As Election Day approaches in just 15 days, both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are actively campaigning in key states that could influence the Presidential election outcome.

On Monday, Trump assessed the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in the Asheville, North Carolina region before leading a rally in Greenville, located in the state’s eastern part. Later in the evening, he is set to engage with faith leaders near Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Harris is making a three-state tour with former Representative Liz Cheney, visiting important suburban areas in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The candidates are set to unveil their strategies on crucial topics like the economy and border security, hoping to win over voters in these critical states ahead of the November election.

Stay informed with the YSL News Network’s ongoing election coverage.

Harris critiques Trump’s dance moves, claims he’s hiding something

Vice President Kamala Harris took aim at former President Donald Trump during a Monday night event, raising questions about his mental stability and insinuating that he and his team are concealing the truth.

In response to Harris’s participation in a cover-up controversy following President Joe Biden’s struggles in a June debate, Trump and his allies have criticized her. Harris has countered by questioning why Trump has not disclosed his medical history and avoided interviews.

“I can’t help but wonder what secrets he might be hiding. I’m also curious about why his team is trying to keep him from debating me or doing interviews,” Harris remarked to conservative commentator Charlie Sykes during an event in Wisconsin.

This comment was part of a broader critique by Harris, 60, arguing that Trump, 78, is not fit for office.

During her event in Waukesha County with Cheney, Harris also teased Trump about his extended dancing at a recent town hall.

“Is it just a solo dance?” she joked, to which Cheney replied, “That’s a very generous term for it.”

— Francesca Chambers

Trump takes shots at Abraham Lincoln again

Just days after questioning President Abraham Lincoln’s leadership style during the Civil War, Trump has again directed remarks at Honest Abe, particularly concerning border policy.

In what appeared to be a jest, Trump also took a swipe at President George Washington while discussing the endorsement he received from a border patrol union during his rally in Greenville, N.C.

According to Trump, a union member claimed, “I’m the greatest president there’s ever been.” Trump recounted his response: “What about George Washington? Nah, you’re better. ‘And Lincoln? What about him?’ Nope, you’re better.”

“He said I’m tougher on border issues than Abraham Lincoln, truly,” Trump added.

This may reference the incursions of Confederate troops into Maryland and Pennsylvania, which eventually met defeats at Antietam and Gettysburg, but it’s unclear.

– David Jackson

‘Not indulging in gummies’: Harris discusses anxiety management while campaigning

On Monday, Kamala Harris addressed how she manages anxiety during her presidential campaign, specifically denying that she resorts to edible marijuana.

This came up during a town hall discussion in Royal Oak, Michigan, where Harris was conversing with journalist Maria Shriver.

“Everyone I talk to says they need to disconnect from the news, practice meditation, do yoga, and some are even eating gummies for stress relief. What are you doing?” asked Shriver.

Harris, who is the current Democratic vice president, responded firmly, “Not eating gummies.”

“Okay! That’s good to know!” Shriver replied.

Harris mentioned that she maintains her health by exercising regularly, but candidly added, “I often find myself waking up in the middle of the night these days, just to be honest with you.”

– Darren Samuelsohn and Karissa Waddick

Trump references betting markets in his favor

Donald Trump is keeping an eye on betting odds.

During a rally in Concord, North Carolina, Trump proclaimed he was performing “really well” against Kamala Harris and highlighted betting markets as evidence.

“I’m aware that nobody here gambles, but some of these betting markets show a win ratio like 65 to 35 or something similar,” Trump remarked.

Bettors outside the U.S. on platforms like Polymarket are forecasting that Trump will prevail over Harris by a significant margin.

“Does anyone here gamble? No? No, well Great Christians certainly don’t gamble, do they?” Trump remarked.

Meanwhile, standard polling indicates that Trump and Harris are in a tight competition. The recent YSL News/Suffolk University survey shows Harris leading with 45% nationally compared to Trump’s 44%.

– Karissa Waddick

Trump’s Bold Strategy to Appeal to Male Voters

Donald Trump, who currently has an advantage among male voters in polls, made comments over the weekend referencing a legendary golfer’s masculinity, used profanity during speeches, and attended an NFL game to maintain his appeal to this demographic.

This strategy aims to energize Trump’s staunch supporters and encourage turnout among less engaged male voters through a hyper-masculine approach, which critics describe as a damaging take on masculinity. At the same time, he seems to be largely ignoring – and potentially alienating – suburban women voters who were previously thought to be essential for his campaign.

Despite this approach, Trump remains competitive in the polls, closely trailing Kamala Harris.

“I’ve never seen anyone put more effort into rallying current supporters rather than expanding the potential voter base,” remarked Frank Luntz, a seasoned GOP pollster and Fox News commentator.

Check out the detailed report on Trump’s strategy to engage male voters.

– Zac Anderson

Trump Criticizes Media for ‘Cognitive Decline’ Concerns

Trump has dismissed inquiries into his unusual behavior lately, attributing it to media bias, which he labels as “mean.”

During a rally in Greenville, N.C., Trump avoided mentioning specific incidents from the past week, including a 40-minute musical interlude following a brief town hall in Oaks, Pa., profane remarks at a Catholic charity event in New York City, and a playful tribute to golfer Arnold Palmer’s physique in Latrobe, Pa.

Trump frames these incidents as misunderstandings of his word choices, saying, “Those foolish people back there will claim ‘he’s mentally impaired.’ They focus on a word that wasn’t quite right. They’re disturbed folks.”

He did clarify, though, that he doesn’t think all reporters hold this view, indicating “not all of them. I’d estimate 92%.”

– David Jackson

Deceptive Ads Targeting Harris’ Positions

A pro-Trump organization is behind deceptive online content in swing states that misrepresents Kamala Harris’ stances on various issues.

The website is connected to a political nonprofit called “Building America’s Future,” which has ties to prominent Republicans supporting Trump’s run in 2024. This was reported by Open Secrets, an organization dedicated to tracking campaign funding and government transparency.

Marketed as Progress 2028, the website claims to be a liberal alternative to the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a proposed agenda for a potential second Trump term that has raised alarm among left-leaning individuals.

The website lists misleading information about Harris’ policies, including unfounded assertions regarding providing Medicaid to undocumented immigrants, banning fracking, and introducing a mandatory gun buyback program.

Though the site lacks extensive content, the group has disseminated these claims via text messages and nearly $191,769 in ads on Facebook and Instagram aimed at voters in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.

The group officially registered its name “Project 2028” in Virginia last month, with the website going live shortly after.

As a nonprofit organization, Building America’s Future does not have to disclose its financial activities until after the election, nor does it have to reveal its donors.

-Sarah D. Wire

Harris Engages Suburban Voters with Liz Cheney

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off a multi-state campaign focusing on anti-Trump Republicans and suburban women, beginning in Chester County, Pennsylvania, alongside former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney.

Joe Biden previously won this Philadelphia suburb in the last election. Notably, former GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley also showed strong results in this area during the Republican primary in April, despite having already withdrawn from her campaign.

Cheney underscored her enduring commitment to conservative values and her Republican identity at the event.

“In this race, you must decide between someone who has always been loyal to the Constitution and Donald [Trump].”

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Cheney mentioned Trump’s actions during the January 6 insurrection and his attempts to invalidate the last election results.

In Malvern, Harris and Cheney, who had previously shown support for Harris, engaged in a conversation moderated by Republican strategist Sarah Longwell, a notable critic of Trump. They addressed topics including child care, elder care, and maternal health, with plans to visit Michigan and Wisconsin later in the day.

− Francesca Chambers

Trump surveys storm aftermath in North Carolina; calls on his supporters to vote

On Monday, Trump traveled to western North Carolina, mixing a tour of storm recovery efforts with a rallying cry for his supporters to vote.

He also promised to assist North Carolinians in recovering from the hurricane—”if” he wins the election.

“We must vote,” Trump emphasized at a press gathering in Asheville, NC, urging his supporters to actively seek ways to cast their votes despite significant damages caused by Hurricane Helene. “They need to take action and vote.”

He noted that his advisers would prefer he say he would accomplish things “when” he is back in office, but he prefers “if” as he believes one should never assume victory.

Trump then shifted to discuss voter turnout.

North Carolina, which he won in both 2016 and 2020, is likely a crucial state for his 2024 campaign; current polls indicate a tight race against Harris in the state.

The former president has two more events scheduled in North Carolina for Monday.

− David Jackson

Walz questions the significance of misstatements, labels Trump a ‘pathological liar’ on ‘The View’

Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, appeared on ABC’s “The View” and defended his history of gaffes, pointing out the fundamental differences between himself and Donald Trump.

Co-host Alyssa Farrah, a former assistant in the Trump White House, challenged Walz about his reliability amidst his campaign trail’s inconsistencies.

“I believe people do differentiate between simply misspeaking and being a pathological liar, like Donald Trump. They understand the distinction,” Walz stated.

Walz attributed many of his inaccuracies, including an incorrect claim about attending the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, to speaking off-the-cuff and lacking political experience.

“As a teacher and a coach, I speak from the heart,” he explained.

He further questioned if these inaccuracies really held significance, abruptly ending his response.

− Sam Woodward

Walz proposes Republicans as potential Harris Cabinet members on ‘SmartLess’ podcast

During a podcast appearance on Monday, Tim Walz expressed support for Kamala Harris’ commitment to appoint a Republican to her Cabinet if she wins the election.

“As she mentioned, and I concur, it’s important to bring a Republican into the Cabinet,” he stated on the “SmartLess” podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. “There are many capable individuals out there. Although I may not agree with all their views, their integrity is apparent.”

He cited specific names, including former Sen. Jeff Flake from Arizona and Sen. James Lankford from Oklahoma, as examples of conservatives willing to collaborate across party lines.

“These individuals need opportunities to make an impact because they are principled and genuinely care about our nation; it’s a quality that sets (Harris) apart,” he added, emphasizing the importance of high-profile appointments to the Cabinet.

Podcast co-host Jason Bateman chimed in, “Or two, or three?”

“Absolutely! Bring them on,” Walz replied enthusiastically.

– Sam Woodward

Supreme Court halts Michael Cohen’s lawsuit against Donald Trump and federal officials

On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled against Michael Cohen’s efforts to sue Donald Trump, claiming he was sent back to prison in 2020 as punishment for publishing a revealing book about Trump.

The justices turned down Cohen’s request to review a lower court’s dismissal of his lawsuit. Cohen accused Trump and others of attempting to silence him by revoking his home confinement and placing him in solitary confinement. Previously, Cohen had served as Trump’s personal attorney and was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to facilitating hush money payments to women who alleged they had sexual encounters with Trump prior to his election.

A federal judge had previously declared Cohen’s return to prison was a retaliatory action against him for criticizing Trump. However, another federal judge dismissed Cohen’s claims for damages against Trump, Attorney General William Barr, and prison officials, citing Supreme Court precedents as the reason.

– Maureen Groppe

’60 Minutes’ denies claims of editing bias in Harris interview

CBS’ “60 Minutes” has dismissed allegations from Donald Trump and his supporters that the network misrepresented a portion of its interview with Kamala Harris through deceptive editing.

Trump’s campaign accused CBS of using selectively edited clips for different programs on the channel, including “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation.”

In response, the news outlet clarified that “60 Minutes provided a segment of our interview to Face the Nation that included a longer part of her response than was shown on ’60 Minutes’. The same question was asked, and the same answer was given, but a different section of the response was utilized,” the network explained.

They added, “When editing any interview, whether it’s with a politician, athlete, or actor, we aim to remain clear, accurate, and precise. The section of her answer aired on ’60 Minutes’ was shorter to accommodate time for other topics in the extended 21-minute segment.”

Trump opted not to join the “60 Minutes” interview as the Election Day approaches.

− Sudiksha Kochi

Poll shows Harris and Trump in tight contest for Black and Latino votes

An exclusive YSL News/Suffolk University poll indicates that among 1,000 likely voters, Harris has garnered 45% support, compared to Trump at 44%. This marks a closer race than observed in August when, following the Democratic National Convention, Harris led Trump by five points (48% to 43%).

In addition, Harris has witnessed a decline in support from Latino voters, with Trump now leading among this group 49% to 38%. Harris maintains a strong lead among Black voters with 72% to Trump’s 17%, but this 55-point gap is significantly narrower than typical Democratic margins.

Trump has actively sought Hispanic and Black votes, focusing on the economy and crime issues. His ability to chip away at the Democrats’ usual support base has raised concerns among Harris’ team and prompted former President Barack Obama to express frustration about Black male voters possibly hesitating to support a female candidate.

− Sudiksha Kochi, Susan Page, and Maya Marchell Hoff

What is the timeline for announcing election results?

The exact timing of when election results will be revealed is unclear, as it varies by state due to distinct regulations and procedures, from extended early voting to stringent voter ID requirements.

However, delays should be expected.

In crucial swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, for instance, officials are not allowed to begin processing absentee and mail-in ballots until Election Day, which will likely slow down the overall counting process.

— Sudiksha Kochi and Sam Woodward

What is the voting schedule for the presidential election?

There are multiple options available for participating in the general election. Depending on your location, you can choose to vote early via mail or in-person. Alternatively, you can wait until Election Day, November 5, to visit a polling site and cast your vote.

YSL News provides details on when early voting has started or is set to begin across various states. Alabama was the first state to initiate voting by sending out absentee ballots on September 11. However, Alabama does not allow for in-person early voting.

On Monday, seven states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, South Carolina, and Texas, are set to introduce options for in-person early voting or absentee voting in-person.

— Sudiksha Kochi and Fernando Cervantes Jr.

Elon Musk’s $1 million giveaway raises concerns on election interference

Elon Musk’s announcement of a $1 million daily cash prize for individuals who sign his online petition until Election Day has sparked worry among some election law specialists, who suggest it could be seen as election interference.

Musk, who is the richest person globally, introduced the initiative at a Donald Trump rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he presented the first $1 million check to an attendee named John Dreher.

“Our only requirement for the million dollars is that you act as a spokesperson for the petition,” Musk stated as Dreher showcased the giant cutout of the million-dollar check.

Experts point out that offering rewards for voting or registering is against federal law and can lead to incarceration.

“Linking a million-dollar prize to voter registration is illegal,” commented Rick Hasen, an election law authority and director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project, in a widely circulated post on X this past Saturday. “Moreover, given Pennsylvania’s registration deadline approaching, it may not achieve Musk’s intended outcome.”

During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed concern over these giveaways, calling them “deeply troubling.”

“Injecting such large sums into politics raises significant issues,” he noted.

“This could attract the attention of law enforcement,” he added.

— Cybele Mayes-Osterman

Is Election Day recognized as a federal holiday?

Election Day, occurring on November 5, is not designated as a federal holiday.

However, several states observe it as a holiday, closing government offices on that day. This includes states like New York, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, and more than eight others.

The District of Columbia and 24 states allow workers the right to take paid time off to vote. Some other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin, also provide time off for voting, but without guaranteed pay.

— Cybele Mayes-Osterman

Current standings for Harris and Trump in the polls

As the 2024 presidential campaign reaches its final stages, current polling data from Real Clear Politics indicates a close race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. As of Sunday afternoon, Harris is ahead of Trump by a mere 0.9 percentage points in the national polling average.

In strategically important battleground states, Trump is showing slight leads, with a 0.7 percentage point advantage in Pennsylvania, 1.2 in Michigan, and 0.2 in Wisconsin. These key states are anticipated to significantly influence the election results next month.

– Jeremy Yurow

Where is Kamala Harris currently campaigning?

On Monday, Kamala Harris will be campaigning in Wisconsin alongside Liz Cheney, a former congresswoman from Wyoming who has been a strong opponent of Donald Trump.

According to Harris’s campaign team, they will participate in a series of three “moderated conversations” in communities in swing states.

Their journey will start in Chester County, Pennsylvania, located west of Philadelphia, then they will proceed to Waukesha County in Wisconsin, which is west of Milwaukee, and Oakland County in Michigan, northwest of Detroit.

Cheney has been actively campaigning with Harris this month, showing her support by formally endorsing the vice president back in September.

– Savannah Kuchar

Where is Trump campaigning?

This week, Trump is launching a campaign tour through the south, starting with events in North Carolina on Monday.

The former president plans to speak in Asheville and will address the audience from the city that was significantly affected by Hurricane Helene.

In North Carolina, Trump will also hold a rally in Greenville in the afternoon and participate in an event in Concord with faith leaders, his son Eric Trump, and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson.

– Savannah Kuchar