Trump, Harris polls, swing state blitz
Arizona. Nevada. Georgia.
These three states could ultimately decide the 2024 race for the White House. They’re also the states where former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will make their pitch to voters on Thursday.
Trump is holding a rally in Tempe, Arizona in the afternoon, and he’ll address an event with the conservative group Turning Point Action in Las Vegas in the evening.
Harris is holding a campaign stop on Thursday in Atlanta, and she’ll be joined by former President Barack Obama and music icon Bruce Springsteen.
Keep up with the USA TODAY Network’s live coverage.
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New poll finds Angela Alsobrooks leading in closely watched Senate race
A Washington Post/University of Maryland poll released Thursday found Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, running for Maryland’s Senate seat, in a 12 point lead against her Republican opponent Larry Hogan among likely voters, 52% to 40%.
The findings come as Alsobrooks could make history as the first Black senator from Maryland if she wins this election cycle.
In a September Washington Post/University of Maryland Poll, Alsobrooks led Hogan by 11 points among likely voters.
— Sudiksha Kochi
DNC to display anti-Trump ‘Hitler’ billboard in Las Vegas
The Democratic National Committee plans to display a mobile billboard in Las Vegas reading, “I need the kind of generals that Hitler had,” a statement that The Atlantic reported a top Trump aide recalling the former president saying. Trump is scheduled to appear in Nevada’s largest city for a rally Thursday evening.
His former chief of staff John Kelly alleged in separate interviews with the New York Times published Tuesday that Trump had “fascist” traits and would govern like a dictator.
— Savannah Kuchar
Harris rallies with Bruce Springsteen, in Democratic tradition
Harris is looking to get a campaign boost from music icon Bruce Springsteen, as is tradition for many Democratic presidential candidates.
Springsteen will headline a series of concerts in the final weeks of the election, beginning with an appearance in Atlanta Thursday and Philadelphia on Monday. Former President Barack Obama will be at both events and Harris plans to attend today, according to her campaign.
The vice president is the latest in a series of Democrats for whom Springsteen has turned up on the campaign trail. The Boss backed Hillary Clinton in 2016, Obama in 2008 and 2012, and John Kerry in 2004. He also performed at a star-studded Inauguration Day rally for Biden on Jan. 20, 2021.
— Savannah Kuchar and Joey Garrison
Did Eminem endorse Kamala Harris?
Yes. At Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign rally in Detroit Tuesday, Eminem told the crowd that he thinks Harris “supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
“I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution, of what people will do if you make your opinion known,” Eminem said at the rally.
— Sudiksha Kochi
When will Trump be on Joe Rogan’s podcast?
Former President Donald Trump is set to appear on podcasting giant “The Joe Rogan Experience” on Friday. Rogan is set to interview Trump in his studio based in Austin, Texas, as reported by Politico.
This would mark Trump’s first appearance on Rogan’s wildly popular podcast. Vice President Kamala Harris is also making her own podcast appearances, including one on “Call Her Daddy” hosted by Alex Cooper.
— Sudiksha Kochi and Fernando Cervantes
Early in-person voting in Maryland begins today
Maryland in-person early voting for this year’s general election begins Thursday, Oct. 24, and runs through Thursday, Oct. 31. Early voting centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Registered voters in Maryland can also vote by mail or on Election Day, which is Nov. 5. Mail-in ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by or before 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. If returned by hand, ballots must be dropped at a ballot drop box or local board of elections by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
To find your Election Day polling place, visit Maryland’s State Board of Elections Find My PollingPlace portal at https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/PollingPlaceSearch.
— Sudiksha Kochi and Salisbury Daily Times
What Trump said at Georgia rally
Former President Donald Trump used a rally in Georgia on Wednesday evening to tout the Peach State’s record-breaking early voting turnout – and its potential swing-state impact.
Trump emphasized the importance of turnout in a neck-and-neck election. He also praised the millions of Georgia voters who have already cast their vote.
He also talked about his economic plan and vision for bolstering cities like Detroit; criticized the Biden administration and his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, over immigration; and repeated claims of political persecution.
He said nothing on stage about recent allegations by his longest-serving chief of staff.
Harris says Trump is a fascist at CNN town hall
Harris said Wednesday that she believes former President Donald Trump is a fascist and his ex-chief of staff is “putting out a 9-1-1 call” to the American people to consider the implications of his potential return to the White House.
Appearing at a CNN town hall in Delaware County in Pennsylvania, Harris invoked former White House chief of staff John Kelly’s claim that Trump made positive comments about Hitler and agreed with his assessment that Trump is a “fascist.”
“Yes, I do,” she said. “And I also believe that the people who know him best on this subject should be trusted.”
–Francesca Chambers
Why a majority of voters think Donald Trump should face charges even if he’s elected
A majority of Americans think it would be “wrong” for Donald Trump to have the Justice Department drop federal charges against him if he wins back the White House, according to a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll.
Legal observers say there’s no chance a Trump Justice Department would continue the two federal cases he has asked judges to dismiss as a “witch hunt” led by a prosecutor he calls “deranged.” But nearly 58% of likely voters who responded to the poll said it would be “wrong” for Trump to direct the department to drop the charges, compared to 30% saying it would be the “right” thing to do. Nearly one in 10 were undecided.
–Bart Jansen
What time do polls open on Election Day?
In some states, like Arizona and Connecticut, polling locations can open as early as 6 a.m. on Election Day, which is Nov. 5. In other places, locations will open later in the morning like at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m.
You can find your polling location and its hours by contacting your state and local election office or visiting usa.gov for more information.
−Sudiksha Kochi
Ask us anything! Want to learn more about how election results are certified as the 2024 election gears up? Don’t miss your chance to ask us your pressing questions about election law on r/law for a Reddit AMA on 10/25 at 3 p.m. ET.
Join USA TODAY journalists Aysha Bagchi and Sarah Wire for an election Reddit AMA on Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. ET on the r/law subreddit.
Where do Harris, Trump stand in the polls?
Trump and Harris have been neck-and-neck in national polls and battleground surveys for weeks. An exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll released Monday put Harris at 45%, Trump at 44%, a closer race than the poll found in August.
In a Marist survey released Thursday, Trump led Harris 50%-49% among likely voters in Arizona and 50%-48% in North Carolina, and rivals were tied in Georgia.
– Marina Pitofsky, Francesca Chambers
Election Day is Nov. 5. Sign up for USA TODAY’s On Politics newsletter for breaking news and exclusive analysis.
Where is Donald Trump campaigning on Thursday?
Donald Trump is hitting up two western battlegrounds: Arizona and Nevada. He’s holding a rally in Tempe, Arizona in the afternoon on Thursday, and he’ll address an event with the conservative group Turning Point Action in Las Vegas in the evening.
− Marina Pitofsky
Where is Kamala Harris campaigning on Thursday?
Kamala Harris is holding a campaign stop on Thursday in Atlanta, and she’ll be joined by former President Barack Obama and music icon Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen is set to perform for Harris’ supporters in the pivotal Peach State.
− Marina Pitofsky
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