Harris walks a tightrope during trip to the border
Vice President Kamala Harris will head to the border town of Douglas, Arizona, today. The visit is in hopes of addressing her perceived weakness on immigration, but some community members aren’t sure if it’s “too little, too late,” Immigration Reporter Anna Giaritelli wrote.
Immigration has been a hot-button topic the entire election, but concerns have mounted, even though border crossing numbers have dropped to Trump-era levels. Voters have become more interested in the subject as unfounded claims from the Republican presidential ticket about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, have gone viral.
Harris, during her Friday trip, is hoping to reframe the narrative around her immigration policies. Douglas, however, is an interesting site to pick since it hasn’t seen the types of problems some other places Republicans highlight during their border trips have. The town, 125 miles from Tucson, has been battling a drug crisis because of over-the-border smuggling, but it hasn’t experienced the surge in border crossings other towns have.
The Washington Examiner obtained a preview of her speech, in which she is expected to say, “The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games.” However, Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), from the neighboring 7th District, said her visit “smells like nothing more than a photo opportunity.”
Harris has a tough road ahead of her in her quest to reassure voters she will be strong on the border. She has previously been sympathetic to the idea of reducing immigrant detention, deportations, and stopping construction of the border wall. But decreasing border crossing numbers might give her the leeway to reassure voters the matter is under control so close to the election.
Read more about Harris’s trip to the border here.
Senate races funding heats up
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who runs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has been making some last-minute, heavy-hitting investments in Senate races across the country. This week, he poured millions into the races in Texas, where Democrats are looking to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Florida, where they are looking to unseat Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).
“It’s not unusual to have cash coming in at the end. We’re in a good place right now because there’s just so much enthusiasm for Kamala Harris in this race, and it’s helping our Senate races,” Peters said.
The Senate math for Democrats is tight, especially with Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) retiring and his seat likely flipping. There are eight must-defend seats for Democrats, and even if they win all of them, the Senate will be 50-50. Some of the most-watched races include those in Michigan, Maryland, Montana, and Pennsylvania. Overall, the DSCC has spent $54 million in ads across the country, but especially in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Political lobbyists are relieved to see some money being directed toward seats that would be flips, rather than being defended, according to Senate Reporter Samantha-Jo Roth.
“The numbers in Texas and Florida, the head-to-head numbers, have been pretty consistent for a long time,” said Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist based in New York City. “If the numbers are what they are, and they’ve been consistent for six to nine months, it probably makes sense in the final five weeks of the race to put some money in. I think it’s an intelligent thing to do. Maybe it moves the needle.”
Click here to read more about the Nebraska Senate race “wild card.”
Republicans pounce on Eric Adams indictment
Yesterday morning, prosecutors announced the five counts New York City Mayor Eric Adams is charged with, all related to an alleged decadelong corruption and bribery scheme.
In response, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) blamed a “cult of corruption” around New York Democrats and said this would help bolster Republicans in the election.
New York has long been a blue stronghold, but this election, Republicans are targeting a handful of seats to flip. If Democrats can’t hold on to the House seats in New York, their path to control of the lower chamber might be squashed.
“Of course, Eric Adams should resign,” Stefanik said. “New York Democrats will pay the price for this corruption and incompetence in November, and Republicans will sweep this November.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee jumped on the train as well, with spokeswoman Savannah Viar saying, “We are ready to remind voters that his enablers running for Congress own every one of his moral, ethical, and policy failures. During Adams’s tenure, he and his cronies permitted crime to run rampant, allowed corruption to fester, and used American taxpayer dollars to pay hand over fist for illegal migrants to stay in New York — all while cowardly congressional candidates nodded along.”
Read more about how Democrats are trying to brush off ties to Adams.
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To know today
President Joe Biden is heading to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Harris will deliver remarks from Douglas, Arizona, at 4:45 p.m. Eastern time.
Former President Donald Trump will deliver remarks in Walker, Michigan, at 2 p.m. and then hold a town hall in Warren, Michigan, at 6 p.m.