The Sprint to the Presidential Finish Line – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - October 6, 2024
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
The Sprint to the Presidential Finish Line – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - October 6, 2024
“VP Debate Redux” – I have to say it was one of the most pleasant and informative debates I have ever seen. For the most part, it was civil, cordial, and conversational. I liked that they often referred to the opponent as Tim and J.D. instead of Senator and Governor. I wish I had a dollar for every person who told me in the past few post-debate days, “I wish these two were at the top of their tickets!” The two sparred over the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and abortion. That said, the poll numbers have not moved in any appreciable way after the debate.
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“VP II” – The only fiery moment in the debate came when the two men argued over Trump’s claim that legal Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people’s pets. Gov. Tim Walz (D) Minnesota said, “By standing with Donald Trump and not working together to find a solution, it becomes a talking point, and when it becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanize and villainize other human beings.” While directly avoiding the pet issues, Sen. J.D. Vance (R) Ohio said the immigrants had caused hospitals and schools in the small community to be “overwhelmed.” Vance also said, “The people I’m most worried about in Springfield, Ohio, are the American citizens.” As the exchange got heated, the moderator clipped the microphones for Vance and Walz, and it was over.
“What Say the Polls with a Month to Go?” – The latest Real Clear Politics composite poll has Vice President Kamala Harris at 49.3 percent to former President Donald Trump at 47.1 percent, for a lead of 2.2 percent. A poll on the morning of the VP debate had Harris-Walz up 1.8 percent. Another poll of the seven close battleground states has them tied at 48.4 percent. Wow! Trump has even inched ahead in Pennsylvania, but with a .1 percent tiny lead. Trump also leads in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina, with Harris leading in Nevada and Michigan. Some polls have Harris ahead in Wisconsin, while others have Trump barely in the lead. It remains razor-thin.
“A Swing State Swings” – With Wisconsin potentially the state to decide the election, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R) Wyoming was all set to campaign with Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Cheney and her former Vice President dad have endorsed her instead of fellow Republican Trump. Harris and Liz Cheney campaigned in Ripon, Wisconsin, a small town that was the birthplace of the national Republican Party in 1854. Liz Cheney said, "Because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I am voting for Kamala Harris." By the way, even though the Cheneys are Wyoming politicians, Liz was born in Madison, Wisconsin, where her parents attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin.
“Trump Trumpets Back” – “Dick Cheney is an irrelevant RINO, along with his daughter, who lost by the largest margin in the History of Congressional Races!” the former president said on his social media site, Truth Social. Trump has criticized former Vice President Cheney for his role in the Iraq War, which Trump mostly opposed.
“The U.S. Senate is Poised to Flip Red” – Right now, the U.S. Senate has 49 Republicans to 47 Democrats. But four senators are registered Independent, but all four caucus with the Democrats giving them a 51-49 majority. Here’s what’s likely to happen on Election Day. Gov. Jim Justice (R) West Virginia will win his U.S. Senate race in a landslide over former Mayor Glenn Elliott (D) Wheeling. Justice and Trump are close friends, and Trump carried the Mountain State with 69 percent of the vote in both 2016 and 2020. He’ll help Justice get elected to the Senate. In Montana, Republican challenger Tim Sheehy leads Sen. Jon Tester (D) Montana by 5.2 percent. Trump’s coattails will also help Sheehy win. With Justice and Sheehy winning, Republicans will take control of the U.S. Senate by a 51 to 49 margin.
“I Thought I’d Seen Everything in Politics!” – A bit of controversy is brewing in Virginia’s open 7th district in the U.S. House. Derek Anderson, a former Green Beret, is the Republican nominee for that seat. Anderson has a campaign video showing him with an adult woman and three young girls posing together, and also at the dinner table. It gives him the impression of being a family man. But it turns out the woman is the wife of a friend of Anderson’s, and the kids are the friend’s three daughters. But nowhere in the video is that explained. Anderson is engaged to someone else and has no children. Democratic Party spokesperson Lauryn Fanguen said, “Derrick Anderson is so desperate to mask his anti-abortion views and look like a family man, that he’s posing for fake family pictures.” A staged family portrait! It’s just weird!
“The Simmering Mideast” – This week will mark the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Foreign policy has not been a big issue in the presidential or congressional races but that could change in a big way before Election Day. Israel has been bombing targets inside of Lebanon, killing some of the top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, but also killing and wounding civilians in the process. Iran, which backs the two terror groups, launched a missile attack against Israel on Tuesday. President Joe Biden promised he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said an all-out war in the Middle East must be avoided. “It has to be," Biden told reporters, and added, “We really have to avoid it.” Trump and Harris both need to speak to how they will handle the growing tensions, as do Vance and Walz. On Wednesday, Biden said he wouldn't support a strike on Iranian nuclear sites as Israel promised response to ballistic missile attack.
“Happy 100th Birthday, Jimmy Carter!” – The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, celebrated his 100th birthday this past week. He had a bumpy road as president but may be the most significant ex-president we’ve ever had. Carter, who sought a second term, lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan in 1980. While he helped secure the Mideast Accords between Israel and Egypt, other accomplishments were few and far between. He presided over one of the worst economic declines in U.S. history, and Iran held 52 Americans hostage. Instead of retreating in his post-presidential years, Carter remained active and vigorous. He built many houses for Habitat for Humanity and built a bipartisan coalition with former President Gerald Ford in launching the Carter Center and the Gerald R. Ford Foundation, which do many good works to this day. His retirement years are filled with charity, diplomacy, and Sunday school teachings. May God bless him!