Key events
Donald Trump again promised to ban sanctuary cities and launch a massive deportation program if he wins the presidential race, making xenophobic comments about how US towns have been “conquered” by migrants.
“These are dangerous people. These are really dangerous people,” Trump said. “There’s nothing you’re going to do about it to make them less dangerous.”
A report compiled by the American Immigration Council estimated the annual cost of deporting one million immigrants per year to be roughly $88bn.
Donald Trump briefly touched on his baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election as he addressed supporters in State College, Pennsylvania.
Trump noted that he won more votes in 2020 than any president in US history. That statement is true, but crucially, Trump’s 74m votes fell short of Joe Biden’s 81m votes in the 2020 race. Trump unsurprisingly sidestepped that fact in his remarks.
“I got the most votes in the history of our country for a sitting president. Can you imagine? But they say they beat us,” Trump said. “[Biden] got a few more votes – sitting in his basement, not talking – and it’s a disgrace.”
Trump then repeated his boast that he would easily defeat Kamala Harris, saying, “We’re going to pull this off. It’ll be the greatest victory in the history of our country for all of us – not for me, for all of us.”
Joan E Greve
Donald Trump griped about Kamala Harris’s campaign rally with Beyoncé in Houston last night, mocking the event as a “disaster”.
Beyoncé endorsed Harris at the rally, telling the 30,000 people assembled at Shell Energy stadium: “For all the men and women in this room, and watching around the country, we need you.”
Despite some speculation that Beyoncé would perform, she did not, prompting ridicule from Trump.
“The people went there because they thought they’re going to hear Beyoncé sing,” Trump said at his rally in State College. “Then she turned around [and] she left.”
Donald Trump should “never again” serve as president of the United States, Kamala Harris says, evoking the ex-president’s authoritarian tendencies.
“Someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States,” Harris said, before leading the crowd in a chorus of “never again”.
“To love our country is to know that one of the highest forms of patriotism, I believe, is to then fight for the ideals of our country,” she added.
Joan E Greve
Donald Trump’s rhetoric against Kamala Harris has turned increasingly vitriolic in the final days of the presidential race, and he continued that trend at his rally in State College, Pennsylvania.
Promising a “new golden age” for the nation if he wins, Trump lambasted Harris and Joe Biden’s leadership over the past four years.
“Pennsylvania, you have to stand up and you have to tell Kamala that you’ve had enough. You’re not going to take it anymore. You’re the worst vice-president,” Trump said. “You’re just horrible, Kamala. You’re fired. Get out of here.”
Echoing Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris is trying to draw a through-line between her ancestors in the civil rights movement, her work to preserve reproductive freedom and gen Z’s advocacy around a host of issues.
“You, who have only known the climate crisis, are leading the charge to protect our planet and our future. You, who grew up with active shooter drills, are fighting to keep our schools safe. You, who now know fewer rights than your mothers and grandmothers, are standing up for reproductive freedom. And for you, all these issues are not, they’re not political. They’re your lived experience. And I want to tell you I see you, and I see your power,” Harris said.
Kamala Harris is lauding the Affordable Care Act and speaking about reproductive freedom at her Kalamazoo rally.
“I believe healthcare should be a right and not a privilege of those who have the money to afford it. On the other hand, we’ve got Donald Trump, who intends to end the Affordable Care Act, or as we like to call it, Obamacare,” Harris said.
“I did an event in Texas last night in Houston and if you saw it, you probably saw some of the stories about what has been happening in our country, the suffering,” she added, refering to women and families who shared their stories of struggling to access medical care under abortion bans.
Noting that Michigan has protected abortion access, Harris added, “if there’s a national abortion ban, nobody is safe.”
Donald Trump takes stage in State College, Pennsylvania
Joan E Greve
Arriving about an hour-and-a-half late, Donald Trump has taken the stage for his campaign rally in State College, Pennsylvania.
In his typical boasting manner, Trump claimed he is “leading in all the polls”. even as surveys suggest the presidential race is a true toss-up with just 10 days left before election day.
“We’re leading, but we’ve got to close it out,” Trump said. “On November 5, America will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer and stronger than ever before.”
Joan E Greve
Senator Bob Casey attacked his Republican opponent, Dave McCormick, over allegations that he fostered a toxic work environment as CEO of the hedge fund Bridgewater, describing the claims as “disqualifying”.
“I’ve always placed a priority on combating sexual harassment in the workplace, and apparently at Bridgewater, it was just a whole different story,” Casey told reporters this morning.
“So he’s being held accountable for that, and he should be held accountable. I think that alone is disqualfiying. If you’ve engaged in that kind of activity in the private sector, you should not be a public official at any level.”
The Casey campaign released an ad this week highlighting claims that McCormick attempted to silence or retaliate against female employees of Bridgewater who came forward with harassment claims.
Casey’s campaign manager also penned a letter calling on McCormick to demand that Bridgewater release employees who reported harassment from their non-disclosure agreements.
“It is your responsibility to ensure the voters of Pennsylvania have complete information about your record before casting their votes,” Tiernan Donohue, Casey’s campaign manager, wrote in the letter. “They deserve the full story.”
Joan E Greve
Speaking to reporters after his event with the Carpenters Union, Senator Bob Casey said he believes the momentum and enthusiasm on the ground in Pennsylvania will lift Democrats to victory in 10 days.
“I think it is close. There’s no question about that,” Casey said. “That energy and intensity on the ground is starting to uplift our side. I’ve never seen the number of volunteers that we’ve seen in this state. Every weekend they’re breaking another record.”
Asked about how close the race feels 10 days out, Casey said momentum is on Dems’ side.
“That energy and intensity on the ground is starting to uplift our side. I’ve never seen the number of volunteers we’ve seen in this state. Every weekend, they’re breaking another record.“
— Joan Greve (@joanegreve) October 26, 2024
Asked specifically about whether young voters will turn out to vote for him and Kamala Harris, Casey expressed confidence that they would.
“I think the turnout is going to be high,” Casey said. “Young voters might engage a little late, but I think they’re ready to vote.”
Kamala Harris is drawing out the personal and political differences between her and Donald Trump.
“I grew up in a middle class neighborhood with a working mother who kept a strict budget and did everything she could to make sure my sister and I had all that we needed. I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from,” Harris said.
Trump’s “agenda is all laid out in Project 2025, which I still must say, I cannot believe they put that in writing,” she added, before going on to talk about her plan for a child tax credit and to lower housing and healthcare costs.
Joan E Greve
Senator Bob Casey addressed members of the Carpenters Union in Philadelphia this morning, as the three-term Democrat enters the final 10 days of his race against Republican Dave McCormick.
Casey, whose race has grown increasingly close in recent weeks, again criticized McCormick over his leadership of the hedge fund Bridgewater and his recent residency in Connecticut.
Senator Bob Casey is speaking to the Carpenters Union in Philadelphia this morning.
With 10 days left until Election Day, Casey is hitting his opponent, Republican Dave McCormick, for his record as a hedge fund manager and his recent residency in Connecticut. pic.twitter.com/PZcV8VKsyS
— Joan Greve (@joanegreve) October 26, 2024
“He was investing in Chinese oil companies, investing in Chinese steel companies and betting against US Steel – hurting our workers, hurting our companies. That is his record as a hedge fund CEO,” Casey said.
“I’ll put my record – fighting for families in this state, investing in communities in this state and fighting for working men and women – I’ll put that record up against his record any day of the week.”
Thanking the union for its support throughout his political career, Casey added, “I’m going to work night and day for the next 10 days, like I’ve been working my whole life, to earn your votes and to earn your trust.”
