Nevada activists confident abortion rights amendment will pass
LAS VEGAS — Milijana Rodriguez showed up to an office park on the outskirts of Las Vegas for the first time last night, and she was on a mission.
“The decision about abortion should be up to women, their doctors and those they love and trust, not politicians. Vote yes on Question 6,” she wrote on a postcard, the other side of which read, “voting is your superpower.”
Question 6 would codify the right to an abortion up to fetal viability, or about 24 weeks, with an exception to protect the life and health of the mother, in the Nevada constitution. It’s one of 10 similar measures on the ballot in November.
Rodriguez was optimistic that the voter who would receive her postcard would support the measure, and other activists involved in the effort were confident it would pass. In Nevada, a ballot initiative has to pass in two subsequent elections to take effect.
Unlike some other states where abortion rights are on the ballot, the right to an abortion is already protected in Nevada. But those working to pass the measure believe codifying that right in the state’s constitution will make it more difficult to strip away. And they feel a sense of urgency as the surrounding states of Utah, Idaho and Arizona have more restrictive abortion laws.
“Nevada voters really feel those threats,” said Tova Yampolsky, the campaign manager for Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, a coalition of more than two dozen groups backing Question 6.
Yampolsky said the coalition aims to knock on 1 million doors and make 1.5 million phone calls by Election Day. Yampolsky, who is confident the initiative will pass, said the group is also launching mail pieces, TV and digital ads and, of course, sending postcards.
Nearly two dozen volunteers — almost all women— gathered around conference tables writing those notes last night, offering a glimpse into how the issue of abortion rights has galvanized women since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, eliminating the federal right to an abortion.
“I was in tears,” said Laura Campbell, director of actions for Nevada NOW, recalling watching the news about the Supreme Court’s decision with her young daughter, Lily, who is now 3 years old.
“Lily is growing up in a world where her rights are not valued,” Campbell said. “She could grow up to have the same reproductive struggles that I’ve had. … If she wants to start a family, that’s going to be her choice.”
Biden and Harris to be briefed this morning on Hurricane Milton
Biden will receive a briefing this morning on the response to hurricanes Milton and Helene across the Southeast and how the Department of Defense and Coast Guard are supporting FEMA’s mission.
The Defense Department has deployed active-duty troops to assist the National Guard and has sent the Coast Guard to Florida to assist with response and recovery efforts. Harris, who is campaigning in Las Vegas, will join the briefing virtually.
This morning, Biden spoke with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, about the initial impact of Milton and was also briefed by his homeland security adviser, Liz Sherwood-Randall, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, the White House said in a statement.
"The governor said they are still assessing the damage across the state," the statement said, adding that DeSantis "thanked the president for the extensive federal support to prepare for and respond to the storm."
"The president reiterated that he will provide any support the state needs to speed response and recovery," the White House said.
Obama to emphasize 'enormous stakes' this election as he campaigns for Harris
Obama is campaigning for Harris in Pittsburgh today because he believes it's an "all hands on deck moment" in the final weeks of the presidential election, his spokesperson said in a statement.
Obama will "discuss the enormous stakes of this election" and highlight the importance of re-electing Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., the spokesperson said. Casey, who is locked in a competitive race, put out a campaign ad this morning featuring Obama.
Obama has been working to help Democrats throughout the election cycle. Now that early voting has begun in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, "his focus is on persuading and mobilizing voters, especially in states with key races," the spokesperson said.
Obama "has been actively supporting the presidential campaign since last year, helping to raise $80 million, cultivating relationships and content with online creators, and filming dozens of digital ads," his spokesperson said.
With less than a month to Election Day, NBC News correspondents Monica Alba and Dasha Burns join “Meet the Press NOW” from the campaign trail as Harris goes on a media blitz and Trump rallies in Pennsylvania. NBC News justice and intelligence correspondent Ken Dilanian reports on the arrest of an Afghan man who is charged with plotting an Election Day terror attack.
Harris to speak in Phoenix
Harris will head to Phoenix today to deliver a speech in the crucial swing state of Arizona.
Early voting in the state began yesterday. Biden flipped the state by a narrow margin in 2020.
Obama hits the campaign trail for Harris
Obama will head to Pittsburgh today to campaign for Harris.
NBC News has reported that the event marks the start of a larger campaign push by Obama in the final few weeks before the election.
“President Obama believes the stakes of this election could not be more consequential and that is why he is doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris, Governor Walz and Democrats across the country,” Obama senior adviser Eric Schulz said in a statement last week.
Biden didn’t know Ron DeSantis had refused to take Harris’ call when he praised him as ‘gracious’
Biden hadn’t been briefed about a back-and-forth between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vice President Kamala Harris over hurricane recovery before he praised him as “gracious” in a news conference Wednesday, a source familiar with the situation said.
NBC News first reported Monday that DeSantis refused to take Harris’ call when she reached out about Hurricane Helene’s impact on Florida. DeSantis charged that Harris was trying to “politicize the storm.” Harris called him “utterly irresponsible” and “selfish.” The spat grabbed headlines for several days.
On Wednesday, Biden delivered a widely televised address warning the public about the potentially catastrophic impact of Hurricane Milton, which began ravaging Florida’s coastline Wednesday night.
A reporter then asked Biden whether DeSantis should be taking Harris’ phone calls. He praised DeSantis and dodged answering the question directly.
“All I can tell you is I’ve talked to Gov. DeSantis. He’s been very gracious,” Biden said. “He’s thanked me for all we’ve done. He knows what we’re doing. And I think that’s important.”
Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake square off in sharp-edged Arizona Senate debate
PHOENIX — Republican Kari Lake and Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego faced off in Arizona’s feisty first and only Senate debate yesterday evening, trading shots over the border, abortion, tax policy and more.
The barbs started before the moderators even asked a single question.
“We are at a crossroads, Arizona,” Gallego said in his opening statement, highlighting Lake’s repeated election denialism. “We’re going to see and talk to somebody who has really failed the basic test of honesty.”
Lake shot back: “Tonight, we’re going to watch as somebody tries to reinvent himself. Somebody who used to be a member of the Progressive Caucus, somebody who has destroyed the very congressional district that he has served for the past 10 years.”
As the candidates bounced from topic to topic over an hour onstage, the answers circled back on a key slice of voters: old-line Republicans and independents who aren’t necessarily comfortable with Lake. Gallego continually referred to his support from prominent Arizona Republicans, while Lake repeatedly brought up Trump as she tries to prevent his voters from crossing over in the Senate race.
Bob Casey campaign puts out ad featuring Barack Obama
The Casey campaign is out with a new ad featuring one of the most popular political figures: former President Barack Obama.
In the ad, Obama argues Casey would fight to hold big corporations accountable for "greedflation" with the goal of ensuring Pennsylvanians have more money in their pockets.
“People are hurting right now. Meanwhile, corporations are raking in record profits. My friend Bob Casey is fighting back,” Obama says straight to the camera.
Obama praises Casey for capping the price of insulin, lowering the price of more prescription drugs and pushing for a child care tax credit. He says Casey is guided by “faith and family,” adding, “He is Pennsylvania through and through.”
Trump to speak at the Detroit Economic Club
Trump is set to head to Michigan, where he will deliver remarks today at the Detroit Economic Club.
Vance will head to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he is set to hold a town hall. In a news release announcing the visit, the campaign said Harris "has completely failed the people of North Carolina."
Trump won North Carolina in 2020 by a slim margin, and Democrats are working to flip it blue.