thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--'Why bother?' Pelosi repeats Biden should skip debates

Less than a week before the first presidential debate , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she still does n't think Joe Biden should face off against President Trump .
The California Democrat said on Friday her concerns have nothing to do with the Democratic nominee , noting she has no doubt Biden would be `` excellent , '' but rather , they are about Trump 's relationship with the truth .
`` I just think that the president has no fidelity to fact or truth and actually in his comments the last few days , '' Pelosi said on Morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitution of the United States .
He and his henchmen are a danger , with their comments , are a danger to our democracy . ''
Pelosi first said Biden should skip all the debates a month ago .
Biden refused to consider boycotting the debates and told MSNBC he would be a “ fact checker on the floor ” of the contests .
Biden declining to show up would give Trump and his allies more ammo to attack the former vice president for `` campaigning from his basement '' during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mocked Biden for calling a `` lid '' on public activities before 9 a.m. Three presidential debates are scheduled between Sep. 29 and Oct. 22 , with the first one on Tuesday being moderated by Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace and taking place in Cleveland , Ohio .
Biden holds a wide lead over Trump in most national polls .
There are 39 days until Election Day .

Less than a week before the first presidential debate, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she still doesn't think Joe Biden should face off against President Trump.
The California Democrat said on Friday her concerns have nothing to do with the Democratic nominee, noting she has no doubt Biden would be "excellent," but rather, they are about Trump's relationship with the truth.
"I just think that the president has no fidelity to fact or truth and, actually in his comments the last few days, no fidelity to the Constitution of the United States," Pelosi said on Morning on CBS. "He and his henchmen are a danger, with their comments, are a danger to our democracy."
"Why bother?" she added.
Pelosi first said Biden should skip all the debates a month ago. Biden refused to consider boycotting the debates and told MSNBC he would be a “fact-checker on the floor” of the contests.
Biden declining to show up would give Trump and his allies more ammunition to attack the former vice president for "campaigning from his basement" during the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, Trump mocked Biden for calling a "lid" on public activities before 9 a.m.
Trump recently told the Washington Examiner that he and Biden should take drug tests before the debates, speculating, without presenting evidence, that Biden improved his debate performance later in the Democratic primary season by taking drugs. Trump generated controversy on Wednesday when he declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power as he discussed concerns about the potential for voter fraud with widespread mail-in voting, saying, "The ballots are out of control."
Three presidential debates are scheduled between Tuesday and Oct. 22, with the first one being moderated by Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace and taking place in Cleveland.
Biden holds a wide lead over Trump in most national polls. There are 39 days until Election Day.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--'Ridiculous': White House and Trump allies push back on 'peaceful transfer' controversy

The White House sought Thursday to tamp down a firestorm over whether President Trump would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if defeated in November , as the president ’ s allies argued his comments were misconstrued and it was the Democrats who failed to accept the 2016 election results .
Trump told Fox News he would a Supreme Court ruling that he had lost to Democratic challenger Joe Biden .
“ The president will accept the results of a free and fair election , ” said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany in Thursday ’ s briefing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more fitting to be asked of Democrats.
” McEnany opened the briefing by listing examples of what she described as Democrats violating American political norms .
“ They 've proposed court-packing — an egregious idea , ” she said .
“ They 've entertained impeachment as punishment for the president exercising his lawful Article Two , Section Two authority to appoint — nominate , rather — a justice to the Supreme Court .
They 've advocated for the abolition of the Electoral College.
” “ These are all the tactics that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” McEnany continued .
`` Likewise , they 're endorsing a mass mail-out ballot system that will likely lead to the kind of weeklong delay New York witnessed in its recent primary.
” When asked directly about Trump ’ s Wednesday comments , McEnany was dismissive of the president ’ s interlocutor .
“ You are referring to the question asked by the Playboy reporter , right ?
” she asked .
“ He could have answered the question better , sure , ” conceded a Republican operative close to the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he said anything close to holding on to power after a loss is ridiculous . ''
“ Trump is never going to concede the election before the votes are counted , ” said the operative .
“ He isn ’ t going to unilaterally disarm , while Democrats are lawyering up in every close state.
” The cleanup came after a number of top Republicans publicly , if only implicitly , Trump ’ s previous noncommittal response .
This included not just Never Trumpers like Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming , the third-ranking Republican in the House .
Liberals went further .
“ What the president is doing here is the most explicit that he has been about his plans for this election , ” MSNBC ’ s Chris Hayes told his viewers on Wednesday night .
“ He ’ s plotting , in open , in public , repeatedly , a coup to steal the election and hold on to power.
” Hayes called it an “ authoritarian power grab.
” Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism of mail-in ballots made a more modest claim : that Trump was sowing seeds of doubt about the outcome in preparation for a Bush v. Gore-style Supreme Court ruling on his behalf , on the eve of naming what would be his third justice .
Hayes warned of a scenario “ where the margins are tight and the outcome is not obvious right away .
And that ’ s what the president is very explicitly planning for , because those tight margins , that ambiguity sets in motion his plan to steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a vague answer to a Wednesday press question about transferring power after a defeat .
`` We ’ re going to have to see what happens .
You know that I ’ ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots , and the ballots are a disaster , ” he said .
`` Get rid of the ballots , and you ’ ll have a very peaceful — there won ’ t be a transfer , frankly .
There will be a continuation . ''
Allies of the president argued he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal fight that will happen in a close , contested election in multiple states , which recent polling suggests is possible .
Hillary Clinton has publicly urged Biden not to concede if the result is ambiguous .
Biden has said he would accept a loss if every vote was counted .
“ Boring , ” was the one-word response given by a former Trump 2016 campaign official when asked about the reaction to the president ’ s comments .
Another veteran of that run pointed out that even though Trump warned against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any perceived unfairness to him , it was Clinton who spent the next four years casting doubt on the legitimacy of the outcome and suggesting Russia fixed the election , followed by a lengthy special counsel investigation and ultimately impeachment .
Democrats have , in the past , discredited Republican election wins , citing the supposed “ Southern Strategy ” employed by Richard Nixon or the “ October surprise ” allegation that Ronald Reagan ’ s team negotiated to extend the Iranian hostage crisis to influence the 1980 election .
Still , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about leaving power after a loss is not limited to liberals .
“ What surprises me is that anyone is surprised , ” said Christian Ferry , a Republican strategist who has endorsed Biden .
“ He has been laying the groundwork for this argument for months , and this time , finally said exactly what is on his mind .
”

The White House sought Thursday to tamp down a firestorm over whether President Trump would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if defeated in November, as the president’s allies argued his comments were misconstrued and it was the Democrats who failed to accept the 2016 election results.
Trump told Fox News he would accept if the Supreme Court ruled he had lost to Democratic challenger Joe Biden. “The president will accept the results of a free and fair election,” said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany in Thursday’s briefing. “But I think that your question is more fitting to be asked of Democrats.”
McEnany opened the briefing by listing examples of what she described as Democrats violating American political norms. “They've proposed court-packing — an egregious idea,” she said. “They've entertained impeachment as punishment for the president exercising his lawful Article Two, Section Two authority to appoint — nominate, rather — a justice to the Supreme Court. They've advocated for the abolition of the Electoral College.”
“These are all the tactics that they're using to sow chaos and discord,” McEnany continued. "Likewise, they're endorsing a mass mail-out ballot system that will likely lead to the kind of weeklong delay New York witnessed in its recent primary.”
When asked directly about Trump’s Wednesday comments, McEnany was dismissive of the president’s interlocutor. “You are referring to the question asked by the Playboy reporter, right?” she asked.
“He could have answered the question better, sure,” conceded a Republican operative close to the Trump reelection campaign. “But the idea that he said anything close to holding on to power after a loss is ridiculous."
“Trump is never going to concede the election before the votes are counted,” said the operative. “He isn’t going to unilaterally disarm, while Democrats are lawyering up in every close state.”
The cleanup came after a number of top Republicans publicly, if only implicitly, disavowed Trump’s previous noncommittal response. This included not just Never Trumpers like Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, but also White House allies such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the third-ranking Republican in the House.
[Exclusive: Pence vows 'aggressive' effort to safeguard a 'free and fair election']
Liberals went further. “What the president is doing here is the most explicit that he has been about his plans for this election,” MSNBC’s Chris Hayes told his viewers on Wednesday night. “He’s plotting, in open, in public, repeatedly, a coup to steal the election and hold on to power.” Hayes called it an “authoritarian power grab.”
Others who pointed to Trump’s frequent criticism of mail-in ballots made a more modest claim: that Trump was sowing seeds of doubt about the outcome in preparation for a Bush v. Gore-style Supreme Court ruling on his behalf, on the eve of naming what would be his third justice. Hayes warned of a scenario “where the margins are tight and the outcome is not obvious right away. And that’s what the president is very explicitly planning for, because those tight margins, that ambiguity sets in motion his plan to steal the election.”
Trump sparked the controversy with a vague answer to a Wednesday press question about transferring power after a defeat. "We’re going to have to see what happens. You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster,” he said. "Get rid of the ballots, and you’ll have a very peaceful — there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation."
Allies of the president argued he was simply keeping his options open for any legal fight that will happen in a close, contested election in multiple states, which recent polling suggests is possible. Hillary Clinton has publicly urged Biden not to concede if the result is ambiguous. Biden has said he would accept a loss if every vote was counted.
“Boring,” was the one-word response given by a former Trump 2016 campaign official when asked about the reaction to the president’s comments. Another veteran of that run pointed out that even though Trump warned against a “rigged” election anytime there was any perceived unfairness to him, it was Clinton who spent the next four years casting doubt on the legitimacy of the outcome and suggesting Russia fixed the election, followed by a lengthy special counsel investigation and ultimately impeachment.
Democrats have, in the past, discredited Republican election wins, citing the supposed “Southern Strategy” employed by Richard Nixon or the “October surprise” allegation that Ronald Reagan’s team negotiated to extend the Iranian hostage crisis to influence the 1980 election.
Still, the criticism of Trump’s approach to questions about leaving power after a loss is not limited to liberals. “What surprises me is that anyone is surprised,” said Christian Ferry, a Republican strategist who has endorsed Biden. “He has been laying the groundwork for this argument for months, and this time, finally said exactly what is on his mind.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Whatever happened to Kamala Harris?

Whatever happened to Kamala Harris?

Kamala Harris was widely thought to be .
The former prosecutor earned a reputation for rising to the moment during high-stakes situations , such as her grilling of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation hearing and even , awkwardly , when she confronted her now-running mate in the first round of Democratic primary debates last summer .
But the California senator has kept a conspicuously low-profile since Labor Day , declining to make news-shaping statements or upstaging the two-term vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee .
Harris did generate headlines after she was unveiled as Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has led the campaign ’ s minority voter outreach efforts .
However , it ’ s her light footprint on the trail that ’ s now starting to receive attention .
NBC News reporter Deepa Shivaram , for instance , called out Harris ’ s lack of media access this week in a tweet .
“ A reminder that it has been 42 days since Harris was tapped as the VP pick .
There are 42 days until election day .
The senator has not once formally taken questions from the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted in a follow-up tweet that she was referring to Harris not answering queries in an official conference setting .
Harris got in some hot water when she said in a CNN interview earlier this month that she doesn ’ t trust Trump alone on a .
Critics said .
And in a Today show sit-down , she beat Biden in calling for the police officer who shot Kenosha , Wisconsin , man Jacob Blake to be charged .
Yet in most of her public appearances and interviews , Harris has hardly strayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t read it fully yet , but there 's no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserve justice yesterday , today , and tomorrow , ” she told congressional reporters Wednesday after a Louisville , Kentucky , grand jury charged an ex-detective with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment , tangentially related to Taylor ’ s death .
Part of the strategy behind Harris ’ s minimal profile could be to ensure that she doesn ’ t outshine Biden at the top of the ticket .
Her septuagenarian teammate has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for relying too heavily on teleprompters and note cards during public events and interviews .
And laying low helps insulate Harris from critics asking who is directing their partnership .
When Biden offered Harris the job , he told her she would always be the last person in the room before he made any major decision .
Republican messaging accuses Harris of , amplifying recent mistakes from both Biden and Harris in which they accidentally refer to a .
She and Biden also issued separate statements last week to mark Supreme Court Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Republican strategist Cesar Conda , who used to advise former Vice President Dick Cheney , attributed Harris ’ s downsized role to electoral politics .
“ I think they have figured out that Harris and her extreme liberal profile is a liability in the handful of critical Midwestern states that they must win , ” he told the Washington Examiner .
Harris is set to become a central figure in the Senate as the chamber considers whomever President Trump picks as his third Supreme Court appointee on Saturday .
Harris still sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans on the panel will help shepherd Trump ’ s nominee through the confirmation process .
It was Harris ’ s pressing of Kavanaugh that catapulted her to national prominence , following up her performance during other hearings , including with Attorney General Bill Barr .
Harris ’ pared-down campaign schedule still echoes Biden ’ s though .
Biden and Harris ’ s quiet bid may be exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and other responsibilities , such as debate preparation .
The Trump campaign has largely ignored COVID-19 public health restrictions .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump or Vice President Mike Pence notching up significant air miles as they crisscross the country looking to shore up support .
Biden has organized very few multistate days on his public itinerary .
Meanwhile , Trump will visit Florida , Georgia , and Virginia on Friday .

Kamala Harris was widely thought to be a likely “attack dog” for Joe Biden .
The former prosecutor earned a reputation for rising to the moment during high-stakes situations , such as her grilling of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation hearing and even, awkwardly, when she confronted her now-running mate in the first round of Democratic primary debates last summer.
But the California senator has kept a conspicuously low-profile since Labor Day, declining to make news-shaping statements or upstaging the two-term vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.
Harris did generate headlines after she was unveiled as Biden’s No. 2 last month and has led the campaign’s minority voter outreach efforts. However, it’s her light footprint on the trail that’s now starting to receive attention.
NBC News reporter Deepa Shivaram, for instance, called out Harris’s lack of media access this week in a tweet.
“A reminder that it has been 42 days since Harris was tapped as the VP pick. There are 42 days until election day. The senator has not once formally taken questions from the press,” Shivaram wrote Tuesday.
Shivaram noted in a follow-up tweet that she was referring to Harris not answering queries in an official conference setting.
Harris got in some hot water when she said in a CNN interview earlier this month that she doesn’t trust Trump alone on a coronavirus vaccine’s safety . Critics said that stokes dangerous anti-vaccine sentiment .
And in a Today show sit-down, she beat Biden in calling for the police officer who shot Kenosha, Wisconsin, man Jacob Blake to be charged .
Yet in most of her public appearances and interviews, Harris has hardly strayed from campaign talking points.
"I haven’t read it fully yet, but there's no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserve justice yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” she told congressional reporters Wednesday after a Louisville, Kentucky, grand jury charged an ex-detective with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment , tangentially related to Taylor’s death.
Part of the strategy behind Harris’s minimal profile could be to ensure that she doesn’t outshine Biden at the top of the ticket . Her septuagenarian teammate has stumbled on the stump, attracting criticism for relying too heavily on teleprompters and note cards during public events and interviews .
And laying low helps insulate Harris from critics asking who is directing their partnership.
When Biden offered Harris the job, he told her she would always be the last person in the room before he made any major decision. Republican messaging accuses Harris of being the duo’s real power source , amplifying recent mistakes from both Biden and Harris in which they accidentally refer to a Harris administration . She and Biden also issued separate statements last week to mark Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death.
But Republican strategist Cesar Conda, who used to advise former Vice President Dick Cheney, attributed Harris’s downsized role to electoral politics.
“I think they have figured out that Harris and her extreme liberal profile is a liability in the handful of critical Midwestern states that they must win,” he told the Washington Examiner.
Harris is set to become a central figure in the Senate as the chamber considers whomever President Trump picks as his third Supreme Court appointee on Saturday. Harris still sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Republicans on the panel will help shepherd Trump’s nominee through the confirmation process. It was Harris’s pressing of Kavanaugh that catapulted her to national prominence, following up her performance during other hearings, including with Attorney General Bill Barr.
Harris’ pared-down campaign schedule still echoes Biden’s though.
Biden and Harris’s quiet bid may be exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and other responsibilities, such as debate preparation. The Trump campaign has largely ignored COVID-19 public health restrictions. Yet similar time pressures haven’t stopped Trump or Vice President Mike Pence notching up significant air miles as they crisscross the country looking to shore up support.
Biden has organized very few multistate days on his public itinerary. Meanwhile, Trump will visit Florida, Georgia, and Virginia on Friday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--'The new Ohio': Wisconsin could decide Trump vs. Biden

Republican strategist Brad Todd likes to say that “ Ohio is the new Missouri , and Wisconsin is the new Ohio ” to explain how central to winning the White House the Badger State has become since President Trump captured the Midwestern battleground four years ago .
Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin by a slim 0.7 percentage points , becoming the first Republican to collect the state ’ s 10 Electoral College votes since Ronald Reagan in 1984 .
In doing so , the president established Wisconsin as a crucial swing state that demands the constant care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , Wisconsin is receiving the kind of attention from Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden , in the form of campaign visits and advertising , that , in past years , was reserved for now GOP-leaning Ohio — and before that , bellwether-turned-ruby-red Missouri .
That dynamic was apparent even before the controversial shooting of a black man by a white police officer sparked days of civil unrest in Kenosha , Wisconsin , and roiled the presidential race .
Less than six weeks to Election Day , the contest is a dogfight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ striking distance .
With no other contests at the top of Wisconsin 's ticket , the race is all about Trump , a dynamic that can work for and against the president .
Nearly 86 % of Wisconsin residents are white , while just over 6 % black , and whites dominate both the state ’ s rural communities and the suburban Milwaukee “ WOW '' counties of Waukesha , Ozaukee , and Washington .
Those demographics make Wisconsin hospitable territory for Trump , who has performed even better with white voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominees .
But Wisconsin voters are used to disagreeing civilly , making them ill-suited for Trump , a politician inclined toward provocative rhetoric and political combat .
In the 2018 midterm elections , that odd pairing resulted in a backlash against Trump that saw Democrats take back the governor ’ s mansion and defend a Senate seat .
If Biden continues to perform better with white voters than did Clinton , that , combined with the state ’ s robust and engaged Democratic electorate , could spell trouble for the president .

Republican strategist Brad Todd likes to say that “Ohio is the new Missouri, and Wisconsin is the new Ohio” to explain how central to winning the White House the Badger State has become since President Trump captured the Midwestern battleground four years ago.
Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin by a slim 0.7 percentage points, becoming the first Republican to collect the state’s 10 Electoral College votes since Ronald Reagan in 1984. In doing so, the president established Wisconsin as a crucial swing state that demands the constant care of Democratic and Republican contenders alike.
And so, Wisconsin is receiving the kind of attention from Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, in the form of campaign visits and advertising, that, in past years, was reserved for now GOP-leaning Ohio — and before that, bellwether-turned-ruby-red Missouri. That dynamic was apparent even before the controversial shooting of a black man by a white police officer sparked days of civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and roiled the presidential race.
Less than six weeks to Election Day, the contest is a dogfight. Trump trails Biden but is within striking distance. With no other contests at the top of Wisconsin's ticket, the race is all about Trump, a dynamic that can work for and against the president.
Nearly 86% of Wisconsin residents are white, while just over 6% black, and whites dominate both the state’s rural communities and the suburban Milwaukee “WOW" counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington. Those demographics make Wisconsin hospitable territory for Trump, who has performed even better with white voters, per capita, than other recent Republican presidential nominees.
But Wisconsin voters are used to disagreeing civilly, making them ill-suited for Trump, a politician inclined toward provocative rhetoric and political combat. In the 2018 midterm elections, that odd pairing resulted in a backlash against Trump that saw Democrats take back the governor’s mansion and defend a Senate seat.
If Biden continues to perform better with white voters than did Clinton, that, combined with the state’s robust and engaged Democratic electorate, could spell trouble for the president.


Engaging the electorate

People are highly engaged with the 2020 presidential election — so much so that a record number of respondents told a recent survey that this year ’ s results “ really matter ” to them .
There are a few reasons why voters might care more about the 2020 election than past elections .
Social media has made American politics much more accessible and , therefore , more interesting .
This year has been one long series of unfortunate events that has forced the public to pay attention .
And efforts to bolster mail-in voting have successfully increased voter turnout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This last factor , specifically , has had an interesting effect on the electorate .
Multiple studies have shown that the states that moved rapidly to expand mail-in balloting amid the coronavirus pandemic are seeing some of the highest levels of voter turnout in years .
In Iowa , for example , total turnout reached 24 % during this year ’ s June primaries for Congress , which is the state ’ s highest-ever turnout for a primary , according to The Hill .
In 2016 , Iowa only experienced a turnout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are worried that the increase in mail-in voting will lead to unnecessary complications on Election Day .
Nearly half of the respondents said in a recent survey that they expect to have difficulties casting a ballot , and even more expect this year ’ s election to be the most contentious they ’ ve ever seen .
There is very little confidence in the system , even as it becomes more convenient .
Unfortunately , there is little chance this will change any time soon .
Both political parties seem set on exacerbating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing both Democrats and Republicans can agree on is that if their team loses , it will be because the other side cheated .
This kind of thinking has become so commonplace that 75 % of President Trump 's supporters and 60 % of Joe Biden 's supporters both agreed that election officials will probably cheat this year , according to the American Social Survey .
In short , the public cares a lot about what happens in November , but many have preemptively lost faith in the election process and its results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this sustainable ?

People are highly engaged with the 2020 presidential election — so much so that a record number of respondents told a recent survey that this year’s results “really matter” to them.
There are a few reasons why voters might care more about the 2020 election than past elections. Social media has made American politics much more accessible and, therefore, more interesting. This year has been one long series of unfortunate events that has forced the public to pay attention. And efforts to bolster mail-in voting have successfully increased voter turnout among people who would not normally vote.
This last factor, specifically, has had an interesting effect on the electorate. Multiple studies have shown that the states that moved rapidly to expand mail-in balloting amid the coronavirus pandemic are seeing some of the highest levels of voter turnout in years. In Iowa, for example, total turnout reached 24% during this year’s June primaries for Congress, which is the state’s highest-ever turnout for a primary, according to The Hill. In 2016, Iowa only experienced a turnout of 15%.
But many people are worried that the increase in mail-in voting will lead to unnecessary complications on Election Day. Nearly half of the respondents said in a recent survey that they expect to have difficulties casting a ballot, and even more expect this year’s election to be the most contentious they’ve ever seen. There is very little confidence in the system, even as it becomes more convenient.
Unfortunately, there is little chance this will change any time soon. Both political parties seem set on exacerbating current tensions. Indeed, the one thing both Democrats and Republicans can agree on is that if their team loses, it will be because the other side cheated. This kind of thinking has become so commonplace that 75% of President Trump's supporters and 60% of Joe Biden's supporters both agreed that election officials will probably cheat this year, according to the American Social Survey.
In short, the public cares a lot about what happens in November, but many have preemptively lost faith in the election process and its results. That raises the question: Is this sustainable?


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Team Trump hopes to capitalize on SCOTUS battle; lots of lids for Biden

Trump campaign : Democrats could overreach on reaction to new Supreme Court justice Democrats are going to be furious with any Supreme Court appointment before the election , so why not make sure they are super furious ?
That is what Trump insiders are thinking as the wrangling over a replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg hits fever pitch .
Democrats are openly mulling the idea of abandoning the Senate filibuster , packing the court with liberals to ensure conservatives stay out of power for decades , and even launching fresh impeachment proceedings .
With all the names favored by President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it means Republicans foresee an election lift from the debate over abortion , healthcare , and other issues .
That goes without saying .
“ Supreme Court nominees were a huge issue for voters in 2016 , and they will be again in 2020 , ” said Tim Murtaugh , communications director for the Trump campaign .
But with the stakes so high , the more conservative the figure — the more anti-abortion , the more celebrated by the base — the more the choice will not only excite Republican voters but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more extreme response .
It is why Amy Coney Barrett , a Catholic mother of seven who is popular with conservative Christians and anti-abortion activists , was the front-runner rather than Barbara Lagoa , whose smooth , bipartisan confirmation for the 11th Circuit was judged a sign of weakness among some White House confidants .
In response , Democrats are openly discussing expanding the Supreme Court to dilute its conservative makeup if Trump gets to add his justice , much to the glee of Republican strategists .
“ They ’ ve gone from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ norms to now being the ones who want to blow it all up , ” said a source familiar with White House thinking .
— by Rob Crilly Senate : Lindsey Graham has a fight on his hands It 's South Carolina , the ruby-red Southern state that loves President Trump .
And Lindsey Graham has a problem .
The Republican senator is running for reelection against , as it turns out , one of the most well-funded Democratic challengers in the 2020 field , and that Democrat 's money is having an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump in a comfortable position against Democratic nominee Joe Biden — as expected .
But Graham is in a tussle .
Jaime Harrison , a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party , has raised tens of millions of dollars for his campaign , with liberal activists across the country contributing in the hope of sparking an upset for Graham , Trump 's good friend and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee .
Harrison , who has worked in Washington , D.C. , as a lobbyist but is a South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can succeed on the strength of a war chest capable of fielding the kind of aggressive campaign that no Democrat has ever had the resources to finance , combined with Graham fatigue and disaffected Republican voters who live in Greater Charleston .
But the race is still Graham 's to lose , especially after the death of iconic liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Harrison can not win without the crossover votes of South Carolinians who plan to support Trump .
That 's a tall order , especially considering the fact that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice should be enough to remind voters tempted to give Harrison a try exactly why Republican control of the Senate matters .
As Judiciary Committee chairman , Graham is sure to make sure they do n't forget .
— by David M. Drucker Biden campaign : What 's with all the lids ?
Joe Biden is showing signs of repeating the same campaign error that Hillary Clinton made in 2016 .
In nine out of the first 24 days of September , Biden ’ s campaign called a “ lid , ” press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public appearances or movements to track , before noon .
While the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee may still participate in remote news interviews and fundraisers when he is not giving a public speech or traveling , his lack of movement , even in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic , has raised eyebrows among political observers .
His campaign even called a lid for the day at 9:34 a.m. on the Saturday following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death , surprising some people who thought that he might take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the Supreme Court that day in a gesture that could please Democrats .
He had addressed her passing in a brief statement the night she died and delivered a lengthier speech about her passing and the open seat the next day .
Some analysts thought that Clinton ’ s noticeably fewer campaign stops than Donald Trump in 2016 were a reason for her loss .
Trump made 106 campaign appearances to Clinton 's 71 in the last 10 weeks of that campaign , according to FiveThirtyEight .
With less than six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well on track to surpass the Democratic nominee in the number of campaign stops , despite the criticism he ’ s received for the lack of social distancing and consistent mask-wearing by those at his rallies .
Biden ’ s lack of aggressive campaigning , including his campaign ’ s decision not to send campaign organizers door to door , is stoking worries that even though he has a polling lead , Biden could be on track to repeat Clinton ’ s shocking loss .
— by Emily Larsen House : Open seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats think their Texas Turnaround begins in places such as the 22nd Congressional District , which takes in a series of leafy Houston suburbs .
Republican Rep. Pete Olson is retiring from the House after 12 years .
The race to succeed him reflects changing demographics and voter attitudes in Texas that give Democrats hopes of breaking the longtime GOP political hammerlock on the Lone Star State .
The Democratic nominee , Sri Preston Kulkarni , represents the sort of professional-class resident increasingly common in the 22nd Distrct , which was once a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a master 's degree from Harvard University 's Kennedy School of Government and was a foreign service officer in the State Department for 14 years .
Assignments took Kulkarni , 41 , to Israel , Jamaica , Iraq , Russia , and Taiwan .
His Republican rival , Troy Nehls , has a more traditional background for a Texas politician .
The Liberty University graduate , 52 , is sheriff of Fort Bend County .
Nehls enlisted in the Army Reserve at age 20 , seeing tours of duty in Afghanistan , Bosnia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bronze Stars along the way .
Back home , Nehls joined the police department in Richmond , Texas , and earned a master 's degree in criminal justice from the University of Houston-Downtown .
The district is ancestrally Republican , with previously represented by libertarian icon Ron Paul , as well as Tom DeLay , who led House Republicans with an iron fist in the late 1990s and early 2000s .
In 2012 , voters there backed Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama 62 % -37 % .
But in 2016 , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ margin , 52 % -44 % .
This is Kulkarni 's second try for the seat .
He ran against Olson in 2018 and lost with 46.5 % of the vote , in the district 's closest race since Olson was first elected .
— by David Mark

Trump campaign: Democrats could overreach on reaction to new Supreme Court justice
Democrats are going to be furious with any Supreme Court appointment before the election, so why not make sure they are super furious?
That is what Trump insiders are thinking as the wrangling over a replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg hits fever pitch. Democrats are openly mulling the idea of abandoning the Senate filibuster, packing the court with liberals to ensure conservatives stay out of power for decades, and even launching fresh impeachment proceedings.
With all the names favored by President Trump coming with conservative and originalist credentials, it means Republicans foresee an election lift from the debate over abortion, healthcare, and other issues. That goes without saying.
“Supreme Court nominees were a huge issue for voters in 2016, and they will be again in 2020,” said Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign.
But with the stakes so high, the more conservative the figure — the more anti-abortion, the more celebrated by the base — the more the choice will not only excite Republican voters but infuriate Democrats, nudging them toward a more extreme response.
It is why Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic mother of seven who is popular with conservative Christians and anti-abortion activists, was the front-runner rather than Barbara Lagoa, whose smooth, bipartisan confirmation for the 11th Circuit was judged a sign of weakness among some White House confidants.
In response, Democrats are openly discussing expanding the Supreme Court to dilute its conservative makeup if Trump gets to add his justice, much to the glee of Republican strategists.
“They’ve gone from saying Trump is the one abusing long-established norms to now being the ones who want to blow it all up,” said a source familiar with White House thinking. — by Rob Crilly
Senate: Lindsey Graham has a fight on his hands
It's South Carolina, the ruby-red Southern state that loves President Trump. And Lindsey Graham has a problem.
The Republican senator is running for reelection against, as it turns out, one of the most well-funded Democratic challengers in the 2020 field, and that Democrat's money is having an impact. Recent public opinion polls show President Trump in a comfortable position against Democratic nominee Joe Biden — as expected. But Graham is in a tussle.
Jaime Harrison, a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, has raised tens of millions of dollars for his campaign, with liberal activists across the country contributing in the hope of sparking an upset for Graham, Trump's good friend and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Harrison, who has worked in Washington, D.C., as a lobbyist but is a South Carolina native, believes his underdog bid can succeed on the strength of a war chest capable of fielding the kind of aggressive campaign that no Democrat has ever had the resources to finance, combined with Graham fatigue and disaffected Republican voters who live in Greater Charleston.
But the race is still Graham's to lose, especially after the death of iconic liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Harrison cannot win without the crossover votes of South Carolinians who plan to support Trump. That's a tall order, especially considering the fact that the Senate debate to confirm a Supreme Court justice should be enough to remind voters tempted to give Harrison a try exactly why Republican control of the Senate matters. As Judiciary Committee chairman, Graham is sure to make sure they don't forget. — by David M. Drucker
Biden campaign: What's with all the lids?
Joe Biden is showing signs of repeating the same campaign error that Hillary Clinton made in 2016. In nine out of the first 24 days of September, Biden’s campaign called a “lid,” press lingo for there being no more expected public appearances or movements to track, before noon.
While the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee may still participate in remote news interviews and fundraisers when he is not giving a public speech or traveling, his lack of movement, even in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, has raised eyebrows among political observers.
His campaign even called a lid for the day at 9:34 a.m. on the Saturday following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, surprising some people who thought that he might take an opportunity to join those mourning Ginsburg outside the Supreme Court that day in a gesture that could please Democrats. He had addressed her passing in a brief statement the night she died and delivered a lengthier speech about her passing and the open seat the next day.
Some analysts thought that Clinton’s noticeably fewer campaign stops than Donald Trump in 2016 were a reason for her loss. Trump made 106 campaign appearances to Clinton's 71 in the last 10 weeks of that campaign, according to FiveThirtyEight.
With less than six weeks to Election Day, Trump is again well on track to surpass the Democratic nominee in the number of campaign stops, despite the criticism he’s received for the lack of social distancing and consistent mask-wearing by those at his rallies.
Biden’s lack of aggressive campaigning, including his campaign’s decision not to send campaign organizers door to door, is stoking worries that even though he has a polling lead, Biden could be on track to repeat Clinton’s shocking loss. — by Emily Larsen
House: Open seat pits 'new' Texas against 'old'
House Democrats think their Texas Turnaround begins in places such as the 22nd Congressional District, which takes in a series of leafy Houston suburbs.
Republican Rep. Pete Olson is retiring from the House after 12 years. The race to succeed him reflects changing demographics and voter attitudes in Texas that give Democrats hopes of breaking the longtime GOP political hammerlock on the Lone Star State.
The Democratic nominee, Sri Preston Kulkarni, represents the sort of professional-class resident increasingly common in the 22nd Distrct, which was once a bastion of oil wealth. Kulkarni earned a master's degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and was a foreign service officer in the State Department for 14 years. Assignments took Kulkarni, 41, to Israel, Jamaica, Iraq, Russia, and Taiwan.
His Republican rival, Troy Nehls, has a more traditional background for a Texas politician. The Liberty University graduate, 52, is sheriff of Fort Bend County. Nehls enlisted in the Army Reserve at age 20, seeing tours of duty in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Iraq — and earning two Bronze Stars along the way. Back home, Nehls joined the police department in Richmond, Texas, and earned a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Houston-Downtown.
The district is ancestrally Republican, with previously represented by libertarian icon Ron Paul, as well as Tom DeLay, who led House Republicans with an iron fist in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2012, voters there backed Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama 62%-37%. But in 2016, President Trump beat Hillary Clinton by a narrower margin, 52%-44%.
This is Kulkarni's second try for the seat. He ran against Olson in 2018 and lost with 46.5% of the vote, in the district's closest race since Olson was first elected. — by David Mark


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Supreme Court pick can rev up Trump’s lagging support from Catholics

President Trump ’ s Supreme Court pick could be his ace in the hole to bolster his numbers with Catholic voters , an especially critical constituency in the Rust Belt states that flipped the Electoral College in his favor four years ago .
Amid reports that Judge Amy Coney Barrett is about to get the nod when Trump announces the nomination on Saturday , Catholicism , and , could loom large in the confirmation process .
Trump is a mainline Presbyterian who has emerged as an ally of the Christian Right , while Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from church teaching on some social issues , especially abortion .
An EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll of 1,212 Catholic voters , taken before the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg but released on Monday , gave Biden a 12-point lead .
According to the survey , Biden was winning 53 % of the Catholic vote , compared to Trump ’ s 41 % .
Trump edged Hillary Clinton 50 % to 46 % among Catholics in 2016 .
“ I ’ m concerned about the Catholic vote this time , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak candidly .
“ If the Democrats overreach in a Supreme Court fight , it could help me feel a lot better.
” White Catholics tend to vote Republican , while Hispanic Catholics predominantly favor Democrats .
This trend held true in the last presidential election , according to the Pew Research Center .
White Catholics went 60 % to 37 % for Trump , Hispanic Catholics 67 % to 26 % for Clinton .
The EWTN News/RealClear Opinion poll shows Trump leading among white Catholics by 5 points , a margin that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retake states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in November .
Biden led among Hispanic Catholics by 63 % to 31 % .
Trump does better among Catholics the more they go to church , winning 58 % who attend Mass daily and 61 % of those who go more than once a week .
Biden won 69 % of Catholics who seldom attend .
Social issues and religious liberty are a huge part of the Trump campaign ’ s outreach to Catholics .
“ Joe Biden has made it clear that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principles of religious liberty , codify Roe v. Wade , and institute abortion on demand .
During his nearly 50 years in office , Joe Biden has repeatedly sought to enact policies that drastically undermine a citizen ’ s ability to live out their faith in their everyday lives , ” said Trump deputy campaign manager Justin Clark .
“ This is the career politician whose administration dragged Catholic nuns through a near decade long court battle to force them to buy contraceptives , and whose pick for vice-president questioned whether being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disqualify a person from being a judge.
” Republicans have reason to expect that similar questions about the Catholic faith will be raised by Senate Democrats again if Barrett is the nominee .
Sen. Dianne Feinstein , a California Democrat who will once again play a starring role in the confirmation process , told Barrett during her previous Senate testimony that the “ dogma ” lived “ loudly ” within her .
“ Additionally , Joe Biden and his left-wing friends want to stack the Supreme Court with activist judges , like those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-Catholic ‘ Blaine Amendment , ’ ” said Clark .
“ President Trump , on the other hand , is the most pro-life president in history , a vocal defender of religious liberty , and has appointed over 200 [ conservative ] judges to the federal bench .
The contrast couldn ’ t be more clear.
” A Catholics for Trump online launch event with conservative operatives Mercedes and Matt Schlapp , longtime Republican strategist Mary Matalin , and anti-abortion leader Father Frank Pavone received over 2 million views in April .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , former House Speaker Newt Gingrich , and former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway .
The Trump campaign also touts prominent speaking roles that were given at the Republican National Convention to Cardinal Timothy Dolan , Sister Dede Byrne , and football coach Lou Holtz , all well-known Catholics .
The campaign has also hired Catholic coordinators in swing states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
Biden has frequently hit back on Trump ’ s attacks on his social liberalism by describing himself as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church attendance .
The former vice president abandoned his onetime opposition to abortion before his 1988 presidential campaign and reversed his support for the Hyde Amendment , which bans most taxpayer funding of abortion , during this campaign .
Concerns about the pandemic , Trump ’ s rhetoric and personal character , and racial justice since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody have helped the Democrats win over some Catholics and other voters who normally support Republicans .
“ Amy Coney Barrett could bring them home , ” the Republican @ @ @

President Trump’s Supreme Court pick could be his ace in the hole to bolster his numbers with Catholic voters, an especially critical constituency in the Rust Belt states that flipped the Electoral College in his favor four years ago.
Amid reports that Judge Amy Coney Barrett is about to get the nod when Trump announces the nomination on Saturday, Catholicism, and anti-Catholicism , could loom large in the confirmation process.
Trump is a mainline Presbyterian who has emerged as an ally of the Christian Right, while Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is a Mass-attending Catholic who, nevertheless, deviates from church teaching on some social issues, especially abortion.
An EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll of 1,212 Catholic voters, taken before the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg but released on Monday, gave Biden a 12-point lead. According to the survey, Biden was winning 53% of the Catholic vote, compared to Trump’s 41%. Trump edged Hillary Clinton 50% to 46% among Catholics in 2016.
“I’m concerned about the Catholic vote this time,” said a Republican strategist who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “If the Democrats overreach in a Supreme Court fight, it could help me feel a lot better.”
White Catholics tend to vote Republican, while Hispanic Catholics predominantly favor Democrats. This trend held true in the last presidential election, according to the Pew Research Center. White Catholics went 60% to 37% for Trump, Hispanic Catholics 67% to 26% for Clinton.
The EWTN News/RealClear Opinion poll shows Trump leading among white Catholics by 5 points, a margin that will need to improve if he is to retake states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in November. Biden led among Hispanic Catholics by 63% to 31%. Trump does better among Catholics the more they go to church, winning 58% who attend Mass daily and 61% of those who go more than once a week. Biden won 69% of Catholics who seldom attend.
Social issues and religious liberty are a huge part of the Trump campaign’s outreach to Catholics.
“Joe Biden has made it clear that, if elected, his administration will abandon principles of religious liberty, codify Roe v. Wade, and institute abortion on demand. During his nearly 50 years in office, Joe Biden has repeatedly sought to enact policies that drastically undermine a citizen’s ability to live out their faith in their everyday lives,” said Trump deputy campaign manager Justin Clark. “This is the career politician whose administration dragged Catholic nuns through a near decade long court battle to force them to buy contraceptives, and whose pick for vice-president questioned whether being a member of the Knights of Columbus should disqualify a person from being a judge.”
Republicans have reason to expect that similar questions about the Catholic faith will be raised by Senate Democrats again if Barrett is the nominee. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who will once again play a starring role in the confirmation process, told Barrett during her previous Senate testimony that the “dogma” lived “loudly” within her.
“Additionally, Joe Biden and his left-wing friends want to stack the Supreme Court with activist judges, like those who just recently voted to uphold an anti-Catholic ‘Blaine Amendment,’” said Clark. “President Trump, on the other hand, is the most pro-life president in history, a vocal defender of religious liberty, and has appointed over 200 [conservative] judges to the federal bench. The contrast couldn’t be more clear.”
A Catholics for Trump online launch event with conservative operatives Mercedes and Matt Schlapp, longtime Republican strategist Mary Matalin, and anti-abortion leader Father Frank Pavone received over 2 million views in April. The group has held other events with former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway.
The Trump campaign also touts prominent speaking roles that were given at the Republican National Convention to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Sister Dede Byrne, and football coach Lou Holtz, all well-known Catholics. The campaign has also hired Catholic coordinators in swing states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Biden has frequently hit back on Trump’s attacks on his social liberalism by describing himself as a devout Catholic and pointing out his regular church attendance. The former vice president abandoned his onetime opposition to abortion before his 1988 presidential campaign and reversed his support for the Hyde Amendment, which bans most taxpayer funding of abortion, during this campaign.
Concerns about the pandemic, Trump’s rhetoric and personal character, and racial justice since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody have helped the Democrats win over some Catholics and other voters who normally support Republicans. “Amy Coney Barrett could bring them home,” the Republican strategist said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Tom Cotton launches 'war room' to back Trump SCOTUS pick

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is putting his political muscle behind Republican efforts to confirm President Trump 's forthcoming Supreme Court nominee before Election Day .
Cotton announced Friday in a Twitter post that he had assembled a war room to promote Trump 's pick and defend her from attacks by Democrats .
On Saturday , Trump is expected to nominate a conservative woman to replace liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett is reportedly going to get the nod .
`` Today , I am launching an emergency Supreme Court War Room at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional duty to appoint the next Supreme Court justice , '' Cotton tweeted .
Cotton has a small but dedicated political operation that includes an aligned but separately run super PAC .
This election cycle , the senator 's political team has advertised on behalf of down-ballot candidates he has endorsed , and he has worked to boost Trump in key presidential battleground states .
The Supreme Court war room effort will act as a rapid response unit that answers liberal attacks on Trump 's nominee and issues positive information promoting her confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the grounds that the confirmation comes too close to the election .
They say the nominee for Ginsburg 's seat should be made by whoever wins the presidential election .

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is putting his political muscle behind Republican efforts to confirm President Trump's forthcoming Supreme Court nominee before Election Day.
Cotton announced Friday in a Twitter post that he had assembled a war room to promote Trump's pick and defend her from attacks by Democrats. On Saturday, Trump is expected to nominate a conservative woman to replace liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett is reportedly going to get the nod.
"Today, I am launching an emergency Supreme Court War Room at scotuswarroom.com to help President Trump fulfill his constitutional duty to appoint the next Supreme Court justice," Cotton tweeted.
Cotton has a small but dedicated political operation that includes an aligned but separately run super PAC. This election cycle, the senator's political team has advertised on behalf of down-ballot candidates he has endorsed, and he has worked to boost Trump in key presidential battleground states. The Supreme Court war room effort will act as a rapid response unit that answers liberal attacks on Trump's nominee and issues positive information promoting her confirmation.
Democrats are opposing Trump's pick on the grounds that the confirmation comes too close to the election. They say the nominee for Ginsburg's seat should be made by whoever wins the presidential election.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Democrats frantically move away from pushing mail-in voting to in person

Democratic politicians and activist groups are pivoting away from encouraging mass mail-in voting as the safest and best way for voters to cast ballots in the November election .
The move away from mail-in absentee voting comes amid major liabilities in new mail-in voting systems that could jeopardize Democrats ’ election chances in contests that are close .
“ If you increase the share of first-time mail-in votes , you will also increase the number of disqualified ballots , ” said Robert Stein , a political science professor at Rice University who is conducting research about mail-in absentee voting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely than Republicans to say that they intend to vote by mail , suggesting that high rates of mail-in disqualification on masses of mail-in ballots could harm them .
A Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on “ naked ballots ” last week is the latest piece of news worrying Democrats .
The court said that ballots not returned in a “ secrecy envelope ” can not be valid .
The Democratic chairwoman of Philadelphia ’ s election board , Lisa Deeley , warned that up to 100,000 ballots could be affected .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prominent Democrats , rather than posting that they completed and returned a mail-in ballot , are setting an example of voting in person despite the pushes for mass mail-in voting .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden cast his general election ballot in person at an early voting location in Delaware earlier this month , and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner voted in person on the first day of early voting in his state .
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that she intends to vote early in person .
Two political action committees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAC and The Collective PAC , are now turning attention away from the voting method and are encouraging in-person early voting .
Despite assurances from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that the Postal Service is equipped to deliver masses of mail-in ballots on time , worries about mail delays and that President Trump could interfere in the service have also prompted some activists to discourage putting an absentee ballot in the mail .
Former Colorado Gov .
John Hickenlooper , who is now running for the Senate , told Axios that he is encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a secure and approved drop box .
In April , Hickenlooper wrote an op-ed encouraging mass expansion of no-excuse absentee ballots that could be mailed or delivered at designated drop boxes .
Stein , the professor who is conducting research about mail-in absentee voting in Texas ’ s Harris County , said that he does not have direct evidence that Democratic voters ’ fears about the post office are contributing to Democrats turning away from a mail-in method .
But he has long noted that high rates of absentee ballot disqualification tend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rely on to win elections : minority voters , young voters , and those who vote sporadically .
Reports from the Election Assistance Commission show that states that do not have as much experience with mail-in voting have higher rates of absentee ballots being rejected .
For instance , Florida , which has long had a robust mail-in voting program , rejected 30,540 mail-in ballots in 2018 , just over 1 % of the total number of ballots returned .
In Arizona , which also has had a large proportion of ballots returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than half a percentage point .
But in Pennsylvania , which did not implement a permanent mail-in voting-by-request program until 2019 , voters were not as used to the system , and 4.45 % of the mail-in ballots returned in 2018 were rejected .
That accounted for 8,714 ballots .
Trump won the state by 44,292 votes in 2016 .
One of Stein ’ s surveys measured voter knowledge about how to return mail-in ballots properly .
“ Over 55 % of the people we surveyed who qualified for mail-in voting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properly return and process a mail ballot , ” he said .
In addition to Pennsylvania ’ s “ naked ballot ” problem , mistakes such as not using the same signature that election authorities have on file for a mail-in ballot , taking a ballot to the wrong place , or incorrectly marking a ballot can invalidate it .

Democratic politicians and activist groups are pivoting away from encouraging mass mail-in voting as the safest and best way for voters to cast ballots in the November election.
The move away from mail-in absentee voting comes amid major liabilities in new mail-in voting systems that could jeopardize Democrats’ election chances in contests that are close.
“If you increase the share of first-time mail-in votes, you will also increase the number of disqualified ballots,” said Robert Stein, a political science professor at Rice University who is conducting research about mail-in absentee voting.
Poll after poll finds that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say that they intend to vote by mail, suggesting that high rates of mail-in disqualification on masses of mail-in ballots could harm them.
A Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on “naked ballots” last week is the latest piece of news worrying Democrats. The court said that ballots not returned in a “secrecy envelope” can not be valid. The Democratic chairwoman of Philadelphia’s election board, Lisa Deeley, warned that up to 100,000 ballots could be affected. Trump won the state by about 44,000 votes.
Prominent Democrats, rather than posting that they completed and returned a mail-in ballot, are setting an example of voting in person despite the pushes for mass mail-in voting.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden cast his general election ballot in person at an early voting location in Delaware earlier this month, and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner voted in person on the first day of early voting in his state. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that she intends to vote early in person.
Two political action committees that previously pushed mail-in voting, Black PAC and The Collective PAC, are now turning attention away from the voting method and are encouraging in-person early voting.
Despite assurances from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that the Postal Service is equipped to deliver masses of mail-in ballots on time, worries about mail delays and that President Trump could interfere in the service have also prompted some activists to discourage putting an absentee ballot in the mail.
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is now running for the Senate, told Axios that he is encouraging voters to take their absentee ballots to a secure and approved drop box. In April, Hickenlooper wrote an op-ed encouraging mass expansion of no-excuse absentee ballots that could be mailed or delivered at designated drop boxes.
Stein, the professor who is conducting research about mail-in absentee voting in Texas’s Harris County, said that he does not have direct evidence that Democratic voters’ fears about the post office are contributing to Democrats turning away from a mail-in method. But he has long noted that high rates of absentee ballot disqualification tend to affect the types of voters that Democrats rely on to win elections: minority voters, young voters, and those who vote sporadically.
Reports from the Election Assistance Commission show that states that do not have as much experience with mail-in voting have higher rates of absentee ballots being rejected.
For instance, Florida, which has long had a robust mail-in voting program, rejected 30,540 mail-in ballots in 2018, just over 1% of the total number of ballots returned. In Arizona, which also has had a large proportion of ballots returned by mail, the rejection rate was less than half a percentage point.
But in Pennsylvania, which did not implement a permanent mail-in voting-by-request program until 2019, voters were not as used to the system, and 4.45% of the mail-in ballots returned in 2018 were rejected. That accounted for 8,714 ballots. Trump won the state by 44,292 votes in 2016.
One of Stein’s surveys measured voter knowledge about how to return mail-in ballots properly.
“Over 55% of the people we surveyed who qualified for mail-in voting in our county did not know how to properly return and process a mail ballot,” he said.
In addition to Pennsylvania’s “naked ballot” problem, mistakes such as not using the same signature that election authorities have on file for a mail-in ballot, taking a ballot to the wrong place, or incorrectly marking a ballot can invalidate it.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Trump unveiling $500B plan to boost black communities and classify KKK and antifa as terrorist organ

Trump unveiling $500B plan to boost black communities and classify KKK and antifa as terrorist organizations

President Trump is unveiling a `` Platinum Plan '' to help black people across the United States .
Trump is set to introduce the policy goals at an event in Georgia on Friday evening , 39 days before the Nov. 3 election , but portions of the plan were obtained by Fox News that detail Trump 's goal of increasing available capital by $ 500 billion to help elevate black communities .
`` For decades , Democrat politicians like Joe Biden have taken black voters for granted .
They made you big promises before every election , and then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they abandoned you and sold you out , ” Trump is slated to say .
“ The Democrats will always take black voters for granted until large numbers of black Americans vote Republican.
” The foundation of Trump 's proposal is a $ 500 billion investment to open 500,000 new black-owned businesses across the country that could provide 3 million new jobs in predominantly black neighborhoods .
Trump 's plan aims to protect jobs in black communities by continuing to clamp down on illegal immigration and by maintaining law and order to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that effort to maintain law and order , Trump will vow to declare the Ku Klux Klan and antifa as terrorist organizations .
He will also say that lynching should be a hate crime , something lawmakers in the House and Senate have been pursuing .
The proposal includes several other initiatives , including a plan to increase home ownership by black citizens and a goal to make Juneteenth a national holiday .
Paris Dennard , a senior communications adviser for the Republican National Committee , called Trump 's plan a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` President Trump made the black community a priority in his four years in office , while Joe Biden spent 47 years creating and supporting policies that destroyed black families , communities , and generational wealth , '' Dennard said .

President Trump is unveiling a "Platinum Plan" to help black people across the United States.
Trump is set to introduce the policy goals at an event in Georgia on Friday evening, 39 days before the Nov. 3 election, but portions of the plan were obtained by Fox News that detail Trump's goal of increasing available capital by $500 billion to help elevate black communities.
"For decades, Democrat politicians like Joe Biden have taken black voters for granted. They made you big promises before every election, and then, the moment they got to Washington, they abandoned you and sold you out,” Trump is slated to say. “The Democrats will always take black voters for granted until large numbers of black Americans vote Republican.”
The foundation of Trump's proposal is a $500 billion investment to open 500,000 new black-owned businesses across the country that could provide 3 million new jobs in predominantly black neighborhoods. Trump's plan aims to protect jobs in black communities by continuing to clamp down on illegal immigration and by maintaining law and order to protect the new black-owned businesses.
As part of that effort to maintain law and order, Trump will vow to declare the Ku Klux Klan and antifa as terrorist organizations. He will also say that lynching should be a hate crime, something lawmakers in the House and Senate have been pursuing.
The proposal includes several other initiatives, including a plan to increase home ownership by black citizens and a goal to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Paris Dennard, a senior communications adviser for the Republican National Committee, called Trump's plan a "game changer for black Americans."
"President Trump made the black community a priority in his four years in office, while Joe Biden spent 47 years creating and supporting policies that destroyed black families, communities, and generational wealth," Dennard said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Battleground polls foreshadow nail-biter election between Biden and Trump

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and President Trump are locked in a competitive race for the White House a little more than five weeks out from Election Day .
While national polling averages give Biden a high single-digit advantage over Trump before the Nov. 3 contest , the next president will be decided by the Electoral College , not the popular vote .
And state-based polls paint a tighter picture .
According to a slate of new Reuters and Ipsos battleground polls published Friday , Biden and Trump are tied in Florida and Pennsylvania , 47 % support apiece among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sept. 16 .
Meanwhile , in Arizona , they are separated by a single percentage point as Biden leads ahead of Trump , 47 % to 46 % .
Elsewhere on the electoral map , Biden has a tad more breathing room .
The two-term vice president and 36-year Delaware senator has a 3-point edge in North Carolina , 49 % to 46 % .
And he has a 5-point buffer in both Michigan and Wisconsin , 49 % to 44 % and 48 % to 43 % , respectively .
The polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of error is good news for the president , considering his underdog status at the start of the fall fight .
But he did win all six states and their collective 101 electoral votes in 2016 , narrowing his path back to the White House .
Biden has an average lead of 0.8 of a point in North Carolina and 1.3 points in Florida , according to RealClearPolitics .
Those states can be compared to Arizona , where he 's in front by an average of 3.2 points , as well as ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , 5.2 points in Michigan , and 6.6 points in Wisconsin .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and President Trump are locked in a competitive race for the White House a little more than five weeks out from Election Day.
While national polling averages give Biden a high single-digit advantage over Trump before the Nov. 3 contest, the next president will be decided by the Electoral College, not the popular vote. And state-based polls paint a tighter picture.
According to a slate of new Reuters and Ipsos battleground polls published Friday, Biden and Trump are tied in Florida and Pennsylvania, 47% support apiece among likely voters in both states as of Sept. 16. Meanwhile, in Arizona, they are separated by a single percentage point as Biden leads ahead of Trump, 47% to 46%.
Elsewhere on the electoral map, Biden has a tad more breathing room.
The two-term vice president and 36-year Delaware senator has a 3-point edge in North Carolina, 49% to 46%. And he has a 5-point buffer in both Michigan and Wisconsin, 49% to 44% and 48% to 43%, respectively.
The polls indicating that Trump is within the margin of error is good news for the president, considering his underdog status at the start of the fall fight. But he did win all six states and their collective 101 electoral votes in 2016, narrowing his path back to the White House.
Biden has an average lead of 0.8 of a point in North Carolina and 1.3 points in Florida, according to RealClearPolitics. Those states can be compared to Arizona, where he's in front by an average of 3.2 points, as well as ahead by an average of 4.3 points in Pennsylvania, 5.2 points in Michigan, and 6.6 points in Wisconsin.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Susan Collins trails in Maine despite agreeing with voters on delay for Supreme Court pick: Poll

A majority of voters in Maine agree with Sen. Susan Collins 's decision to support delaying a pick for the Supreme Court , but they do n't seem to want her as their senator any longer .
Collins , a Republican , is polling 4 percentage points behind her opponent , Democrat Sara Gideon , according to the latest Colby College poll .
In the same poll , 58 % said that they would prefer Collins to wait to vote on a nominee for the Supreme Court until the next president is confirmed .
The day after Justice Ruth Bader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she believed the Senate should hold off on the confirmation process , opposing the vast majority of her fellow Republicans .
She did not , however , say how she would vote if put on the spot .
The senator 's position on the matter does not appear to have changed her standing drastically in the 2020 election .
In a New York Times / Siena College poll conducted between Sept. 11 and Sept. 16 , Collins was polling 5 points behind Gideon .
The Colby College poll was conducted between Sept. 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's death did not break until the evening of Sept. 18 .
The team at Colby College told the Washington Examiner that about half of the respondents had already been polled before the question about the late justice was added to the survey .
The survey as a whole included 888 respondents and had a margin of error of 3.9 points .
Due to the reduced sample size , the question on Ginsburg had a larger margin of error at 4.7 points .
[ Related : Susan Collins faces fight of her career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] The researchers also reported that the demographics between the two groups , those polled before and those polled after the question was added , were quite similar , meaning it is unlikely the results on the Ginsburg question were dramatically skewed .
For this reason , the public may not fully understand how Collins 's Supreme Court opinion has swayed or not swayed the mind of voters until the race 's next poll is released .
Gideon has maintained a steady lead of a few points over Collins since February .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above her Democratic opponent by a shockingly wide margin of sometimes 19 , 32 , or even 40 points .

A majority of voters in Maine agree with Sen. Susan Collins's decision to support delaying a pick for the Supreme Court, but they don't seem to want her as their senator any longer.
Collins, a Republican, is polling 4 percentage points behind her opponent, Democrat Sara Gideon, according to the latest Colby College poll. In the same poll, 58% said that they would prefer Collins to wait to vote on a nominee for the Supreme Court until the next president is confirmed.
The day after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, Collins announced that she believed the Senate should hold off on the confirmation process, opposing the vast majority of her fellow Republicans. She did not, however, say how she would vote if put on the spot.
The senator's position on the matter does not appear to have changed her standing drastically in the 2020 election. In a New York Times / Siena College poll conducted between Sept. 11 and Sept. 16, Collins was polling 5 points behind Gideon.
The Colby College poll was conducted between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23. News of Ginsburg's death did not break until the evening of Sept. 18.
The team at Colby College told the Washington Examiner that about half of the respondents had already been polled before the question about the late justice was added to the survey. The survey as a whole included 888 respondents and had a margin of error of 3.9 points. Due to the reduced sample size, the question on Ginsburg had a larger margin of error at 4.7 points.
[Related: Susan Collins faces fight of her career against Democratic challenger in Maine Senate race]
The researchers also reported that the demographics between the two groups, those polled before and those polled after the question was added, were quite similar, meaning it is unlikely the results on the Ginsburg question were dramatically skewed.
For this reason, the public may not fully understand how Collins's Supreme Court opinion has swayed or not swayed the mind of voters until the race's next poll is released.
Gideon has maintained a steady lead of a few points over Collins since February. By contrast, in 2014, Collins polled above her Democratic opponent by a shockingly wide margin of sometimes 19, 32, or even 40 points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Biden pays respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg lying in state

Joe Biden paid his respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lay in state at the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president visited Ginsburg 's casket in the Capitol 's @ @ @ @ @ , Jill Biden .
His running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , was also @ @ @ @ @ respects to Ginsburg .
Biden and Harris exchanged a wave across the hall , and @ @ @ @ @ room and chatted with the Biden for a few minutes , according to a pool @ @ @ @ @ the Capitol , a reporter asked what it was like to be in the building @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It was like when I met her when I did her hearing .
@ @ @ @ @ the committee , and I was — when she was confirmed , '' Biden told @ @ @ @ @ , '' he added .
Biden does not have any other public events or activities @ @ @ @

Joe Biden paid his respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lay in state at the U.S. Capitol on Friday.
The Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president visited Ginsburg's casket in the Capitol's Statuary Hall with his wife, Jill Biden.
His running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, was also in Statuary Hall to pay respects to Ginsburg. Biden and Harris exchanged a wave across the hall, and she later walked across the room and chatted with the Biden for a few minutes, according to a pool report.
.@JoeBiden & @DrBiden pay their respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in state in the Capitol.
Full video: https://t.co/vri1sJcUV6 pic.twitter.com/KWXB1ON9cI — CSPAN (@cspan) September 25, 2020
As he left the Capitol, a reporter asked what it was like to be in the building with her one last time.
"It was like when I met her when I did her hearing. I was the chairman of the committee, and I was — when she was confirmed," Biden told reporters. "Wonderful memories," he added.
Biden does not have any other public events or activities scheduled for Friday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Alan Dershowitz removed from Libertarian presidential nominee Supreme Court list one day after relea

Alan Dershowitz removed from Libertarian presidential nominee Supreme Court list one day after release

Libertarian presidential nominee Jo Jorgenson removed Alan Dershowitz from her list of potential Supreme Court justice picks just one day after releasing it due to controversy over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his past statements about gun rights and torture .
Jorgensen , a lecturer in psychology at Clemson University , followed President Trump 's lead and released a list on Wednesday of legal experts whom she would consider to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Dershowitz , the Harvard Law School professor emeritus , was among the 19 names on this list .
A noted commentator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dershowitz gained notoriety with his involvement in a number of high-profile cases : He represented O. J. Simpson in his 1995 murder case , was a consultant for Harvey Weinstein 's legal team as he defended himself against sexual abuse allegations , was on Trump 's defense team during the president 's impeachment trial earlier this year .
He also was legal defense for financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 , during which time he helped negotiate a controversial “ non-prosecution agreement ” that shielded any Epstein co-conspirators from future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family on Epstein 's private island .
Virginia Roberts Giuffre , who says that she was trafficked to Prince Andrew and others by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell , has also said that she was trafficked to Dershowitz , a charge that he vehemently denies .
Dershowitz 's association with Epstein was not the only factor that sparked outrage among libertarians about his inclusion on the list .
His position that in some cases , “ torture may be the only or best tactic for saving lives , ” drew criticism .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has called the Second Amendment , `` an absurd thing to be in our Constitution . ''
Jorgenson 's campaign quickly removed Dershowitz from the list of potential picks , and she explained the decision in a series of tweets on Friday .
`` His statements that torture may sometimes be acceptable and his opposition to gun rights disqualifies him from any further consideration , '' Jorgenson said .
`` In addition , there are unresolved questions about his association with Jeffrey Epstein . ''
Jorgenson 's Supreme Court list also includes Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blogger Eugene Volokh , George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley , and U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Don Willett , who is also on Trump 's Supreme Court list .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to nominate a black woman to the court but said Sunday that he would not release a list of potential picks .

Libertarian presidential nominee Jo Jorgenson removed Alan Dershowitz from her list of potential Supreme Court justice picks just one day after releasing it due to controversy over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his past statements about gun rights and torture.
Jorgensen, a lecturer in psychology at Clemson University, followed President Trump's lead and released a list on Wednesday of legal experts whom she would consider to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Dershowitz, the Harvard Law School professor emeritus, was among the 19 names on this list. A noted commentator on legal issues and criminal defense expert, Dershowitz gained notoriety with his involvement in a number of high-profile cases: He represented O. J. Simpson in his 1995 murder case, was a consultant for Harvey Weinstein's legal team as he defended himself against sexual abuse allegations, was on Trump's defense team during the president's impeachment trial earlier this year.
He also was legal defense for financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2008, during which time he helped negotiate a controversial “non-prosecution agreement” that shielded any Epstein co-conspirators from future prosecution. Dershowitz also vacationed with his family on Epstein's private island.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who says that she was trafficked to Prince Andrew and others by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, has also said that she was trafficked to Dershowitz, a charge that he vehemently denies.
Dershowitz's association with Epstein was not the only factor that sparked outrage among libertarians about his inclusion on the list. His position that in some cases, “torture may be the only or best tactic for saving lives,” drew criticism. He is also a supporter of gun control and has called the Second Amendment, "an absurd thing to be in our Constitution."
Jorgenson's campaign quickly removed Dershowitz from the list of potential picks, and she explained the decision in a series of tweets on Friday.
"His statements that torture may sometimes be acceptable and his opposition to gun rights disqualifies him from any further consideration," Jorgenson said. "In addition, there are unresolved questions about his association with Jeffrey Epstein."
The response among libertarians and the broader public to most names on the list has been generally supportive. However, many rightly oppose including Alan Dershowitz.
2/ — Jo Jorgensen (@Jorgensen4POTUS) September 25, 2020
In addition, there are unresolved questions about his association with Jeffrey Epstein. As a result, I have permanently removed Dershowitz from my list of potential nominees.
/4 — Jo Jorgensen (@Jorgensen4POTUS) September 25, 2020
Jorgenson's Supreme Court list also includes Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano, legal blogger Eugene Volokh, George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley, and U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Don Willett, who is also on Trump's Supreme Court list.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to nominate a black woman to the court but said Sunday that he would not release a list of potential picks.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Obama snubs Democrat running in Georgia Senate race

Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the multiparty , free-for-all special election for one of Georgia 's U.S. Senate seats up for grabs this cycle , a race that could decide who controls the chamber in the next Congress .
Obama endorsed Democratic Ebenezer Baptist Church senior pastor Raphael Warnock on Friday , picking his favorite in the 21-candidate field competing for the final two years of retired Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson 's term .
Obama 's public support of Warnock , who 's also backed by the Senate Democrats ' campaign arm , is being widely interpreted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lieberman , the son of 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman , to drop out and help consolidate the Democratic vote before the Nov. 3 election and likely Jan. 5 runoff contest .
Polls consistently indicate that Lieberman is in fourth place behind the Republican-appointed incumbent , Sen. Kelly Loeffler , GOP Rep. Doug Collins , and Warnock .
A New York Times and Siena College survey published Thursday found that Loeffler had 23 % support to Collins and Warnock 's 19 % apiece .
Lieberman had 7 % of the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a runoff if no contender reaches a 50 % support threshold in the fall .
In that case , the first two finishers will proceed to the runoff .
Lieberman , who is facing increased pressure to suspend his campaign , tweeted a defense of his candidacy this week , arguing that Georgia is a purple state with `` two equal-sized pools of voters . ''
`` The only way I am a threat to him [ is ] if we are virtually tied , all four of us , '' Lieberman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that event , it could be most accurately said that we are all an equal threat to each other with an equal chance to win . ''
Obama 's last slate of endorsements before Election Day raises the profile of tight contests across the country .
Democrats only need to gain three to four seats for a Senate majority for the next two years .

Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the multiparty, free-for-all special election for one of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats up for grabs this cycle, a race that could decide who controls the chamber in the next Congress.
Obama endorsed Democratic Ebenezer Baptist Church senior pastor Raphael Warnock on Friday, picking his favorite in the 21-candidate field competing for the final two years of retired Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson's term.
Obama's public support of Warnock, who's also backed by the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, is being widely interpreted as a nudge to fellow Democrat Matt Lieberman, the son of 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman, to drop out and help consolidate the Democratic vote before the Nov. 3 election and likely Jan. 5 runoff contest.
Polls consistently indicate that Lieberman is in fourth place behind the Republican-appointed incumbent, Sen. Kelly Loeffler, GOP Rep. Doug Collins, and Warnock. A New York Times and Siena College survey published Thursday found that Loeffler had 23% support to Collins and Warnock's 19% apiece. Lieberman had 7% of the vote.
The Isakson-Loeffler seat will be decided by a runoff if no contender reaches a 50% support threshold in the fall. In that case, the first two finishers will proceed to the runoff.
Lieberman, who is facing increased pressure to suspend his campaign, tweeted a defense of his candidacy this week, arguing that Georgia is a purple state with "two equal-sized pools of voters."
"The only way I am a threat to him [is] if we are virtually tied, all four of us," Lieberman wrote of Warnock. "And in that event, it could be most accurately said that we are all an equal threat to each other with an equal chance to win."
Obama's last slate of endorsements before Election Day raises the profile of tight contests across the country. Democrats only need to gain three to four seats for a Senate majority for the next two years.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-09-25--Pennsylvania senator dismisses DOJ report about 'discarded' ballots in his state: Trump is 'seizing

Pennsylvania senator dismisses DOJ report about 'discarded' ballots in his state: Trump is 'seizing on' report

Sen. Bob Casey dismissed a report from the Justice Department that some military ballots were found `` discarded '' in his home state of Pennsylvania .
The Democrat insisted on Friday that voting by mail is safe in Pennsylvania after being asked about the during an interview on MSNBC .
`` It ’ s safe to vote by mail .
And , look , we know by now that everything the president says about mail-in balloting and voting in general is a lie .
He lies all the time .
So , nothing he says is the truth about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
Point No .
2 is , there are going to be many opportunities for people to cast their votes in Pennsylvania .
Depending on where they live , they ’ re going to have all kinds of choices , '' Casey said .
`` That ’ s the way it should be in the middle of a pandemic . ''
`` The president and his team is seizing on a report from yesterday .
But , look , the right to vote will be protected , and it will be done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
The Justice Department released a report on Thursday that a `` small number '' of mail-in military ballots were accidentally `` discarded '' in Pennsylvania .
The announcement came shortly after White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said some Pennsylvania ballots were found to be `` cast aside . ''

Sen. Bob Casey dismissed a report from the Justice Department that some military ballots were found "discarded" in his home state of Pennsylvania.
The Democrat insisted on Friday that voting by mail is safe in Pennsylvania after being asked about the Justice Department's findings during an interview on MSNBC.
"It’s safe to vote by mail. And, look, we know by now that everything the president says about mail-in balloting and voting in general is a lie. He lies all the time. So, nothing he says is the truth about this. That’s point No. 1. Point No. 2 is, there are going to be many opportunities for people to cast their votes in Pennsylvania. Depending on where they live, they’re going to have all kinds of choices," Casey said. "That’s the way it should be in the middle of a pandemic."
"The president and his team is seizing on a report from yesterday. But, look, the right to vote will be protected, and it will be done safely and legally in Pennsylvania," he added.
The Justice Department released a report on Thursday that a "small number" of mail-in military ballots were accidentally "discarded" in Pennsylvania. The announcement came shortly after White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said some Pennsylvania ballots were found to be "cast aside."