What to watch on the campaign trail today
- Former President Donald Trump returned to Pennsylvania today, this time speaking to supporters in scenic Wilkes-Barre. The rally is Trump’s second in the Keystone State since the attempt on his life in Butler.
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, held an event in Omaha in an effort to capitalize on a peculiarity of the Electoral College. Because Nebraska divides its electoral votes by statewide outcome and by the vote at the congressional district level, the lone vote represented by the urban district that encompasses Omaha is in play for both campaigns despite Nebraska’s status as a red state.
- Walz’s swing through Nebraska is one of the final rallies the Harris campaign will hold ahead of the Democratic National Convention, an event set to feature remarks by President Joe Biden, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, first lady Jill Biden and others.
A new poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris gaining ground on or surpassing former President Donald Trump in Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, and Georgia compared to where President Biden had been in the same survey. NBC News’ Vaughn Hillyard is on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania covering the latest Trump rally in the battleground state as well as the plans for the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
Harris’ ancestral village in India cheers for ‘daughter of this land’
If they could vote for her, they would.
The people of Thulasendrapuram, a village in southern India that calls Kamala Harris its own, knew little about her until she became the U.S. vice president. Now they display banners of Harris, whose maternal grandparents were born in the village, and are planning celebrations for if and when the Democratic nominee wins the presidential election.
Biden is scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention Monday night after dropping out of the presidential race back in July. His speech is expected to be a passing of the torch to the next generation. NBC’s Allie Raffa reports for TODAY.
Former Rep. George Santos expected to plead guilty on charges related to campaign fraud
Former GOP Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty on Monday to multiple charges related to campaign finance fraud, less than a month from when his trial was set to begin, two sources familiar with the matter tell NBC News.
The disgraced former lawmaker faces a 23-count superseding indictment in the Eastern District of New York, including charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission.
Trump does not discuss assassination attempt during his second visit back to Pennsylvania
After only his second visit back to Pennsylvania following the attempt on his life in Butler, Trump did not directly mention the assassination attempt.
Trump acknowledged the audience's chants of "Fight! Fight! Fight!" — his supporters' new rallying cry after the nominee survived the shooting — but did not directly discuss the cheers or the attempt.
He also made brief mention of a "miracle" occurring four weeks ago, likely a reference to the attempt on his life.
'I’m a better looking person than Kamala,' Trump says at rally
Following a new playbook for Trump that involves personal attacks on Harris, Trump took issue with a claim that Harris' biggest strength is that she is a "beautiful woman."
“I’m much better looking than her,” Trump said after.
Trump again criticizes Jewish Democrats
Trump criticized Jewish Democrats during his Pennsylvania rally, repeating a refrain he has previously emphasized.
"Any Jewish person that votes for her or a Democrat has to go out and have their head examined," Trump said. "Because if you see what's happening with Israel and Jewish people right now, there has never been, there has never been a more dangerous time since the Holocaust if you happen to be Jewish in America."
The former president has previously attacked Jewish Democrats, saying they "should be spoken to" and that they voted to "destroy America & Israel," among other comments.
Most Jewish voters historically lean Democrat.
Trump impersonates himself
While speaking at his rally in Wilkes-Barre, Trump did an impression of himself, recalling his response to an offer to debate Biden earlier this election cycle.
"I'll take it. I'll take it," he said, lowering his voice a few octaves in his impersonation.
Trump takes the stage in Wilkes-Barre rally
Trump has taken the stage in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, marking his second visit back to the state since the attempt on his life in Butler in July.
In closing remarks, Walz encourages supporters to stay enthusiastic through Election Day
As he closed out his speech, Walz urged the crowd to stay enthusiastic through Election Day. "Look, over the next 80 days, Vice President Harris and I will be across this country," he told the attendees, adding that they need to "work hard. We can sleep when we’re dead."
"We need each and every one of you. We do nothing alone. We need you on the team on Nov. 5," Walz continued. "At the end of that day, when the ballots close across this country. I want to know, and you want to know, we left it all on the field."