thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-13--Top Trump campaign adviser wades into Harris natural-born citizen birtherism

One of President Trump 's top campaign surrogates suggested that Kamala Harris may not be a natural-born citizen and , therefore , ineligible to be vice president , an argument that echoes the `` birther '' conspiracy theory that questioned whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States .
Jenna Ellis , a senior legal adviser to President Trump 's reelection campaign , retweeted a Newsweek op-ed on Thursday that argued there is a legitimate , if antiquated , constitutional argument to be made that Harris is not a natural-born citizen despite being born in the U.S. '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one I think Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible , '' Ellis told ABC News when asked about her retweet of the article .
The op-ed , published a day after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden named the California senator as his running mate , was written by John C. Eastman , a law professor and former Chapman University dean who sought the Republican nomination for California attorney general in 2010 and would have faced Harris in the general election had he won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the idea Harris is not a natural-born citizen is false , with some calling it `` racist nonsense '' and `` idiotic . ''
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that `` all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof , are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside , '' and the 1898 Supreme Court case U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark found that children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents who are lawful permanent residents are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California , to immigrant parents from Jamaica and India , a seemingly open-and-shut case that shows she is a citizen .
But Eastman says that it is not clear whether her parents were lawful permanent residents at the time of her birth or U.S. citizens at the time of her birth or before she turned 16 , so then based on the original understanding of the 14th Amendment , it is possible that Harris was not fully `` subject to the jurisdiction thereof '' and not a `` natural citizen . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the article .
`` Donald Trump was the national leader of the grotesque , racist birther movement with respect to President Obama and has sought to fuel racism and tear our nation apart on every single day of his presidency , '' Biden spokesman Andrew Bates told the Washington Examiner .
`` So it 's unsurprising , but no less abhorrent , that as Trump makes a fool of himself straining to distract the American people from the horrific toll of his failed coronavirus response that his campaign and their allies would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their pathetic desperation . ''
Earlier on Thursday , Newsweek editors defended the decision to publish the op-ed from Eastman , saying that it was about `` a long-standing , somewhat arcane legal debate about the precise meaning of the phrase 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof ' in the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment . ''
The editors added that Eastman 's argument has `` no connection whatsoever to so-called 'birther-ism , ' the racist 2008 conspiracy theory aimed at delegitimizing then-candidate Barack Obama by claiming , baselessly , that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenya , '' they wrote .
`` We share our readers ' revulsion at those vile lies . ''

One of President Trump's top campaign surrogates suggested that Kamala Harris may not be a natural-born citizen and, therefore, ineligible to be vice president, an argument that echoes the "birther" conspiracy theory that questioned whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States.
Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser to President Trump's reelection campaign, retweeted a Newsweek op-ed on Thursday that argued there is a legitimate, if antiquated, constitutional argument to be made that Harris is not a natural-born citizen despite being born in the U.S.
"It’s an open question, and one I think Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible," Ellis told ABC News when asked about her retweet of the article.
The op-ed, published a day after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden named the California senator as his running mate, was written by John C. Eastman, a law professor and former Chapman University dean who sought the Republican nomination for California attorney general in 2010 and would have faced Harris in the general election had he won the primary.
Numerous legal scholars have said that the idea Harris is not a natural-born citizen is false, with some calling it "racist nonsense" and "idiotic." The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside," and the 1898 Supreme Court case U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark found that children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents who are lawful permanent residents are citizens.
Harris was born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents from Jamaica and India, a seemingly open-and-shut case that shows she is a citizen.
But Eastman says that it is not clear whether her parents were lawful permanent residents at the time of her birth or U.S. citizens at the time of her birth or before she turned 16, so then based on the original understanding of the 14th Amendment, it is possible that Harris was not fully "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" and not a "natural citizen."
Biden's campaign condemned Ellis's sharing of the article.
"Donald Trump was the national leader of the grotesque, racist birther movement with respect to President Obama and has sought to fuel racism and tear our nation apart on every single day of his presidency," Biden spokesman Andrew Bates told the Washington Examiner. "So it's unsurprising, but no less abhorrent, that as Trump makes a fool of himself straining to distract the American people from the horrific toll of his failed coronavirus response that his campaign and their allies would resort to wretched, demonstrably false lies in their pathetic desperation."
Earlier on Thursday, Newsweek editors defended the decision to publish the op-ed from Eastman, saying that it was about "a long-standing, somewhat arcane legal debate about the precise meaning of the phrase 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof' in the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment."
The editors added that Eastman's argument has "no connection whatsoever to so-called 'birther-ism,' the racist 2008 conspiracy theory aimed at delegitimizing then-candidate Barack Obama by claiming, baselessly, that he was born not in Hawaii but in Kenya," they wrote. "We share our readers' revulsion at those vile lies."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-13--Red meat for farmers: Pence promises to protect burgers from Kamala Harris

DES MOINES , Iowa — The choice facing voters in November is not just about freedom but about the values passed down to future generations , according to Vice President Mike Pence — even down to protecting the great American cheeseburger .
In a speech to farmers and ranchers at the Iowa State Fairground , he ridiculed Sen. Kamala Harris for demanding people to change their eating habits to protect the environment .
“ In her short campaign for president , the senator said Americans needed to be , and I quote , 'educated of the effect of our eating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said as the audience of about 150 people guffawed .
“ Sen .
Kamala Harris said she would change the dietary guidelines of this country to reduce the amount of red meat Americans could eat . ''
By this time , the audience was booing .
“ Well , I ’ ve got some red meat for you , ” he continued as the soundtrack changed to cheers .
“ We ’ re not going to let Joe Biden and Kamala Harris cut America ’ s meat , '' he declared .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a $ 2 trillion plan to abolish fossil fuels .
He wants to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and implement his own version of the Green New Deal , '' Pence charged .
“ I don ’ t have to tell all of you these radical left policies would devastate America ’ s farmers and ranchers.
” At a Democratic town hall last year , Harris admitted her fondness for burgers .
`` To be very honest with you , I love cheeseburgers from time to time .
I just do , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if she wanted to cut red meat consumption , she said that she did .
President Trump won Iowa by 9 percentage points in 2016 but is now ahead only by a whisker .
Pence arrived in Des Moines to launch the Farmers and Ranchers for Trump coalition .
He said that Trump had created more than 7 million jobs before the coronavirus struck and that his USMCA trade deal was responsible for generating $ 2.2 billion more in agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico .

DES MOINES, Iowa — The choice facing voters in November is not just about freedom but about the values passed down to future generations, according to Vice President Mike Pence — even down to protecting the great American cheeseburger.
In a speech to farmers and ranchers at the Iowa State Fairground, he ridiculed Sen. Kamala Harris for demanding people to change their eating habits to protect the environment.
“In her short campaign for president, the senator said Americans needed to be, and I quote, 'educated of the effect of our eating habits on our environment,'” he said as the audience of about 150 people guffawed.
“Sen. Kamala Harris said she would change the dietary guidelines of this country to reduce the amount of red meat Americans could eat."
By this time, the audience was booing.
“Well, I’ve got some red meat for you,” he continued as the soundtrack changed to cheers. “We’re not going to let Joe Biden and Kamala Harris cut America’s meat," he declared.
“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris even have a $2 trillion plan to abolish fossil fuels. He wants to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and implement his own version of the Green New Deal," Pence charged. “I don’t have to tell all of you these radical left policies would devastate America’s farmers and ranchers.”
At a Democratic town hall last year, Harris admitted her fondness for burgers. "To be very honest with you, I love cheeseburgers from time to time. I just do," Harris said. But when asked if she wanted to cut red meat consumption, she said that she did.
President Trump won Iowa by 9 percentage points in 2016 but is now ahead only by a whisker.
Pence arrived in Des Moines to launch the Farmers and Ranchers for Trump coalition.
He said that Trump had created more than 7 million jobs before the coronavirus struck and that his USMCA trade deal was responsible for generating $2.2 billion more in agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-13--Conservatives dodged foreign policy bullet in getting Biden-Harris ticket over Bernie Sanders and 't

Conservatives dodged foreign policy bullet in getting Biden-Harris ticket over Bernie Sanders and 'the Squad'

On domestic issues , Joe Biden is slated to govern half a mile to the left of Barack Obama .
Running mate Kamala Harris 's prosecutorial and judiciary record indicates that she 'll redirect law enforcement and the courts to come after churches and guns while rioters are given free rein .
Biden has already backed what would be the most bloated budget in the nation 's history .
With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Stephanie Kelton given slots on the presumptive Democratic nominee 's policy planning committees , there are only a few hints that Biden 's domestic policy agenda will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Bernie Sanders .
But on foreign policy , the area where presidents arguably have the most power in practice , conservatives and the world as a whole dodged a massive bullet when Biden took the nomination over Sanders .
For all of his and Harris 's foibles , their brand of foreign policy will likely fall in the Obama-esque strain of neoliberal sensibility , not the Chomsky-style divestment from democracy promotion that would have hijacked the Democratic Party had Sanders won the presidency .
Any presidential candidate who wins a major party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 % chance of becoming the leader of the free world .
Thus , it was nuts when conservatives hoped aloud that Sanders would clinch the nomination to bolster President Trump 's odds .
Given the coronavirus 's devastating impact on Trump 's reelection odds , for foreign policy sake 's alone , we ought to be thanking our lucky stars that it would be President Biden and Vice President Harris picking up a 3 a.m. phone call rather than Sanders and , say , Secretary of State Ilhan Omar or Ambassador to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you need any evidence of just how stark this difference is , simply look at how these two factions responded to the extraordinary news that Trump brokered a historic peace deal to get the United Arab Emirates to establish diplomatic relations with Israel .
Here we have Biden , lauding the peace deal and promising that his administration would build upon it , not just reflexively destroy it because Orange Man Bad .
And here we have Tlaib , a leading campaign surrogate for Sanders , who has remained silent on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the embassy to Jerusalem ?
No .
And he would surely continue the Obama administration 's softness on China , Iran , and Russia .
But lip service and stable aid are orders of magnitude better than the sycophancy and sanctioning of democracies that we would get from a Sanders administration .
Biden and Harris vocally support Israel .
They have not been silent about China 's persecution of Uighurs in Xinjiang , and Biden , at least , has acknowledged Juan Guaido as the democratically elected leader of Venezuela .
In contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dictator he did n't like .
People have become aware of his youthful celebration of the Soviet Union and the Sandinistas , but of course , he has also made excuses for China and Cuba on the Democratic debate stage this year .
Although Sanders never teased out how he would staff his administration , surrogates such as Omar and Tlaib would surely have earned high-profile slots .
Sanders delegates demanded that he consider the communist-sympathizing , anti-Israel Barbara Lee and Karen Bass as running mate .
As it stands , Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning the presidency come November .
His domestic priorities may spell fiscal doom and pose an ample threat to civil liberties , but lest we forget , we dodged a monumental bullet in having the sane faction of the Democratic Party keep the Castro-ite Left at bay for at least the next four years .

On domestic issues, Joe Biden is slated to govern half a mile to the left of Barack Obama. Running mate Kamala Harris's prosecutorial and judiciary record indicates that she'll redirect law enforcement and the courts to come after churches and guns while rioters are given free rein. Biden has already backed what would be the most bloated budget in the nation's history.
With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Stephanie Kelton given slots on the presumptive Democratic nominee's policy planning committees, there are only a few hints that Biden's domestic policy agenda will look much different from that of a President Bernie Sanders.
But on foreign policy, the area where presidents arguably have the most power in practice, conservatives and the world as a whole dodged a massive bullet when Biden took the nomination over Sanders. For all of his and Harris's foibles, their brand of foreign policy will likely fall in the Obama-esque strain of neoliberal sensibility, not the Chomsky-style divestment from democracy promotion that would have hijacked the Democratic Party had Sanders won the presidency.
Any presidential candidate who wins a major party nomination has, at worst, a 30% chance of becoming the leader of the free world. Thus, it was nuts when conservatives hoped aloud that Sanders would clinch the nomination to bolster President Trump's odds. Given the coronavirus's devastating impact on Trump's reelection odds, for foreign policy sake's alone, we ought to be thanking our lucky stars that it would be President Biden and Vice President Harris picking up a 3 a.m. phone call rather than Sanders and, say, Secretary of State Ilhan Omar or Ambassador to the United Nations Rashida Tlaib.
And if you need any evidence of just how stark this difference is, simply look at how these two factions responded to the extraordinary news that Trump brokered a historic peace deal to get the United Arab Emirates to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Here we have Biden, lauding the peace deal and promising that his administration would build upon it, not just reflexively destroy it because Orange Man Bad.
Biden says in a statement: “The UAE’s offer to publicly recognize the State of Israel is a welcome, brave, and badly-needed act of statesmanship... A Biden-Harris Administration will seek to build on this progress, and will challenge all the nations of the region to keep pace.” — Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) August 13, 2020
And here we have Tlaib, a leading campaign surrogate for Sanders, who has remained silent on the peace deal:
The focus needs to be on promoting solidarity between Palestinians & Israelis who are joining together in struggle to end an apartheid system. We must stand with the people.
This Trump/Netanyahu deal will not alleviate Palestinian suffering—it will further normalize it. — Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 13, 2020
Would Biden have moved the embassy to Jerusalem? No. And he would surely continue the Obama administration's softness on China, Iran, and Russia. But lip service and stable aid are orders of magnitude better than the sycophancy and sanctioning of democracies that we would get from a Sanders administration.
Biden and Harris vocally support Israel. They have not been silent about China's persecution of Uighurs in Xinjiang, and Biden, at least, has acknowledged Juan Guaido as the democratically elected leader of Venezuela.
In contrast, Sanders has never met a socialist dictator he didn't like. People have become aware of his youthful celebration of the Soviet Union and the Sandinistas, but of course, he has also made excuses for China and Cuba on the Democratic debate stage this year.
Although Sanders never teased out how he would staff his administration, surrogates such as Omar and Tlaib would surely have earned high-profile slots. Sanders delegates demanded that he consider the communist-sympathizing, anti-Israel Barbara Lee and Karen Bass as running mate.
As it stands, Biden has a greater than 50% chance of winning the presidency come November. His domestic priorities may spell fiscal doom and pose an ample threat to civil liberties, but lest we forget, we dodged a monumental bullet in having the sane faction of the Democratic Party keep the Castro-ite Left at bay for at least the next four years.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-13--Kamala Harris poses threat in traditional attacker role played by VP candidates

Sen. Kamala Harris is poised to spice up what 's set to be a bitter , contentious general election against President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence .
`` The case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut , '' the California Democrat said during her maiden event alongside her running mate , presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Biden unveiling Harris this week as his vice presidential pick was widely cheered by Democrats for the role she 'll play balancing his age , gender , and race on the party 's ticket .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic constituencies ahead of the Nov. 3 contest .
But Harris , 55 , was an Alameda County line prosecutor , a San Francisco district attorney from 2004 to 2011 , and then a six-year California attorney general before she was elected to represent the nation 's largest state in the U.S. Senate in 2016 .
And she also spent her own 10-month White House bid telling Democrats that her record meant she could prosecute the case against the incumbents .
Christopher Devine , a University of Dayton professor who co-wrote 2016 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became political `` attack dogs '' so the top of the ticket can appear more `` presidential . ''
Voters may have been uncomfortable with assertive women in the past .
But Devine argued that being a woman may be an advantage this cycle .
Harris is n't 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton , a divisive figure , and Trump is uneasy with female critics .
In fact , Trump has already and repeatedly called Harris `` nasty '' for grilling Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
`` He seems to react @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from women , such as Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and many White House reporters , than men , '' Devine said .
Four years ago , Trump and Pence reversed attacker roles because Trump `` relishes '' lashing out at his opponents while Pence exudes `` a sense of calm and stability '' for establishment Republicans , according to Devine .
Biden and Harris , meanwhile , will likely have a more conventional division of labor , he predicted .
Doing so would allow Harris 's clear speaking style to cut through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's supporters often sell him better than he sells himself .
`` Biden clearly wants to stay above the fray .
He does have to hit back at Trump , but not so aggressively that he undermines his campaign message of 'restoring the soul of America , ' '' Devine said .
For Penn State University professor Nichola Gutgold , an expert on women in politics , Harris 's time in the Senate and primary mitigates concerns that she is n't tough enough for the job .
Observers are even anticipating her debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 7 .
`` I do n't think that the American public will be holding its breath as it did in 1984 , when Geraldine Ferraro debated then a sitting vice president , wondering if she can 'keep up , ' '' Gutgold said .
`` I do n't think that [ Harris ] will be able to be insulted in the way that Bush insulted Ferraro by referring to her honorific 'Mrs . '
'' Gutgold reminded the Washington Examiner that Biden 's all too familiar with a woman as an attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominee Sarah Palin in 2008 .
`` You know , they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull ?
Lipstick , '' Palin said at that year 's GOP national convention .
Biden , in addition to the debate , was an attacker on the trail , chosen by former President Barack Obama as his No .
2 for two terms to appeal to white , working-class Democrats who felt the eventual commander in chief was academic and aloof .
Now , after a monthslong search for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 36-year Delaware senator 's old shoes .
Biden 's vice presidential selection committee said Biden was looking beyond the fall to his hypothetical administration , especially considering he 's roughly 7 to 8 percentage points ahead of Trump in the middle of a pandemic and a coronavirus-linked economic downturn .
`` Vice President Biden 's focus from the very start was on who would be the best governing partner to help him lead our country out of [ the ] chaos created by Donald Trump , '' co-chairs Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , and Cynthia Hogan , Biden 's ex-vice presidential counsel , said in a joint statement .
Democratic strategists are downplaying Harris 's role as an attack dog , insisting there 's no need .
Aside from the historic nature of her candidacy as a minority woman , Harris was a safe , `` do no harm '' pick since she was essentially background vetted and tested as a campaigner during the primary , they contend .
She 's slated to travel to more swing states than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamic .
But Republicans , such as Cesar Conda , a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , disagreed .
`` Biden has an anger problem and can not be an attack dog .
Otherwise , he ’ ll undermine the 'normal Joe ' persona that his team is trying to project , '' Conda said of Biden 's outbursts when pressed by reporters , even voters , with questions he does n't like .
`` Harris will have to assume the traditional attack dog role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary debates , she ’ s good at attacking and going negative . ''
Indeed , the GOP has weaponized Harris 's confrontation with Biden over his opposition to federally mandated busing in the 1960s and '70s during their opening debate .
Charlie Black , a veteran Republican strategist who contributed to a Bipartisan Policy Center vice presidential selection report , expected Harris to bridge the divide between Biden , a centrist , and more left-leaning Democrats as well , including those who align with Sens .
Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
That could be a difficult task given the resentment regarding Harris 's criminal justice record and shifting stance on issues like `` Medicare for all . ''
`` It seems to me like her role will be to unify the progressive base behind the ticket .
The Sanders , Warren , and AOC people are still skeptical of Biden .
That might involve attacking Trump , but not exclusively , '' Black said .
St. Louis University School of Law 's Joel Goldstein , a famed vice presidential historian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dissuaded pundits from describing to her as an attack dog .
`` I do n't care for the 'attack dog ' metaphor , which implies improper discourse , '' he said .
`` Campaigns are opportunities to discuss ideas and performance , and there is nothing wrong with a critical comment if it 's fact-based and engaged in in a civil and rational way , which is what I would expect from Sen .
Harris . ''

Sen. Kamala Harris is poised to spice up what's set to be a bitter, contentious general election against President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
"The case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut," the California Democrat said during her maiden event alongside her running mate, presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Biden unveiling Harris this week as his vice presidential pick was widely cheered by Democrats for the role she'll play balancing his age, gender, and race on the party's ticket. The hope is that she'll mobilize influential Democratic constituencies ahead of the Nov. 3 contest.
But Harris, 55, was an Alameda County line prosecutor, a San Francisco district attorney from 2004 to 2011, and then a six-year California attorney general before she was elected to represent the nation's largest state in the U.S. Senate in 2016. And she also spent her own 10-month White House bid telling Democrats that her record meant she could prosecute the case against the incumbents.
Christopher Devine, a University of Dayton professor who co-wrote 2016's The VP Advantage, said understudy candidates became political "attack dogs" so the top of the ticket can appear more "presidential."
Voters may have been uncomfortable with assertive women in the past. But Devine argued that being a woman may be an advantage this cycle. Harris isn't 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, a divisive figure, and Trump is uneasy with female critics. In fact, Trump has already and repeatedly called Harris "nasty" for grilling Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
"He seems to react more strongly to criticism or tough questioning from women, such as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and many White House reporters, than men," Devine said.
Four years ago, Trump and Pence reversed attacker roles because Trump "relishes" lashing out at his opponents while Pence exudes "a sense of calm and stability" for establishment Republicans, according to Devine. Biden and Harris, meanwhile, will likely have a more conventional division of labor, he predicted. Doing so would allow Harris's clear speaking style to cut through Biden's tendency to ramble — Biden's supporters often sell him better than he sells himself.
"Biden clearly wants to stay above the fray. He does have to hit back at Trump, but not so aggressively that he undermines his campaign message of 'restoring the soul of America,'" Devine said.
For Penn State University professor Nichola Gutgold, an expert on women in politics, Harris's time in the Senate and primary mitigates concerns that she isn't tough enough for the job. Observers are even anticipating her debate against Pence in Salt Lake City on Oct. 7.
"I don't think that the American public will be holding its breath as it did in 1984, when Geraldine Ferraro debated then a sitting vice president, wondering if she can 'keep up,'" Gutgold said. "I don't think that [Harris] will be able to be insulted in the way that Bush insulted Ferraro by referring to her honorific 'Mrs.'"
Gutgold reminded the Washington Examiner that Biden's all too familiar with a woman as an attack dog, going toe-to-toe with Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in 2008.
"You know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick," Palin said at that year's GOP national convention.
Biden, in addition to the debate, was an attacker on the trail, chosen by former President Barack Obama as his No. 2 for two terms to appeal to white, working-class Democrats who felt the eventual commander in chief was academic and aloof. Now, after a monthslong search for his own Biden, Harris will step into the 36-year Delaware senator's old shoes.
Biden's vice presidential selection committee said Biden was looking beyond the fall to his hypothetical administration, especially considering he's roughly 7 to 8 percentage points ahead of Trump in the middle of a pandemic and a coronavirus-linked economic downturn.
"Vice President Biden's focus from the very start was on who would be the best governing partner to help him lead our country out of [the] chaos created by Donald Trump," co-chairs Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Cynthia Hogan, Biden's ex-vice presidential counsel, said in a joint statement.
Democratic strategists are downplaying Harris's role as an attack dog, insisting there's no need. Aside from the historic nature of her candidacy as a minority woman, Harris was a safe, "do no harm" pick since she was essentially background vetted and tested as a campaigner during the primary, they contend. She's slated to travel to more swing states than Biden, mirroring Trump and Pence's dynamic.
But Republicans, such as Cesar Conda, a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, disagreed.
"Biden has an anger problem and cannot be an attack dog. Otherwise, he’ll undermine the 'normal Joe' persona that his team is trying to project," Conda said of Biden's outbursts when pressed by reporters, even voters, with questions he doesn't like. "Harris will have to assume the traditional attack dog role — and as we saw in the primary debates, she’s good at attacking and going negative."
Indeed, the GOP has weaponized Harris's confrontation with Biden over his opposition to federally mandated busing in the 1960s and '70s during their opening debate.
Charlie Black, a veteran Republican strategist who contributed to a Bipartisan Policy Center vice presidential selection report, expected Harris to bridge the divide between Biden, a centrist, and more left-leaning Democrats as well, including those who align with Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. That could be a difficult task given the resentment regarding Harris's criminal justice record and shifting stance on issues like "Medicare for all."
"It seems to me like her role will be to unify the progressive base behind the ticket. The Sanders, Warren, and AOC people are still skeptical of Biden. That might involve attacking Trump, but not exclusively," Black said.
St. Louis University School of Law's Joel Goldstein, a famed vice presidential historian, foresaw Harris scrutinizing Trump and Pence but dissuaded pundits from describing to her as an attack dog.
"I don't care for the 'attack dog' metaphor, which implies improper discourse," he said. "Campaigns are opportunities to discuss ideas and performance, and there is nothing wrong with a critical comment if it's fact-based and engaged in in a civil and rational way, which is what I would expect from Sen. Harris."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-14--Republicans welcome a campaign finally focusing on Biden

Voters are about to take their first long look of the 2020 presidential campaign at presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden — and that may not be a bad thing for President Trump .
Biden announced Kamala Harris , Democratic senator from California , as his running mate on Tuesday and will accept the presidential nomination during the Democratic National Convention next week .
Conventions frequently produce a polling bounce for the party 's ticket .
Even though they will be largely virtual events this year due to the pandemic , that 's a bigger change for delegates than voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally .
But this election cycle has been so focused on Trump , often to his detriment , that the incumbent may benefit from some eyes on his Democratic challenger , Republican strategists say .
`` Most people move to the center when they get to the general election , he is just moving more and more to the left , '' said a former Trump 2016 campaign official of Biden .
The official acknowledged the president and his reelection team have n't had much success breaking through with the message that Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Voters might need to see for themselves . ''
Biden has jumped out to a lead with what critics have called a basement campaign , becoming the front-runner in a race where he has been almost an afterthought .
The former vice president is ahead of Trump in most battleground states and is up by 7.5 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average , despite a sparse public campaign schedule and only a few major media interviews , none of them hostile .
`` Joe Biden has only ventured out of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the past six months , '' said America Rising PAC communications director Chris Martin in a statement .
`` In the few instances that he did , he consistently ignored attempts by reporters to question him . ''
That has allowed the public 's attention to remain focused on the coronavirus , the economic downturn , and the protests following George Floyd 's death in police custody , all events transpiring under Trump , who continues to generate multiple headlines daily in his own right .
Trump 's numbers took a turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March and have barely recovered since .
One Republican strategist even said the rebooted White House coronavirus briefings were a mistake for this reason .
`` When he has genuine news to share , I would n't hesitate to go back to the Brady briefing room , '' the strategist said .
`` But if you 're not introducing much new messaging , the briefings start to become adversarial . ''
The consensus in both parties is that if the election is a referendum on Trump , Biden is likely to win , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boom .
`` He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden , '' Harris said of Trump during her official rollout on Wednesday .
`` And then , like everything else he inherited , he ran it straight into the ground . ''
But if the election is a binary choice in which Biden and Harris are also scrutinized , Trump has a shot .
That was the type of contest that allowed him to beat Hillary Clinton despite a nearly 60 % unfavorable rating on Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican National Committee have thrown the kitchen sink at Harris since she has been announced in an effort to define her for the electorate .
But Trump 's instinct is to seek publicity , and so he heads to the White House briefing room to hold court .
`` That 's why he refused , Biden , to take questions , he could n't answer any of them , '' Trump told reporters on Thursday .
In addition to questions about the Democrats ' liberal policy platform , their convention will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters will see Biden speak for an extended period of time .
Republicans are hopeful they will see a 77-year-old who has lost a step since he served two terms as vice president and think twice about electing a candidate nearly four years older than Trump , who is himself the oldest person elected president to a first term in U.S. history .
Democrats remain confident their ticket will prosper in the spotlight .
`` Biden delivered on his promise that he would pick a running mate who is ready on day one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategist Brad Bannon .
`` Harris already won the political triple crown of service in local , state , and national office .
Her experience as San Francisco district attorney , California attorney general , and a U.S. senator made her the most battle-tested of the candidates in the mix to be Biden 's running mate and possibly president . ''
Biden 's choice of Harris reflected self-confidence , he said .

Voters are about to take their first long look of the 2020 presidential campaign at presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden — and that may not be a bad thing for President Trump.
Biden announced Kamala Harris, Democratic senator from California, as his running mate on Tuesday and will accept the presidential nomination during the Democratic National Convention next week. Conventions frequently produce a polling bounce for the party's ticket. Even though they will be largely virtual events this year due to the pandemic, that's a bigger change for delegates than voters, who experience the conventions as televised speeches normally.
But this election cycle has been so focused on Trump, often to his detriment, that the incumbent may benefit from some eyes on his Democratic challenger, Republican strategists say.
"Most people move to the center when they get to the general election, he is just moving more and more to the left," said a former Trump 2016 campaign official of Biden. The official acknowledged the president and his reelection team haven't had much success breaking through with the message that Biden is in bed with the Left. "Voters might need to see for themselves."
Biden has jumped out to a lead with what critics have called a basement campaign, becoming the front-runner in a race where he has been almost an afterthought. The former vice president is ahead of Trump in most battleground states and is up by 7.5 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average, despite a sparse public campaign schedule and only a few major media interviews, none of them hostile.
"Joe Biden has only ventured out of his Delaware basement studio a handful of times over the past six months," said America Rising PAC communications director Chris Martin in a statement. "In the few instances that he did, he consistently ignored attempts by reporters to question him."
That has allowed the public's attention to remain focused on the coronavirus, the economic downturn, and the protests following George Floyd's death in police custody, all events transpiring under Trump, who continues to generate multiple headlines daily in his own right. Trump's numbers took a turn for the worse by the end of March and have barely recovered since.
One Republican strategist even said the rebooted White House coronavirus briefings were a mistake for this reason. "When he has genuine news to share, I wouldn't hesitate to go back to the Brady briefing room," the strategist said. "But if you're not introducing much new messaging, the briefings start to become adversarial."
The consensus in both parties is that if the election is a referendum on Trump, Biden is likely to win, especially since the coronavirus disrupted the economic boom. "He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden," Harris said of Trump during her official rollout on Wednesday. "And then, like everything else he inherited, he ran it straight into the ground." But if the election is a binary choice in which Biden and Harris are also scrutinized, Trump has a shot. That was the type of contest that allowed him to beat Hillary Clinton despite a nearly 60% unfavorable rating on Election Day.
Both the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have thrown the kitchen sink at Harris since she has been announced in an effort to define her for the electorate. But Trump's instinct is to seek publicity, and so he heads to the White House briefing room to hold court. "That's why he refused, Biden, to take questions, he couldn't answer any of them," Trump told reporters on Thursday.
In addition to questions about the Democrats' liberal policy platform, their convention will be the first time during this campaign many voters will see Biden speak for an extended period of time. Republicans are hopeful they will see a 77-year-old who has lost a step since he served two terms as vice president and think twice about electing a candidate nearly four years older than Trump, who is himself the oldest person elected president to a first term in U.S. history.
Democrats remain confident their ticket will prosper in the spotlight. "Biden delivered on his promise that he would pick a running mate who is ready on day one to be president," said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon. "Harris already won the political triple crown of service in local, state, and national office. Her experience as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, and a U.S. senator made her the most battle-tested of the candidates in the mix to be Biden's running mate and possibly president." Biden's choice of Harris reflected self-confidence, he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-14--Trump campaign follows him into the field, while Biden bets on the basement

President Trump ’ s campaign has redeployed to the field to woo voters in person despite a summer coronavirus surge as presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden ’ s team wagers that people scarred by the pandemic prefer virtual engagement .
On Thursday , Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Iowa , a swing state where Trump and Biden are running even .
On Sunday , senior Trump campaign official Mercedes Schlapp is to headline a Women for Trump bus tour event in Wisconsin , another battleground where the president trails .
Those stops account for just two of the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states organized by the Trump campaign this past week .
This direct contact with voters , an approach that has included a return to in-person door-knocking and peer-to-peer advocacy by Republican field operatives , stands in sharp contrast to the Biden campaign ’ s strategy .
Even with the addition of running mate Kamala Harris , a California senator , the former vice president is sticking with the robust , virtual voter turnout operation he adopted in March when the coronavirus halted traditional , in-person campaigning .
“ The Trump-Pence ticket is leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can safely and securely reopen , ” Trump campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said .
“ Biden and Harris continue to fear-monger from behind closed doors .
It ’ s not controversial to say the American voters deserve to connect with both campaigns as they try to win their support.
” Buoyed by Biden ’ s substantial lead in national polls and a summer-long advantage in battleground state surveys , Democrats are embracing the comparison , confident Biden ’ s resistance to in-person campaigning is a political asset .
Voters are dissatisfied with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democratic officials say Biden ’ s commitment to contactless campaigning and decision to keep his ground troops on a virtual footing reassures voters that Biden is serious about defeating the pandemic .
“ Sending a masked organizer to knock on a stranger ’ s door in the middle of a raging pandemic is not an effective or safe use of the coordinated campaign ’ s resources , ” said David Bergstein , a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee .
The DNC is partnering with the Biden campaign to identify and turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls and text messaging , tactics the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee continue to embrace in states where the rate of coronavirus infections makes traditional engagement with voters in the field impractical .
Last week , the Trump campaign contacted more than 3 million voters by telephone and targeted an additional 1 million voters via live door-knocks .
But this week , the Trump campaign deployed multiple bus tours with prominent supporters of the president to Florida , Michigan , Pennsylvania , Ohio , and Wisconsin , with Nevada on tap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field offices catering to minorities are opening , most recently bureaus targeting black voters in Cleveland and Tallahassee , Florida , after delays caused by the coronavirus lockdown .
The president ’ s team plans 17 field offices dedicated to black people , 16 focused on Hispanics , and seven on Asian Pacific Islanders .
The campaign said it has spent more than $ 100,000 on personal protective equipment and office cleaning and provided staff with a booklet detailing government health guidelines .
Biden and Harris are sticking close to the former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delaware , as has been the presumptive nominee ’ s practice since the coronavirus hit the United States in late winter .
The campaign , which in conjunction with the DNC has contacted as many as 3.5 million voters a week via telephone and text messaging , boasts a virtual field staff that it claims will reach 2,000 by month ’ s end .
It hosts events targeting critical battlegrounds and important voting blocs on a daily basis .
On Thursday , the Biden campaign hosted what it billed as a “ Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Texas schools and the mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis at the Federal and State levels.
” On Friday , the campaign is hosting separate video conference roundtables to discuss issues of concern to rural voters and the need for more broadband access in tribal territories .

President Trump’s campaign has redeployed to the field to woo voters in person despite a summer coronavirus surge as presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s team wagers that people scarred by the pandemic prefer virtual engagement.
On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Iowa, a swing state where Trump and Biden are running even. On Sunday, senior Trump campaign official Mercedes Schlapp is to headline a Women for Trump bus tour event in Wisconsin, another battleground where the president trails. Those stops account for just two of the more than half-dozen, in-person visits to key states organized by the Trump campaign this past week.
This direct contact with voters, an approach that has included a return to in-person door-knocking and peer-to-peer advocacy by Republican field operatives, stands in sharp contrast to the Biden campaign’s strategy. Even with the addition of running mate Kamala Harris, a California senator, the former vice president is sticking with the robust, virtual voter turnout operation he adopted in March when the coronavirus halted traditional, in-person campaigning.
“The Trump-Pence ticket is leading by example, showing Americans that they can safely and securely reopen,” Trump campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said. “Biden and Harris continue to fear-monger from behind closed doors. It’s not controversial to say the American voters deserve to connect with both campaigns as they try to win their support.”
Buoyed by Biden’s substantial lead in national polls and a summer-long advantage in battleground state surveys, Democrats are embracing the comparison, confident Biden’s resistance to in-person campaigning is a political asset. Voters are dissatisfied with Trump’s management of the coronavirus, and Democratic officials say Biden’s commitment to contactless campaigning and decision to keep his ground troops on a virtual footing reassures voters that Biden is serious about defeating the pandemic.
“Sending a masked organizer to knock on a stranger’s door in the middle of a raging pandemic is not an effective or safe use of the coordinated campaign’s resources,” said David Bergstein, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee.
The DNC is partnering with the Biden campaign to identify and turn out voters through a mixture of telephone calls and text messaging, tactics the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee continue to embrace in states where the rate of coronavirus infections makes traditional engagement with voters in the field impractical. Last week, the Trump campaign contacted more than 3 million voters by telephone and targeted an additional 1 million voters via live door-knocks.
But this week, the Trump campaign deployed multiple bus tours with prominent supporters of the president to Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin, with Nevada on tap.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign said field offices catering to minorities are opening, most recently bureaus targeting black voters in Cleveland and Tallahassee, Florida, after delays caused by the coronavirus lockdown. The president’s team plans 17 field offices dedicated to black people, 16 focused on Hispanics, and seven on Asian Pacific Islanders. The campaign said it has spent more than $100,000 on personal protective equipment and office cleaning and provided staff with a booklet detailing government health guidelines.
Biden and Harris are sticking close to the former vice president’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, as has been the presumptive nominee’s practice since the coronavirus hit the United States in late winter. The campaign, which in conjunction with the DNC has contacted as many as 3.5 million voters a week via telephone and text messaging, boasts a virtual field staff that it claims will reach 2,000 by month’s end. It hosts events targeting critical battlegrounds and important voting blocs on a daily basis.
On Thursday, the Biden campaign hosted what it billed as a “Texas round-table” to discuss “the reopening of Texas schools and the mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis at the Federal and State levels.” On Friday, the campaign is hosting separate video conference roundtables to discuss issues of concern to rural voters and the need for more broadband access in tribal territories.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-14--A crisis for Puerto Rican democracy

A crisis for Puerto Rican democracy

In democracies that will hold elections this year , one thing is on the mind of every election official : how to safeguard the democratic process while also safeguarding the lives of every person exercising the right to vote .
This is true in Puerto Rico , which on Sunday held primaries for our local political parties in preparation for our general election on Nov. 3 .
Unfortunately , however , what was supposed to be an expression of democracy turned out to be an unprecedented and disgraceful farce .
The primaries for a lack of ballots .
The genesis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enchanted island begins with the coronavirus .
This public health crisis led the legislature to pass and the governor to sign a bill that moved the primary to Sunday .
It was believed this would leave enough time for the local election agency to prepare fully for the electoral event , taking into account the required safety measures .
However , problems began to emerge just one week before the primaries .
The main opposition party president , Anibal Jose Torres , alleged that there were shortages of election machines , ballots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ears within the leadership of the electoral commission headed by President Juan Davila .
On Sunday , the day of the election , many of the 110 electoral precincts and their voting centers opened late or did not receive ballots .
Trucks filled with ballots left late or did not arrive at their respective voting centers .
Thousands of voters went to cast their ballots , exposing themselves for hours to the coronavirus , only to find in the end that they could not vote .
The presidents of both major parties and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electoral event by canceling the process and scheduling for the precincts that did not open to allow voting the following Sunday .
This decision , of course , has led to accusations that the process was illegal .
Puerto Rico now faces an extraordinary crisis .
Candidates are heading to the courts , where unelected judges will decide an especially important constitutional issue , embroiling the courts in an extremely dangerous and volatile political situation .
Likewise , the purity , safety , and integrity of the process are now being questioned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Wanda Vazquez of “ ” Despite this shameful episode highlighted in the major news in the U.S. , the crisis now engulfing the island reveals a deep problem of governance within the entire governmental structure of the island .
Just a few weeks ago , with only a tropical storm passing close to the island , the government-owned electrical power company struggled to return power to thousands of customers for the island .
The democratic and governance crisis exposes how politics have clearly rotted the Puerto Rican government , which seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just about anything else .
Puerto Ricans deserve better .
Since Hurricane Maria in 2017 , the scandals that have engulfed the government have been numerous .
was forced to resign , and the current governor is currently facing .
The electoral process provides our citizens with the opportunity “ to clean house ” by voting for positive , lasting , or meaningful change .
However , even this is being denied to them now by a clearly incompetent electoral commission and a scarred and damaged government by the New Progressive Party .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an opportunity for a restoration in the hopes and dreams of the Puerto Rican people .
Perhaps this debacle can become an opportunity for much needed reform in the electoral process and the way our government works .
But such things can only be done when people are able to vote .
Ojel L. Rodriguez ( @ ojelrodriguez ) is a freelance writer and graduate student from University College London .

In democracies that will hold elections this year, one thing is on the mind of every election official: how to safeguard the democratic process while also safeguarding the lives of every person exercising the right to vote.
This is true in Puerto Rico, which on Sunday held primaries for our local political parties in preparation for our general election on Nov. 3. Unfortunately, however, what was supposed to be an expression of democracy turned out to be an unprecedented and disgraceful farce. The primaries were canceled for a lack of ballots.
The genesis of the crisis that currently engulfs the enchanted island begins with the coronavirus. This public health crisis led the legislature to pass and the governor to sign a bill that moved the primary to Sunday. It was believed this would leave enough time for the local election agency to prepare fully for the electoral event, taking into account the required safety measures.
However, problems began to emerge just one week before the primaries. The main opposition party president, Anibal Jose Torres, alleged that there were shortages of election machines, ballots, etc. This warning fell on deaf ears within the leadership of the electoral commission headed by President Juan Davila.
On Sunday, the day of the election, many of the 110 electoral precincts and their voting centers opened late or did not receive ballots. Trucks filled with ballots left late or did not arrive at their respective voting centers. Thousands of voters went to cast their ballots, exposing themselves for hours to the coronavirus, only to find in the end that they could not vote.
The presidents of both major parties and the commission itself reacted to this botched electoral event by canceling the process and scheduling for the precincts that did not open to allow voting the following Sunday. This decision, of course, has led to accusations that the process was illegal.
Puerto Rico now faces an extraordinary crisis. Candidates are heading to the courts, where unelected judges will decide an especially important constitutional issue, embroiling the courts in an extremely dangerous and volatile political situation. Likewise, the purity, safety, and integrity of the process are now being questioned. The leading opposition gubernatorial candidate has accused Gov. Wanda Vazquez of “ killing democracy. ”
Despite this shameful episode highlighted in the major news in the U.S., the crisis now engulfing the island reveals a deep problem of governance within the entire governmental structure of the island. Just a few weeks ago, with only a tropical storm passing close to the island, the government-owned electrical power company struggled to return power to thousands of customers for the island. The democratic and governance crisis exposes how politics have clearly rotted the Puerto Rican government, which seems incapable of handling an electoral event or just about anything else.
Puerto Ricans deserve better. Since Hurricane Maria in 2017, the scandals that have engulfed the government have been numerous. A sitting governor was forced to resign, and the current governor is currently facing an investigation .
The electoral process provides our citizens with the opportunity “to clean house” by voting for positive, lasting, or meaningful change. However, even this is being denied to them now by a clearly incompetent electoral commission and a scarred and damaged government by the New Progressive Party.
This democratic crisis, however, can be an opportunity for a restoration in the hopes and dreams of the Puerto Rican people. Perhaps this debacle can become an opportunity for much needed reform in the electoral process and the way our government works. But such things can only be done when people are able to vote.
Ojel L. Rodriguez (@ojelrodriguez) is a freelance writer and graduate student from University College London.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-14--Conservatives missed the boat on the power of culture

Who has the power to shape the future ?
American conservatives think they know .
They have always been single-mindedly focused on politics .
Nothing is more important than to elect presidents and members of Congress .
That ’ s where the real power lies .
William F. Buckley ’ s National Review was an intellectual magazine , but its main concern was to capture the presidency .
People in the National Review circle played a central role in getting Barry Goldwater nominated as the Republican presidential candidate in 1964 .
What became known as the conservative “ movement ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When Ronald Reagan won the White House , the movement congratulated itself on having finally achieved its objective .
Conservatism had “ triumphed.
” But the “ triumph ” was more imaginary than real .
General developments within America ’ s national culture ( within academia , the arts , and entertainment ) were pointing in a much different direction .
These developments would have a greater impact in the long run than the Reagan presidency .
Preoccupied as they were with political victories and strategies , movement conservatives were not very attentive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people were evolving in the United States .
Yet , political power is circumscribed by the culture of voters and what it will make them accept or reject .
People live according to deep-seated hopes and fears , which tend to reflect the moral , intellectual , and aesthetic sensibilities that predominate in their society .
They will vote for politicians who seem to support their dreams and vote against others who rouse their anxieties — which raises the question of what gives human beings their notion of which is which ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this much should be evident : If there are people who can strongly influence the basic worldview of others , they have the power to shape society ’ s future .
It should be a central task for students of society and politics to know who they are and what views they advocate and to offer criticisms of and alternatives to dubious ideas .
But movement conservatives were largely uninterested in what informs the deeper beliefs of human beings .
Their eyes were firmly on the need to win political victories .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected from childhood onward by influences that color their views and tastes : the example and guidance of parents , children ’ s tales , music , novels , movies , teachers , and preachers .
We all have had experiences that we know to have affected our view of life permanently .
In persons of refined sensibilities , great works of art may permanently color their outlook .
Who really familiar with the impressionist painters can see blue skies , fluffy clouds , and water and trees without to some extent viewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Shakespeare can be unaffected by his view of humanity ?
Although we are never just passive recipients of such influences , our sense of what life is like is affected by how others have interpreted the world .
We tend to absorb the sentiments and perspectives of creative people who capture our minds and imaginations .
Those who are able to enter the innermost selves of millions of people and affect their idea of what will produce happiness and self-worth will have a power unmatched by politicians .
A particularly good example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profound effect that Hollywood has had on the public .
In the last few decades especially , this influence has , for the most part , been deeply subversive of the moral and cultural habits of traditional American civilization .
Becoming attuned to the Hollywood view of the world and of the entertainment industry in general has rearranged the values and priorities of many people in the U.S .
In the media , the perspectives of news programs and talk shows have conveyed a new notion of what is newsworthy and not , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late-night shows have taught people what to laugh at and what to ridicule .
Even the churches have absorbed a new type of moral sensibility .
The overall result is a way of reacting to politicians and daily events .
In the intellectual life , universities and schools have “ deconstructed ” American and Western civilization .
What might be called the Boston-Berkeley axis and the Hollywood-New York axis have interacted and mutually reinforced each other .
Campus teaching and academic books in the one axis and entertainment and news media in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a powerful new cultural substratum deeply at odds with traditional American moral-spiritual , intellectual , and artistic life .
The now-ubiquitous virtue-signaling pays tribute to America ’ s new cultural regime .
The counterculture and the New Left of the late 1960s and early 1970s grew out of cultural developments in the preceding decades .
The demonstrations , burnings , and violence associated with them subsided , but the radicalism was carried forward and extended in the universities , the arts , music , Hollywood , book publishing , advertising , the corporations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permeated the mass media .
Reagan benefited from a grassroots resurgence of earlier American civilization , but the moral , intellectual , and artistic radicalism continued its long march through American institutions .
For students of the sources of human conduct who have also been attentive to the mentioned developments , nothing could be less surprising than the current woke rebellion and cancel culture .
This is precisely what could have been expected from what has already happened in “ the culture.
” Some intellectuals did warn of the radicalization of the professors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corresponding developments in entertainment and the arts , which penetrate even more deeply into the heart of hearts of persons .
But movement conservatives never quite understood the centrality of what lies outside of politics narrowly understood .
They assumed and stubbornly persisted in believing that what really matters is political power .
They did not realize that once America ’ s cultural trendsetters had transmitted their radicalism to the general public , it would overwhelm and transform politics .
Will it finally dawn on movement conservatives that , in the long run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claes G. Ryn is a professor of politics and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Statesmanship at the Catholic University of America .

Who has the power to shape the future? American conservatives think they know. They have always been single-mindedly focused on politics. Nothing is more important than to elect presidents and members of Congress. That’s where the real power lies.
William F. Buckley’s National Review was an intellectual magazine, but its main concern was to capture the presidency. People in the National Review circle played a central role in getting Barry Goldwater nominated as the Republican presidential candidate in 1964. What became known as the conservative “movement” started out as the Goldwater movement.
When Ronald Reagan won the White House, the movement congratulated itself on having finally achieved its objective. Conservatism had “triumphed.”
But the “triumph” was more imaginary than real. General developments within America’s national culture (within academia, the arts, and entertainment) were pointing in a much different direction. These developments would have a greater impact in the long run than the Reagan presidency.
Preoccupied as they were with political victories and strategies, movement conservatives were not very attentive to how the deeper beliefs and sentiments of people were evolving in the United States. Yet, political power is circumscribed by the culture of voters and what it will make them accept or reject.
People live according to deep-seated hopes and fears, which tend to reflect the moral, intellectual, and aesthetic sensibilities that predominate in their society. They will vote for politicians who seem to support their dreams and vote against others who rouse their anxieties — which raises the question of what gives human beings their notion of which is which?
There is no simple answer, but this much should be evident: If there are people who can strongly influence the basic worldview of others, they have the power to shape society’s future. It should be a central task for students of society and politics to know who they are and what views they advocate and to offer criticisms of and alternatives to dubious ideas. But movement conservatives were largely uninterested in what informs the deeper beliefs of human beings. Their eyes were firmly on the need to win political victories.
The outlook and aspirations of human beings are affected from childhood onward by influences that color their views and tastes: the example and guidance of parents, children’s tales, music, novels, movies, teachers, and preachers. We all have had experiences that we know to have affected our view of life permanently. In persons of refined sensibilities, great works of art may permanently color their outlook. Who really familiar with the impressionist painters can see blue skies, fluffy clouds, and water and trees without to some extent viewing them through their eyes? Who familiar with Shakespeare can be unaffected by his view of humanity?
Although we are never just passive recipients of such influences, our sense of what life is like is affected by how others have interpreted the world. We tend to absorb the sentiments and perspectives of creative people who capture our minds and imaginations. Those who are able to enter the innermost selves of millions of people and affect their idea of what will produce happiness and self-worth will have a power unmatched by politicians.
A particularly good example of this kind of power is the profound effect that Hollywood has had on the public. In the last few decades especially, this influence has, for the most part, been deeply subversive of the moral and cultural habits of traditional American civilization. Becoming attuned to the Hollywood view of the world and of the entertainment industry in general has rearranged the values and priorities of many people in the U.S. In the media, the perspectives of news programs and talk shows have conveyed a new notion of what is newsworthy and not, admirable and despicable. Situation comedies and late-night shows have taught people what to laugh at and what to ridicule. Even the churches have absorbed a new type of moral sensibility. The overall result is a way of reacting to politicians and daily events.
In the intellectual life, universities and schools have “deconstructed” American and Western civilization. What might be called the Boston-Berkeley axis and the Hollywood-New York axis have interacted and mutually reinforced each other. Campus teaching and academic books in the one axis and entertainment and news media in the other have, over time, produced a powerful new cultural substratum deeply at odds with traditional American moral-spiritual, intellectual, and artistic life. The now-ubiquitous virtue-signaling pays tribute to America’s new cultural regime.
The counterculture and the New Left of the late 1960s and early 1970s grew out of cultural developments in the preceding decades. The demonstrations, burnings, and violence associated with them subsided, but the radicalism was carried forward and extended in the universities, the arts, music, Hollywood, book publishing, advertising, the corporations, and the churches. It soon permeated the mass media.
Reagan benefited from a grassroots resurgence of earlier American civilization, but the moral, intellectual, and artistic radicalism continued its long march through American institutions.
For students of the sources of human conduct who have also been attentive to the mentioned developments, nothing could be less surprising than the current woke rebellion and cancel culture. This is precisely what could have been expected from what has already happened in “the culture.”
Some intellectuals did warn of the radicalization of the professors. Not as many have warned of corresponding developments in entertainment and the arts, which penetrate even more deeply into the heart of hearts of persons.
But movement conservatives never quite understood the centrality of what lies outside of politics narrowly understood. They assumed and stubbornly persisted in believing that what really matters is political power. They did not realize that once America’s cultural trendsetters had transmitted their radicalism to the general public, it would overwhelm and transform politics.
Will it finally dawn on movement conservatives that, in the long run, the culture leads the way?
Claes G. Ryn is a professor of politics and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Statesmanship at the Catholic University of America.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-14--Biden goes with Harris. His acceptance speech will set campaign tone

This week is Joe Biden ’ s moment in the spotlight .
After keeping his campaign mostly low-key with small digital events since he became his party ’ s presumptive nominee at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , the former vice president will accept the Democratic presidential nod via virtual speech on Thursday .
His selection of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate will be flaunted at the convention in hopes of exciting Democrats to vote for the Biden ticket .
Harris is at once the most expected , conventional choice and a historic choice , pleasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Asian woman the presumptive vice presidential nominee .
Picking Harris , who repeatedly adopted far-left policies before walking them back during her own presidential run , also reflects Biden ’ s changing approach to governance and the presidency .
Biden increasingly sees himself as a Franklin Delano Roosevelt-like transition figure and is happy to adopt positions further to the left than he ran on in the Democratic primary in an effort to unify the more moderate and far-left wings of the party .
While Biden maintains an average national poll lead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign and other Democrats continuously warn not to become complacent due to the favorable poll numbers , citing the 2016 election .
“ The thing I 'm looking for is : Can Donald Trump get this to a 4-point race ?
” Democratic analyst and consultant Mary Anne Marsh told the Washington Examiner last week .
“ That 's where the 2016 race was as it went into Election Day.
” — by Emily Larsen The Biden acceptance speech : What does he have to do ?
On Thursday , Joe Biden will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Convention .
We asked people of varying backgrounds and ideologies to weight in what they thought Biden should and/or will focus on in his speech : Amy Walter , national editor of the Cook Political Report : `` Right now , this election is between Donald Trump and Not Donald Trump .
That ’ s worked out pretty well thus far for Biden .
But a presidential candidate has to be able to give voters a reason to vote for him/her .
What we know that voters are desperate for at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigate and articulate a path forward .
That ’ s the job ahead of him at this convention .
No need to make it about Trump . ''
Max Burns , Democratic strategist — `` Biden needs to focus on two key areas : convincing hesitant Republicans that his administration will be a safe and predictable alternative to Trump 's play-it-by-ear presidency and refining a national message that sells key progressive wish list items like climate action and criminal justice reform to voters turned off by how toxic the partisanship around those issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative commentator — `` I think his focus will have to be on unity and competence .
Biden and Trump both need people off the sidelines .
Biden gets the Left off the sidelines with a VP pick .
He gets the moderates and independents to come out for him by highlighting his ability to competently steer government and unite people for a common purpose .
Essentially , Biden needs to make the case that these are insane times largely because of Trump and that he can bring calm back to our lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — `` Biden needs to present a clear message to the American people that goes deeper than , 'Trump is terrible , so elect me . '
His words need to be forward-thinking and aspirational .
In essence , he needs to give people something to look forward to .
Thus far , he 's running on , ' I 'm going to make things normal again , ' and that does n't generate excitement . ''
Joe Scarborough , host of MSNBC 's Morning Joe — `` Joe Biden should use his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide Americans with a return to normalcy .
How he will fight to preserve constitutional norms , defend the rule of law , and respect checks and balances of Madisonian democracy that Donald Trump ignores .
Biden also needs to speak out against the lawless extremists in Portland and across America who spread chaos and undermine the cause of George Floyd , John Lewis , and Martin Luther King Jr. '' Jesse Ferguson , Former Deputy National Press Secretary for Hillary Clinton — `` This is one of Joe Biden 's best moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country and showcase how he 's the antidote to Donald Trump .
People need to come away with confidence that he 'll bring a stabilizing approach and trust that he can start to cure what Trump has done to us - from the corruption of our government to the division of our nation to the pandemic on our people .
Everyone knows that Donald Trump only cares about looking good , so now they can see the antidote is Joe Biden who has spent his life doing good . ''
Trump-Pence Campaign : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of attacking presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , known variously as `` Beijing Biden , '' `` Hidin ' Biden , '' and `` Sleepy Joe , '' Trump 's reelection team has a new target : Harris .
Biden announced the California Democrat as his running mate ahead of the national convention , and the Trump campaign wasted no time in trying to define her .
`` Phony Kamala '' is Trump 's nickname for Harris , which the campaign hopes will join the annals of Trump sobriquets alongside `` Low Energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' It 's a Trump branding exercise designed to capture some political weakness as the essence of a given opponent .
Harris has a reputation among detractors for political opportunism .
This perception helped doom her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination — but not before she leveled her attacks on Biden , which the Trump campaign has also been quick to use against the Democratic ticket .
Team Trump has launched many volleys against Harris , whose nomination takes on added importance because Biden would be the oldest president in U.S. history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a communications consultant who advised the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and John McCain .
Both the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have called her a radical , a disappointment to progressives , a reckless prosecutor — charges that may be individually true , Hynes said , but taken together add up to `` muddled messaging . ''
GOP operatives say the key is to find and land on one line of attack and prosecute it through Election Day .
— by W. James Antle III The list of Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 47-year House career is too long to recount .
Eyeing November , Democrats think the Alaska Republican 's off-the-cuff approach will catch up with him just as swing state polls show voters getting weary of Trump 's incendiary style .
The House Democrats ' campaign arm is once again arguing that Young is vulnerable .
It 's something it 's been trying since Young , now 87 , first won Alaska 's lone House seat in a March 1973 special election .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is talking up the chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an independent along Democratic lines , emphasizing the former , since Alaska remains a Republican-leaning state .
Democrats point to the epic list of Young 's controversial statements .
In 2010 , Young described the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as `` not an environmental disaster '' but a `` natural '' phenomenon .
And in 2014 , the former tugboat captain told a group of high school students who were mourning the suicide of a classmate that suicides could be blamed on a `` lack of support '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a sampling of old statements Democrats are dredging up , implicitly linking the most senior House member , known as its dean , to Trump .
Alaskans are tired of being embarrassed by their leaders in Washington , goes this line of argument .
There 's some reason to think this is having an effect .
That same PPP poll shows Trump leading Biden in Alaska 48 % -45 % , which would make for the closest Republican win in the state since 1960 .
But Young does n't seem to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Young 's campaign website says he is `` fortunate to have been named among the top 10 most effective lawmakers in Congress , crediting a laser-like focus on Alaska policy issues and the ability to move bills through the legislative process . ''
— by David Mark Senate Races : Democrats on the march , but Gary Peters stands alone Michigan ’ s junior senator is one of two vulnerable Democrats on the fall ballot — and the only one up for reelection in a swing state .
Senate Democrats are expressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads over Republican challenger John James in most public opinion polls .
But the incumbent might be more concerned than his colleagues back in Washington .
This month , the senator took to the airwaves in conservative northern Michigan ( not metropolitan Detroit ) to highlight his cooperation with Trump to protect the state ’ s cherry crop from unfair trade practices by Turkey .
“ Gary even went directly to President Trump in the White House , ” cherry grower association CFO Nels Veliquette says in a television advertisement from the Peters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump flashes on the screen .
Trump is especially reviled on the Left — and the president trails presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in Michigan in any event , weighed down by voter dissatisfaction with his handling of the coronavirus .
In tying himself to such a president , even in a geographically targeted ad , Peters is signaling that he believes he has a fight on his hands with James down the stretch of the fall campaign .
And with Republicans defending a narrow three-seat majority and under threat in as many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hang on could determine the balance of power in the Senate come 2021 .
— by David Drucker In the RealClearPolitics average in a head-to-head matchup , Biden leads Trump by just over 7 points .
The good news for Trump ?
Hillary Clinton had a similar lead at this time in 2016 .
The bad news for Trump ?
He has n't led in national poll since February .
Naturally , the question remains whether Joe Biden gets a `` convention bump , '' but with the pandemic affecting the event to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nomination in person , it remains to be seen what happens in the days after .
In the battleground states , Biden enjoys small leads in three states that Trump won in 2016 that had been Democratic strongholds — Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , and Michigan .
On the Senate side , elections raters at RealClearPolitics declared last week that South Carolina ’ s Senate race is a “ toss-up ” despite incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham having an average polling lead of 8 points over Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison .
Republican Sen. Martha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Kelly , but she has about half the money in her war chest that he has as of July 15 : $ 11 million compared to $ 21.2 million .
Recent polls consistently show Kelly with a lead , sometimes a double-digit lead .
In the House , Republicans are not optimistic about taking back control but could still see some gains and not losses .
Republicans think they may be able to flip some Democratic-held seats that Trump won , such as longtime Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson ’ s seat in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Republican internal poll last week found his challenger , former Minnesota Lt. Gov .
Michelle Fishbach , ahead of Peterson by 10 points .
— by Emily Larsen and Jay Caruso

Biden/Harris campaign
This week is Joe Biden’s moment in the spotlight. After keeping his campaign mostly low-key with small digital events since he became his party’s presumptive nominee at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the former vice president will accept the Democratic presidential nod via virtual speech on Thursday.
His selection of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate will be flaunted at the convention in hopes of exciting Democrats to vote for the Biden ticket. Harris is at once the most expected, conventional choice and a historic choice, pleasing rank-and-file Democrats by making a black and South Asian woman the presumptive vice presidential nominee.
Picking Harris, who repeatedly adopted far-left policies before walking them back during her own presidential run, also reflects Biden’s changing approach to governance and the presidency. Biden increasingly sees himself as a Franklin Delano Roosevelt-like transition figure and is happy to adopt positions further to the left than he ran on in the Democratic primary in an effort to unify the more moderate and far-left wings of the party.
While Biden maintains an average national poll lead of around 7 points, those on his campaign and other Democrats continuously warn not to become complacent due to the favorable poll numbers, citing the 2016 election.
“The thing I'm looking for is: Can Donald Trump get this to a 4-point race?” Democratic analyst and consultant Mary Anne Marsh told the Washington Examiner last week. “That's where the 2016 race was as it went into Election Day.” — by Emily Larsen
The Biden acceptance speech: What does he have to do?
On Thursday, Joe Biden will give his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. We asked people of varying backgrounds and ideologies to weight in what they thought Biden should and/or will focus on in his speech:
Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report: "Right now, this election is between Donald Trump and Not Donald Trump. That’s worked out pretty well thus far for Biden. But a presidential candidate has to be able to give voters a reason to vote for him/her. What we know that voters are desperate for at this moment is leadership — someone who can navigate and articulate a path forward. That’s the job ahead of him at this convention. No need to make it about Trump."
Max Burns, Democratic strategist — "Biden needs to focus on two key areas: convincing hesitant Republicans that his administration will be a safe and predictable alternative to Trump's play-it-by-ear presidency and refining a national message that sells key progressive wish list items like climate action and criminal justice reform to voters turned off by how toxic the partisanship around those issues has become."
Erick Erickson, conservative commentator — "I think his focus will have to be on unity and competence. Biden and Trump both need people off the sidelines. Biden gets the Left off the sidelines with a VP pick. He gets the moderates and independents to come out for him by highlighting his ability to competently steer government and unite people for a common purpose. Essentially, Biden needs to make the case that these are insane times largely because of Trump and that he can bring calm back to our lives."
Shermichael Singleton, political analyst — "Biden needs to present a clear message to the American people that goes deeper than, 'Trump is terrible, so elect me.' His words need to be forward-thinking and aspirational. In essence, he needs to give people something to look forward to. Thus far, he's running on, 'I'm going to make things normal again,' and that doesn't generate excitement."
Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's Morning Joe — "Joe Biden should use his speech to explain how his presidency will provide Americans with a return to normalcy. How he will fight to preserve constitutional norms, defend the rule of law, and respect checks and balances of Madisonian democracy that Donald Trump ignores. Biden also needs to speak out against the lawless extremists in Portland and across America who spread chaos and undermine the cause of George Floyd, John Lewis, and Martin Luther King Jr."
Jesse Ferguson, Former Deputy National Press Secretary for Hillary Clinton — "This is one of Joe Biden's best moments to speak to the whole of the country and showcase how he's the antidote to Donald Trump. People need to come away with confidence that he'll bring a stabilizing approach and trust that he can start to cure what Trump has done to us - from the corruption of our government to the division of our nation to the pandemic on our people. Everyone knows that Donald Trump only cares about looking good, so now they can see the antidote is Joe Biden who has spent his life doing good."
Trump-Pence Campaign: Taking on the Harris choice
After months of attacking presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, known variously as "Beijing Biden," "Hidin' Biden," and "Sleepy Joe," Trump's reelection team has a new target: Harris. Biden announced the California Democrat as his running mate ahead of the national convention, and the Trump campaign wasted no time in trying to define her.
"Phony Kamala" is Trump's nickname for Harris, which the campaign hopes will join the annals of Trump sobriquets alongside "Low Energy Jeb" and "Crooked Hillary." It's a Trump branding exercise designed to capture some political weakness as the essence of a given opponent. Harris has a reputation among detractors for political opportunism. This perception helped doom her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination — but not before she leveled her attacks on Biden, which the Trump campaign has also been quick to use against the Democratic ticket.
Team Trump has launched many volleys against Harris, whose nomination takes on added importance because Biden would be the oldest president in U.S. history. Too many, said Patrick Hynes, a communications consultant who advised the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and John McCain. Both the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have called her a radical, a disappointment to progressives, a reckless prosecutor — charges that may be individually true, Hynes said, but taken together add up to "muddled messaging." GOP operatives say the key is to find and land on one line of attack and prosecute it through Election Day. — by W. James Antle III
House Races: Is Don Young vulnerable?
The list of Rep. Don Young's politically incorrect utterances over his 47-year House career is too long to recount. Eyeing November, Democrats think the Alaska Republican's off-the-cuff approach will catch up with him just as swing state polls show voters getting weary of Trump's incendiary style.
The House Democrats' campaign arm is once again arguing that Young is vulnerable. It's something it's been trying since Young, now 87, first won Alaska's lone House seat in a March 1973 special election.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is talking up the chances of Alyse Galvin, who is running as an independent along Democratic lines, emphasizing the former, since Alaska remains a Republican-leaning state.
A Public Policy Polling survey released July 10 shows Galvin, a professional educator by background, leading Young 43%-41%.
Democrats point to the epic list of Young's controversial statements. In 2010, Young described the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as "not an environmental disaster" but a "natural" phenomenon. And in 2014, the former tugboat captain told a group of high school students who were mourning the suicide of a classmate that suicides could be blamed on a "lack of support" from family and friends.
That's just a sampling of old statements Democrats are dredging up, implicitly linking the most senior House member, known as its dean, to Trump. Alaskans are tired of being embarrassed by their leaders in Washington, goes this line of argument.
There's some reason to think this is having an effect. That same PPP poll shows Trump leading Biden in Alaska 48%-45%, which would make for the closest Republican win in the state since 1960.
But Young doesn't seem to be sweating it and is confident of reelection. Young's campaign website says he is "fortunate to have been named among the top 10 most effective lawmakers in Congress, crediting a laser-like focus on Alaska policy issues and the ability to move bills through the legislative process." — by David Mark
Senate Races: Democrats on the march, but Gary Peters stands alone
Michigan’s junior senator is one of two vulnerable Democrats on the fall ballot — and the only one up for reelection in a swing state. Senate Democrats are expressing confidence about Peters, pointing to sizable leads over Republican challenger John James in most public opinion polls. But the incumbent might be more concerned than his colleagues back in Washington. This month, the senator took to the airwaves in conservative northern Michigan (not metropolitan Detroit) to highlight his cooperation with Trump to protect the state’s cherry crop from unfair trade practices by Turkey.
“Gary even went directly to President Trump in the White House,” cherry grower association CFO Nels Veliquette says in a television advertisement from the Peters campaign, as a flattering picture of Trump flashes on the screen.
Trump is especially reviled on the Left — and the president trails presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in Michigan in any event, weighed down by voter dissatisfaction with his handling of the coronavirus. In tying himself to such a president, even in a geographically targeted ad, Peters is signaling that he believes he has a fight on his hands with James down the stretch of the fall campaign. And with Republicans defending a narrow three-seat majority and under threat in as many as seven states, whether Peters can hang on could determine the balance of power in the Senate come 2021. — by David Drucker
Latest polling news
In the RealClearPolitics average in a head-to-head matchup, Biden leads Trump by just over 7 points. The good news for Trump? Hillary Clinton had a similar lead at this time in 2016. The bad news for Trump? He hasn't led in national poll since February. Naturally, the question remains whether Joe Biden gets a "convention bump," but with the pandemic affecting the event to the point that Biden won't accept the nomination in person, it remains to be seen what happens in the days after. In the battleground states, Biden enjoys small leads in three states that Trump won in 2016 that had been Democratic strongholds — Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
On the Senate side, elections raters at RealClearPolitics declared last week that South Carolina’s Senate race is a “toss-up” despite incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham having an average polling lead of 8 points over Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison. Republican Sen. Martha McSally is hoping to fend off astronaut Mark Kelly, but she has about half the money in her war chest that he has as of July 15: $11 million compared to $21.2 million. Recent polls consistently show Kelly with a lead, sometimes a double-digit lead.
In the House, Republicans are not optimistic about taking back control but could still see some gains and not losses. Republicans think they may be able to flip some Democratic-held seats that Trump won, such as longtime Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson’s seat in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District. A Republican internal poll last week found his challenger, former Minnesota Lt. Gov. Michelle Fishbach, ahead of Peterson by 10 points. — by Emily Larsen and Jay Caruso