger fervor to vote than in previous elections.
"I've been voting since I was 18 years old, and I've never had such a passion for voting, and I voted every single" election, she added. "People are just disgusted with the unfairness about everything. There's a blatant disregard for life in general. People want to see their needs met. They want to hear their voices heard."
Another voter, Bill, said he thinks the "state of the nation is in bad shape and I do not agree with the direction it's going in," and he wants "change." Bill also specifically mentioned that he lost a relative to COVID-19.
Four years ago, Hillary Clinton overwhelmingly won the five Democratic strongholds that surround the City of Brotherly Love by more than 663,000 votes, and yet, Trump still won the state by about 44,000 votes. That means he won the remaining 62 Pennsylvania counties by more than 700,000 votes, according to election data from the New York Times.
While Patty and others have turned out to vote in-person ahead of Election Day, there hasn't been any reporting released about the number of people who have done so. But more than 1.1 million people from the five counties have requested a mail-in ballot, and more than 335,000 of them have already been returned more than two weeks before the deadline, which extends to Nov. 6 following a Supreme Court ruling, according to data from the United States Elections Project.
Additionally, the 1.1 million people who have requested a mail-in ballot, should they all return them, would account for more than half of the number of people who voted in those areas in 2016, where just under 2 million people voted.
Stacy, a millennial who noted that young voters generally don't turn out in large numbers, said she thinks that will change this year.
"College kids, normal college kids," she said. "We don't tend to vote, but this year we're all for getting our voices heard. 'Cause we've seen a lot of crap going on and we're sick and tired of it. We're ready to put our voices in and let it be heard that we can no longer just keep silent and allow certain things to go on."
"I think the main reason why the younger generation, she tend not to vote is because they feel like their voices don't doesn't really count or, you know, it's just some, um, you know, one vote won't kill them or whatever. One vote isn't that important, but you'd be surprised that one vote does matter," Stacy added.
[Related: Biden counts Pennsylvania as second home, but voters there aren't sold on him]
Dick Bingham, the chairman of the Chester County Democratic Committee, also told the Washington Examiner in a phone interview that "enthusiasm is extremely high in Chester County" and the surrounding areas. He also specifically said that on an anecdotal level, voter engagement is "certainly at a much higher level than they were in 2016."
Bingham further pointed to the increase in voter registration within the county as a source of optimism. In 2016, 8.7 million Pennsylvanians were registered to vote, and 61% of the voting-age population voted, according to Pennsylvania's Department of State website. As of Monday, more than 9 million people are registered to vote this time around.
Between the five counties, Democrats have 872,000 more registered voters than the Republicans, with a small margin of that coming from Chester County. Democrats were outnumbered during the last presidential election in voter registration, even though Clinton overwhelmingly won the county. Bingham said he'd be "disappointed" if Biden doesn't carry Chester County in particular by 50,000 votes.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Jill Biden insists voters don't want to hear about Hunter Biden 'smears'

Jill Biden referred to voters as she tried to deflect questions about her son Hunter Biden 's foreign business dealings less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 general election .
The former second lady was asked about her youngest son after emails emerged suggesting he had offered to arrange a meeting between his then-vice president and now Democratic presidential nominee father Joe Biden and a top Ukrainian energy executive .
`` I don ’ t like to see my son attacked , and certainly , I don ’ t like to see my husband attacked , but for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told ABC 's The View on Wednesday .
She added , `` The American people do n't want to hear these smears against my family ; the American people are struggling right now . ''
Joe Biden 's campaign has denied that the candidate officially met with senior Burisma Holdings figure Vadym Pozharskyi in 2015 .
But Biden allies admit it 's possible he informally spoke with Pozharskyi on the sideline of a United States-Ukraine event .
Biden 's aides have been cautious regarding the accusations , first broached last week in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they 've latched onto former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani 's involvement in the story .
The emails surfaced after Delaware computer repair shop owner John Paul Mac Isaac recovered the hard drive of a laptop purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden , which was dropped off but never retrieved from his store .
Isaac made copies of the files for the FBI and Giuliani .
Joe Biden slammed Giuliani and allegations that his family had profited from his name and elected office in a local Wisconsin TV interview on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rudy Giuliani , Trump 's henchmen , '' he said of President Trump .
`` It 's a last-ditch effort in this desperate campaign to smear me and my family . ''
Trump is expected to seize on the issues created by Hunter Biden during Thursday 's second and final debate .

Jill Biden referred to voters as she tried to deflect questions about her son Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 general election.
The former second lady was asked about her youngest son after emails emerged suggesting he had offered to arrange a meeting between his then-vice president and now Democratic presidential nominee father Joe Biden and a top Ukrainian energy executive.
"I don’t like to see my son attacked, and certainly, I don’t like to see my husband attacked, but for me, these are distractions," she told ABC's The View on Wednesday.
She added, "The American people don't want to hear these smears against my family; the American people are struggling right now."
Joe Biden's campaign has denied that the candidate officially met with senior Burisma Holdings figure Vadym Pozharskyi in 2015. But Biden allies admit it's possible he informally spoke with Pozharskyi on the sideline of a United States-Ukraine event.
Biden's aides have been cautious regarding the accusations, first broached last week in a New York Post report. In particular, they've latched onto former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's involvement in the story.
The emails surfaced after Delaware computer repair shop owner John Paul Mac Isaac recovered the hard drive of a laptop purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden, which was dropped off but never retrieved from his store. Isaac made copies of the files for the FBI and Giuliani.
Joe Biden slammed Giuliani and allegations that his family had profited from his name and elected office in a local Wisconsin TV interview on Tuesday.
"This is the same garbage — Rudy Giuliani, Trump's henchmen," he said of President Trump. "It's a last-ditch effort in this desperate campaign to smear me and my family."
Trump is expected to seize on the issues created by Hunter Biden during Thursday's second and final debate.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-21--Democratic fundraising arms outpacing GOP counterparts in battle for Congress

The Democratic congressional committees raised more money in September than their Republican counterparts and entered October with more cash on hand to spend down the stretch , a key advantage in the battle for control of the House and Senate .
In the Senate , where Republicans are fighting to preserve a three-seat majority , the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee outraised the National Republican Senatorial Committee $ 43.8 million to $ 32.7 million last month , finishing the period with a $ 30.1 million war chest .
The NRSC reported $ 22.6 million in cash on hand .
Senate Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight seats currently held by the party , while threatening Democrats in just two .
In the House , where Republicans were hoping to win back seats and at least put a dent in the Democrats ’ 17-seat majority , the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised the National Republican Congressional Committee in September $ 29.5 million to $ 23.1 million .
Significantly , the DCCC began the final month of the campaign with more money in the bank — $ 65 million , compared to the NRCC ’ s $ 53.1 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the close of business on Sept. 30 , the DCCC ’ s $ 65 million war chest was larger than the $ 63.1 million in cash on hand reported by President Trump ’ s reelection campaign .
However , the Republicans are receiving significant financial support from outside groups affiliated with the GOP .
The advertising and other electioneering activities paid for by these organizations could tip the scales in critical congressional races , although Democratic super PACs are also engaged in these contests .
Senate Leadership Fund , the super PAC aligned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised a whopping $ 92.8 million in September and finished the month with $ 113.8 million in cash on hand .
The group ’ s fundraising was bolstered by $ 10 million in donations from Republican megadonors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson , $ 20 million in contributions from Republican financier Ken Griffin , and a $ 27.5 million donation from One Nation , SLF ’ s affiliated political nonprofit organization .
SLF outraised its main competitor : the Senate Majority PAC .
Aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , SMP brought in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 54 million in cash on hand .
Congressional Leadership Fund , the super PAC allied with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , does not file monthly fundraising reports .
But the group ’ s quarterly report revealed a three-month haul of $ 78 million and a war chest to begin October of $ 84 million .
House Majority PAC , the super PAC aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , raised $ 41 million in September and reported a similar $ 83 million in cash on hand .

The Democratic congressional committees raised more money in September than their Republican counterparts and entered October with more cash on hand to spend down the stretch, a key advantage in the battle for control of the House and Senate.
In the Senate, where Republicans are fighting to preserve a three-seat majority, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee outraised the National Republican Senatorial Committee $43.8 million to $32.7 million last month, finishing the period with a $30.1 million war chest. The NRSC reported $22.6 million in cash on hand. Senate Republicans are on their heels in at least eight seats currently held by the party, while threatening Democrats in just two.
In the House, where Republicans were hoping to win back seats and at least put a dent in the Democrats’ 17-seat majority, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised the National Republican Congressional Committee in September $29.5 million to $23.1 million. Significantly, the DCCC began the final month of the campaign with more money in the bank — $65 million, compared to the NRCC’s $53.1 million.
Democrats pointed out that, as of the close of business on Sept. 30, the DCCC’s $65 million war chest was larger than the $63.1 million in cash on hand reported by President Trump’s reelection campaign.
The Washington Examiner pulled committee fundraising numbers from Federal Election Commission records.
However, the Republicans are receiving significant financial support from outside groups affiliated with the GOP. The advertising and other electioneering activities paid for by these organizations could tip the scales in critical congressional races, although Democratic super PACs are also engaged in these contests.
Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, raised a whopping $92.8 million in September and finished the month with $113.8 million in cash on hand. The group’s fundraising was bolstered by $10 million in donations from Republican megadonors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, $20 million in contributions from Republican financier Ken Griffin, and a $27.5 million donation from One Nation, SLF’s affiliated political nonprofit organization.
SLF outraised its main competitor: the Senate Majority PAC. Aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, SMP brought in $46 million last month and reported $54 million in cash on hand.
Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC allied with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, does not file monthly fundraising reports. But the group’s quarterly report revealed a three-month haul of $78 million and a war chest to begin October of $84 million. House Majority PAC, the super PAC aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, raised $41 million in September and reported a similar $83 million in cash on hand.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-22--'It is a live ball': Biden plans 'commission' to help decide court-packing question if elected

Joe Biden articulated his clearest stance yet in response to calls to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court , saying that he plans to put together a `` bipartisan commission '' of scholars to examine the issue and other possible ways to reform the court system .
`` if elected , what I will do is I 'll put together a national commission of — bipartisan commission of scholars , constitutional scholars , Democrats , Republicans , liberal , conservative , '' the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee said in a 60 Minutes interview filmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to , over 180 days , come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system , because it 's getting out of whack , the way which has been handled . ''
Biden added : `` And it 's not about court-packing .
There 's a number of other things that our constitutional scholars have debated , and I 've looked to see what recommendations that commission might make . ''
Republican moves to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s seat with President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite early voting for the Nov. 3 election being underway have prompted calls from those in the left wing of the Democratic Party to expand the number of justices on the nation 's highest court and confirm liberal-leaning justices .
Biden repeatedly avoided answering whether he would support adding justices despite being opposed to the idea for decades , arguing that revealing his stance on the hypothetical would benefit Trump .
At a televised town hall event last week , Biden relented , saying that he does not like the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how much they rush this , '' referring to the Barrett confirmation process .
If Republicans confirm Barrett to the court , Biden said last week , `` I 'm open to considering what happens from that point on . ''
In the 60 Minutes interview , anchor Norah O'Donnell tried to clarify : `` So you 're telling us , you 're going to study this issue about whether to pack the court ? ''
`` No , well , there 's a number of alternatives that are go well beyond packing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a live ball , '' O'Donnell said .
`` Oh , it is a live ball , '' Biden concurred .
`` It is a live ball .
We 're gon na have to do that .
And you 're gon na find there 's a lot of conservative constitutional scholars who are saying that as well .
The last thing we need to do is turn the Supreme Court into just a political football — whoever has the most votes gets whatever they want .
Presidents come and go .
Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Joe Biden articulated his clearest stance yet in response to calls to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court, saying that he plans to put together a "bipartisan commission" of scholars to examine the issue and other possible ways to reform the court system.
"if elected, what I will do is I'll put together a national commission of — bipartisan commission of scholars, constitutional scholars, Democrats, Republicans, liberal, conservative," the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee said in a 60 Minutes interview filmed Monday. "And I will ask them to, over 180 days, come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system, because it's getting out of whack, the way which has been handled."
Biden added: "And it's not about court-packing. There's a number of other things that our constitutional scholars have debated, and I've looked to see what recommendations that commission might make."
Republican moves to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat with President Trump's nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, despite early voting for the Nov. 3 election being underway have prompted calls from those in the left wing of the Democratic Party to expand the number of justices on the nation's highest court and confirm liberal-leaning justices.
Biden repeatedly avoided answering whether he would support adding justices despite being opposed to the idea for decades, arguing that revealing his stance on the hypothetical would benefit Trump.
At a televised town hall event last week, Biden relented, saying that he does not like the idea of court-packing but that it "depends on how much they rush this," referring to the Barrett confirmation process.
If Republicans confirm Barrett to the court, Biden said last week, "I'm open to considering what happens from that point on."
In the 60 Minutes interview, anchor Norah O'Donnell tried to clarify: "So you're telling us, you're going to study this issue about whether to pack the court?"
"No, well, there's a number of alternatives that are go well beyond packing," Biden said.
"This is a live ball," O'Donnell said.
"Oh, it is a live ball," Biden concurred. "It is a live ball. We're gonna have to do that. And you're gonna find there's a lot of conservative constitutional scholars who are saying that as well. The last thing we need to do is turn the Supreme Court into just a political football — whoever has the most votes gets whatever they want. Presidents come and go. Supreme Court justices stay for generations."