ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 27: The streets are flooded near Peachtree Creek after hurricane Helene brought in heavy rains over night on September 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday night as a category 4 hurricane in the pan handle of Florida and is working its way north, it is now considered a tropical storm. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — After the vice presidential debate, voters in one flash poll published Wednesday declared a draw in the meeting between Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Republican Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance.
Tuesday’s debate is the last scheduled in-person meeting between the presidential campaigns. Both Midwestern candidates were cordial and the debate was devoid of any major clashes. The two men even came to a general agreement on some policy issues, like providing families with support for child care and curbing the threat of gun violence.
Voters were split 50-50 on which candidate performed better, according to a flash poll by POLITICO/Focaldata of likely voters that was conducted after the CBS-sponsored event in New York City.
The mostly friendly exchange had some breakout moments, such as Walz pressing Vance on whether former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, which Vance didn’t answer.
“I’m pretty shocked by this,” Walz said during the debate. “He lost the election. This is not a debate.”
The next major televised interview with a presidential candidate will be Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, on the CBS news program “60 Minutes.”
“For over half a century, 60 Minutes has invited the Democratic and Republican tickets to appear on our broadcast as Americans head to the polls,” the show posted on social media. “This year, both the Harris and Trump campaigns agreed to sit down with 60 Minutes.”
However, after initially accepting, Trump “has decided not to participate,” the post continued.
The interview will air Monday night at 8 Eastern, but only with Harris.
“Our original invitation to former President Donald Trump to be interviewed on 60 Minutes stands,” according to the post.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote on social media that while there were initial discussions for an interview, “nothing was ever scheduled or locked in.”
He also took issue with live fact-checking.
Harris travels to Georgia
Harris on Wednesday headed to Augusta, Georgia, alongside Sen. Jon Ossoff, Democrat of Georgia, to survey the damage from Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that hit Southeastern states — Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. At least 600 people are unaccounted for.
Harris gave an update late Wednesday about ongoing federal efforts in the recovery.
“I’ve been reading and hearing about the work you’ve been doing over the last few days, and I think it really does represent some of the best of what we each know can be done, especially when we coordinate around local, state, federal resources to meet the needs of people who must be seen, who must be heard,” she said during her visit to the Augusta Emergency Operations Center, according to White House pool reports.
Harris is also planning to make a trip to North Carolina in the coming days. The hurricane severely hit western North Carolina.
President Joe Biden was scheduled to visit North Carolina Wednesday and survey the damage in Asheville via a helicopter to avoid disturbing recovery efforts on the ground.
Trump on Monday visited a damaged furniture store in Valdosta, Georgia, where he delivered remarks.
“We’re here today to stand in complete solidarity with the people of Georgia, with all of those suffering in the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Trump said.
Longshoremen’s strike
Harris issued a statement Wednesday in support of a strike of unionized dockworkers, part of the International Longshoremen’s Association, which has 85,000 members.
“This strike is about fairness,” she said. “Foreign-owned shipping companies have made record profits and executive compensation has grown. The Longshoremen, who play a vital role transporting essential goods across America, deserve a fair share of these record profits.”
They are striking for higher wages, more health care benefits and a ban on automation of port operations.
The Trump campaign also issued a statement, and said if Trump were president, the strike would have never happened.
“This is only happening because of the inflation brought on by Kamala Harris’ two votes for massive, out-of-control spending, and her decision to cut off energy exploration,” he said. “Americans who thrived under President Trump can’t even get by because of Kamala Harris – this strike is a direct result of her actions.”
Back to the battlegrounds
With less than five weeks to Nov. 5, new polling by the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter Swing State Project Survey shows that Harris is either narrowly leading or tied with Trump in nearly all seven battleground states, except for Georgia.
Harris has a lead within the margin of error in Arizona and Wisconsin, by 2 points; Michigan by 3 points; and in Nevada and Pennsylvania by 1 point. Trump is ahead in Georgia 49% to 47% and the candidates are tied at 49% in North Carolina.
Trump will deliver remarks at a campaign rally in Saginaw, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon.
Harris on Thursday will travel to Wisconsin for a campaign event in Fox Valley before heading to Detroit, Michigan.
On Friday, Vance will head to Lindale, Georgia, to give a speech and Trump will travel to Fayetteville, North Carolina, for a town hall.
Harris will be in Detroit for various campaign events Friday before returning to Washington, D.C.