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Obama calls Trump 'wannabe king' at Harris event

PHOTO: Former U.S. President Barack Obama attends a rally for Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., October 24, 2024.
7:24
REUTERS/Megan Varner
Beyonce to join Harris rally in Houston: Sources
By Alexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Tal Axelrod, David Brennan
Last Updated: October 25, 2024, 10:39 AM

The race for the White House is heading into the final stretch with most polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump neck-and-neck in key states with less than two weeks to go.

Key Headlines

  • Walz warns voters of the dangers of a Trump presidency at Wilmington rally
  • Trump calls John Kelly a 'bully,' calls for Jack Smith to be deported
  • Trump says current border policy make US 'garbage can for the world'
  • Swing state county warns of fake video showing destroyed ballots
  • Colorado officials thwart stolen ballot scheme
Here's how the news is developing:

Pinned
Oct 27, 2024 12:12 PM

More than 40 million Americans have voted early

As of Saturday night, more than 40 million Americans cast an absentee ballot or voted early in person, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

Roughly 19.3 million people voted early in person, the lab reported, and more than 20.9 million returned their ballot by mail.

PHOTO: A man votes on the second day of early voting in Wisconsin at the American Serb Hall Banquet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 23, 2024.
Vincent Alban/Reuters
A man votes on the second day of early voting in Wisconsin at the American Serb Hall Banquet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 23, 2024.
Vincent Alban/Reuters

Pinned
Oct 23, 2024 5:53 PM

Republicans warn of Democratic spending swarm in state legislative races

Republicans are warning that they could get vastly outspent in the battle for state legislative races across the country, a continuing reversal from last decade's elections, when the GOP dominated such contests.

In a donor memo first reported by Politico and obtained by ABC News, Republican State Leadership Committee President Dee Duncan wrote to donors that his group's historic $44 million investment in state legislative races this year would pale in comparison to the $175 million its Democratic counterpart and allied liberal groups planned to dish out.

"Since the…aforementioned national liberal outside groups have already combined to spend at least $69 million of traceable money across the country, that means they are on the road to dump at least another $100 million into key races between now and November," Duncan wrote in his call to action.

"We don't expect to fully close the fundraising gap we face, but additional resources are still immediately needed to counter the opposition's massive spending advantage in these final weeks to ensure we remain on course to defend our majorities and seize any and all opportunities to flip chambers still within reach," he added.

Democrats have made a concerted effort to get off the mat in state legislature races across the country. In 2022, the DLCC was able to overwhelm the RSLC in spending in the final weeks, a scenario Duncan specifically referenced as wanting to avoid this time around.

After having their ranks decimated in the 2010 midterms and struggling for over a decade to recoup, voting and abortion restrictions pushed by Republicans helped underscore the importance of such bodies for voters, producing an influx of funds that have helped Democrats go on offense. This year, the Democratic National Committee sent a first-of-its-kind $2.5 million to the DLCC.

Democrats are now on offense in Arizona, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and the Pennsylvania Senate, where they're seeking to flip state chambers. Republicans are working to regain ground in Michigan and Minnesota, as well as in the Pennsylvania House.


Oct 25, 2024 10:39 AM

Obama calls Trump 'wannabe king' at Harris event

Entering the final sprint approaching Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris called upon her biggest supporters as she pulls out all the stops to drive voters to the polls.

Former President Barack Obama was on hand at Harris’ rally in Georgia on Thursday night, ripping into Donald Trump by painting him as a power-hungry leader who is only out for himself.

“We do not need four years of a wannabe king -- a wannabe dictator running around trying to punish his enemies,” Obama said to cheers from the crowd. “That's not what you need in your life. America is ready to turn the page.”

Obama urged Americans not to be fooled by Trump’s claims about the economy.

“I remember the economy when he first came in. It was pretty good,” Obama said. “Yeah, it was good because it was my economy. I handed over 75 straight months of job growth to Donald Trump and all he did was give tax cuts to folks who didn't need it.”

Obama also had a message for Americans who may be swayed by Trump’s tough talk.

“Some men who seem to think Trump’s behavior is a sign of strength. That Macho, you know, ‘I'm going, I'm going to own these folks. I'm going to put them down.’ I am here to tell you, that is not what real strength is,” Obama said. “It never has been. Real strength is about working hard and taking responsibility and telling the truth even when it's inconvenient. Real strength is about helping people who need it and standing up for those who can't always stand up for themselves. That's what we should want in our daughters and our sons, and that's what I want to see in the President of the United States of America.”


Oct 25, 2024 8:26 AM

Elon Musk's America PAC announces 5th and 6th $1 million prize winners despite DOJ letter

Elon Musk's America PAC announced the fifth and sixth winners of its $1 million prize winners late Thursday night, despite the Department of Justice sending a letter to the group saying giving financial incentives to boost voter registration may be illegal.

The announcements come after the PAC skipped a winner yesterday.

The latest winners announced today are from Michigan and Wisconsin, according to the PAC.

“Jason of Holland, Michigan received $1M for signing our petition to support the Constitution,” America PAC posted on X. “Every day until Election Day, a person who signs will be selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC.”

"Brian from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, received $1M for signing our petition to support the Constitution," the PAC also posted. "Every day until Election Day, a person who signs will be selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC."

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Soorin Kim


Oct 25, 2024 2:58 AM

Trump calls into Vance's town hall, asks 'How brilliant is Donald J. Trump?'

In a town hall hosted by NewsNation outside of Detroit, Michigan, vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance took questions from undecided voters in the crowd about what a second Trump administration would tackle and like to accomplish.

In an unexpected moment, former President Donald Trump called into the town hall and asked Vance, "How brilliant is Donald J. Trump?"

"This is supposed to be undecided voters," Vance joked. I would hope that I have your vote of all people."

"Sir, of course, you're very brilliant and we both agree that it's important to have very smart people running our government," Vance said.

Trump also asked Vance how brilliant Vice President Kamala Harris was, leading Vance to say that's "a tough one."

"Don't say it," Trump said. "We don't need anymore. We're doing just fine."

Trump praised Vance, saying he's doing a "fantastic job" and couldn't be happier with him.

Vance was asked three different times throughout the evening what he would do if he were to become president over the next four years if something happened to Trump.

Vance quickly pivoted back to Trump, saying he is "as healthy as an ox" and will be able to
complete a full term if elected back to the White House.

"There's no chance that he's not going to be able to complete a full four-year term. I think he's going to do it. He's going to do it with a ton of energy," Vance said.

"Just look at the campaign schedule that Donald Trump has kept compared to his Democratic opponents. He's doing like three public events for every event Kamala Harris has done," Vance added.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie



Oct 25, 2024 2:07 AM

Harris and Obama team up for 1st joint rally to swing at Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama teamed up for their first joint rally in Clarkston, Georgia, Thursday, to take swings at former President Donald Trump and implore Georgians to vote early.

"So much is on the line in this election, and this is not 2016 or 2020. The stakes are even higher, because over the last years, and in particular the last eight years, Donald Trump has become more confused, more unstable and more angry," Harris said.

PHOTO: Former President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally supporting Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Oct. 24, 2024, in Clarkston, Ga.
Mike Stewart/AP
Former President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally supporting Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Oct. 24, 2024, in Clarkston, Ga.
Mike Stewart/AP

“You see it every day. He has become increasingly unhinged. But last time at least, there were people around him who could control him. But do notice in this election they’re not with him this time," the vice president added.

Obama also hit Trump over his former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Mark A. Milley's recent comments about him.

"They are people who have never in the past even talked about politics because they believe that the military should be above politics. But the reason they’re speaking up is because they have seen that in Donald Trump's mind, the military does not exist to serve the Constitution or the American people," Obama said.

"He doesn't see being commander-in-chief as a solemn, sacred responsibility," Obama continued. "Just like everything else, he thinks the military exists to do his bidding, to serve his interests."

In a message to the audience of the star-studded rally Thursday, Harris said, "Georgia, we need you to vote early, please vote early."

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow


Oct 23, 2024 5:53 PM

Republicans warn of Democratic spending swarm in state legislative races

Republicans are warning that they could get vastly outspent in the battle for state legislative races across the country, a continuing reversal from last decade's elections, when the GOP dominated such contests.

In a donor memo first reported by Politico and obtained by ABC News, Republican State Leadership Committee President Dee Duncan wrote to donors that his group's historic $44 million investment in state legislative races this year would pale in comparison to the $175 million its Democratic counterpart and allied liberal groups planned to dish out.

"Since the…aforementioned national liberal outside groups have already combined to spend at least $69 million of traceable money across the country, that means they are on the road to dump at least another $100 million into key races between now and November," Duncan wrote in his call to action.

"We don't expect to fully close the fundraising gap we face, but additional resources are still immediately needed to counter the opposition's massive spending advantage in these final weeks to ensure we remain on course to defend our majorities and seize any and all opportunities to flip chambers still within reach," he added.

Democrats have made a concerted effort to get off the mat in state legislature races across the country. In 2022, the DLCC was able to overwhelm the RSLC in spending in the final weeks, a scenario Duncan specifically referenced as wanting to avoid this time around.

After having their ranks decimated in the 2010 midterms and struggling for over a decade to recoup, voting and abortion restrictions pushed by Republicans helped underscore the importance of such bodies for voters, producing an influx of funds that have helped Democrats go on offense. This year, the Democratic National Committee sent a first-of-its-kind $2.5 million to the DLCC.

Democrats are now on offense in Arizona, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and the Pennsylvania Senate, where they're seeking to flip state chambers. Republicans are working to regain ground in Michigan and Minnesota, as well as in the Pennsylvania House.


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