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Surprises rock the Senate races that will decide America’s future | CNN Politics

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Surprises rock the Senate races that will decide America’s future | CNN Politics



CNN
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Late twists are rocking the tight Senate races that may resolve the future of a chamber now narrowly run by Democrats – in addition to the longer term course of America itself – on Election Day in simply 12 days.

The Democrats’ finest probability of snatching a Senate seat held by Republicans might have been additional difficult by John Fetterman’s shaky debate efficiency in Pennsylvania Tuesday night time, which raised extra questions concerning the stroke survivor’s health to serve.

That very same query – albeit from totally different circumstances – is once more swirling round Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker after an unnamed lady claimed at a press convention Wednesday that he pressured her to have an abortion in 1993. The school soccer icon branded the accusation “a lie,” however after going through related accusations by a former girlfriend, it’s opened him as much as extra expenses of hypocrisy since he has earlier than referred to as for a nationwide ban on abortion with no exceptions.

In the meantime in Arizona, the place the Republican Get together’s march to its anti-democratic fringe is gathering steam, Senate nominee Blake Masters was proven on digicam vowing to ex-President Donald Trump that he wouldn’t go “smooth” on false voter fraud claims. Individually, Masters on Tuesday instructed supporters it was high quality for them to movie drop packing containers to stop “poll harvesting” amid an issue over “vigilante teams” allegedly conspiring to intimidate voters utilizing the early balloting packing containers.

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Hearken to Trump strain Blake Masters over election denialism

The unstable state of all three races – every of which may very well be pivotal to figuring out Senate management – underscores the large stakes going into the election. It explains the intensifying struggle between the events and an more and more nasty tone that’s rattling debate phases throughout the nation. And it comes as Democrats desperately search to cease Republican momentum within the marketing campaign, which is rooted in voter frustration about raging inflation and excessive gasoline costs popping out of the pandemic.

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President Joe Biden’s approval rankings have been pushed all the way down to ranges that might show disastrous for Democratic candidates. GOP assault advertisements are additionally making a dystopian imaginative and prescient of a nation stalked by violent crime, whereas Democrats are hitting Republicans over their anti-abortion positions, following the Supreme Courtroom’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June.

If Republicans win the Senate – in a 12 months wherein they’re favorites to win again the Home – they are going to be capable of blitz the White Home with investigations and crimp Biden’s presidency. They may even be capable of halt the White Home’s efforts to stability out Republican success in reshaping the judiciary on deeply conservative traces.

Pennsylvania, which is essential to Democratic hopes of holding their majority within the 50-50 chamber, may find yourself being crucial Senate race within the nation. Republicans solely want a web achieve of 1 seat to win the bulk, so successful the Keystone State may assist Democrats mitigate losses in different states the place they’re on protection.

Even after struggling a stroke in Might, Fetterman had the momentum for a lot of the summer season over superstar surgeon Mehmet Oz. However the race has tightened in latest days. The Democrat’s wrestle to articulate his positions and ship assaults on his rival in Tuesday night time’s debate prompted reverberations of concern in Washington.

Fetterman had warned that he’s nonetheless coping with auditory and linguistic after-effects from his stroke however his wrestle at occasions to search out the fitting phrases on the talk stage was painful to look at. A number of occasions, he appeared to lose his prepare of thought and repeated phrases. “To be sincere, doing that debate wasn’t precisely straightforward,” Fetterman instructed supporters at a rally Wednesday night time.

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The query now could be whether or not undecided voters will wonder if he’s effectively sufficient to go to the Senate – even when his docs say that he’s getting higher on a regular basis. It’s attainable partisan traces are so cemented by this level that his efficiency is not going to matter. Nonetheless, greater than 600,000 Pennsylvanians have already forged votes within the race and Fetterman’s debate exhibiting – successfully a job interview – got here at a second when voters are making up their minds on a regular basis, greater than every week from Election Day. If he loses, his marketing campaign will face questions over whether or not he erred in agreeing to debate Oz.

Former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania mentioned Fetterman’s marketing campaign had set the bar at a really low stage, however not low sufficient for a debate that he referred to as “disturbing on many ranges.”

“That was actually an terrible factor to look at. On a human stage, I really feel for John Fetterman,” Dent instructed CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “The Scenario Room” on Wednesday. “It simply struck me that he’s not prepared. … I believe it’s going to have an unlimited affect on the race.”

Nonetheless, Fetterman might win factors for braveness in not permitting his well being to intrude together with his political struggle for Pennsylvanians. At his marketing campaign occasions, he asks supporters whether or not they or their kinfolk have suffered a well being disaster, and guarantees to go to Washington to safe for them the well being care that he says saved his life.

In a number of conversations with voters, CNN’s Jeff Zeleny picked up nervousness amongst Fetterman’s supporters about how his stumbles may damage his possibilities, even when they weren’t personally backing away from him.

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However one Fetterman backer, Craig Bischof, within the central city of Bedford, mentioned his candidate “will get more healthy on daily basis” and had “come a great distance.”

One lady, nevertheless, within the Republican-leaning city, Jan Welsch, mentioned the Democrat’s efficiency was “embarrassing” and that Pennsylvania could be in serious trouble if it voted for him.

However such feedback additionally elevate the query of how a lot Fetterman’s ongoing restoration would actually have an effect on his job within the Senate – a chamber recognized to have its fair proportion of aged and ailing lawmakers. Plus, it’s not as if a single senator has the facility of a president, for instance, who has to make and clarify essential nationwide safety choices. Then there may be additionally the query of whether or not Fetterman is being unfairly handled for what’s, in essence at this stage, a incapacity, in a discriminatory means that is probably not tolerated in one other office.

However Fetterman badly wants to alter the topic. Ozgave him some materials to work with on Tuesday night time, and the Fetterman marketing campaign shortly launched an assault advert primarily based on the Republican’s remark that “native political leaders” ought to have a say, alongside girls and docs, on whether or not somebody ought to get an abortion. The gaffe performed straight into Democratic efforts to painting Ozand his fellow Republicans as too excessive for essential suburban voters.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during a campaign event at the Steamfitters Technology Center in Harmony, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.
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Hear what Fetterman has to say after rocky debate efficiency

Whereas Pennsylvanians have been digesting the talk, voters in Georgia – hundreds of whom have been flocking to polling locations to forged early ballots – realized of a brand new alleged scandal hitting Walker, who was hand-picked by Trump and is attempting to unseat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock.

A unnamed lady who claimed she was in a yearslong romantic relationship with Walker mentioned the Senate nominee pressured her into having an abortion in 1993. The lady, known as Jane Doe to guard her id, attended the press convention just about together with her lawyer, Gloria Allred, and skim her assertion. Her voice was heard, however her face was not proven.

“He has publicly taken the place that he’s about life and towards abortion below any circumstance when in reality he pressured me to have an abortion and personally ensured that it occurred by driving me to the clinic and paying for it,” Doe mentioned, accusing Walker of hypocrisy.

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Allred on Wednesday offered proof corroborating an alleged relationship between Doe and Walker, however she didn’t present any particulars corroborating the abortion declare.

The GOP nominee accused Democrats of orchestrating the assault.

“I already instructed folks this can be a lie, and I’m not going to entertain, proceed to hold a lie alongside. And I additionally need to let you already know that I didn’t kill JFK both,” Walker mentioned at a marketing campaign occasion previous to the press convention. “I’m achieved with all this foolishness,” he added in a press release Wednesday night.

Walker has already been accused by a former girlfriend of encouraging her to have an abortion after which reimbursing her for the fee. He has denounced that declare as a “flat-out lie.” However introduced with a duplicate of the test the primary lady mentioned was a fee for her process, he conceded it was his signature on the paper, though he mentioned he didn’t know what the test was for. CNN has not independently confirmed the primary lady’s allegations. She has remained nameless in public stories.

The political affect of the most recent declare was not clear. It may harm Walker, who’s operating considerably behind in style Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who’s operating for reelection in a rematch towards Democrat Stacey Abrams. However nationwide Republicans maintain coming to rally round Walker, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz hitting the path with him on Thursday.

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The abortion concern is hardly doubtless to assist Walker in key suburbs and would possibly dampen assist amongst non secular conservatives. However polling within the wake of the preliminary allegations towards him confirmed his place within the race little modified, narrowly trailing Warnock. And Walker’s political mentor, Trump, confirmed in his cut price with social conservatives {that a} scandal-plagued personal life needn’t be politically disqualifying. The previous President repaid their religion in him by occurring to assemble a conservative Supreme Courtroom majority. Politics might have reached a degree of such polarization within the US that ideology, somewhat than the persona of the candidate, may very well be the driving power in some elections.

Lead Eva McKend LIVE_00012020.png

A second lady claims GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker pressured her to have an abortion years in the past. He denies it.


03:41

– Source:
CNN

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Trump’s affect is weighing on Arizona, the place Masters is locked in a detailed race with Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly.

In a telephone name captured in a Fox documentary, the previous President is proven rebuking Masters after he mentioned in a debate that he hadn’t seen proof of election fraud in Arizona.

“If you wish to get throughout the road, you’ve acquired to go stronger on that one factor. That was the one factor, plenty of complaints about it,” Trump instructed Masters, utilizing Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake for example.

“Have a look at Kari. Kari’s successful with little or no cash. And if they are saying, ‘How is your loved ones?’ she says the election was rigged and stolen. You’ll lose in case you go smooth. You’re going to lose that base,” Trump mentioned.

Masters was proven telling Trump: “I’m not going smooth.”

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Arizona has turn into a hotbed of election denialism within the wake of Trump’s 2020 loss within the state – which is mirrored within the slate of Trump-backed candidates operating up and down the poll there. The elevation of such conspiracy theories has led to restrictive new voting legal guidelines throughout the nation and fears about voter intimidation efforts.

The Arizona chapter of the League of Girls Voters, for instance, filed a lawsuit in federal courtroom late Tuesday focusing on teams and people that they are saying are conspiring to intimidate voters by way of a coordinated effort referred to as “Operation Drop Field.”

That is the second latest lawsuit filed in federal courtroom focusing on the conduct of people – a few of whom are armed – who’ve been staking out and filming voters at poll drop packing containers in Arizona.

Masters instructed KTAR Information on Tuesday that it was alright for folks to look at poll packing containers however that they need to adjust to the regulation.

“In case you are planning on watching the poll packing containers, keep no matter distance away, don’t intimidate voters, get your video digicam out and file to verify folks aren’t poll harvesting,” Masters mentioned.

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Maps: 3.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern California

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Maps: 3.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern California

Note: Map shows the area with a shake intensity of 3 or greater, which U.S.G.S. defines as “weak,” though the earthquake may be felt outside the areas shown.  All times on the map are Pacific time. The New York Times

A minor, 3.8-magnitude earthquake struck in Southern California on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The temblor happened at 12:09 p.m. Pacific time about 15 miles south of Bakersfield, Calif., data from the agency shows.

As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake’s reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.

Aftershocks in the region

An aftershock is usually a smaller earthquake that follows a larger one in the same general area. Aftershocks are typically minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake.

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Quakes and aftershocks within 100 miles

Aftershocks can occur days, weeks or even years after the first earthquake. These events can be of equal or larger magnitude to the initial earthquake, and they can continue to affect already damaged locations.

When quakes and aftershocks occurred

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Source: United States Geological Survey | Notes: Shaking categories are based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. All times above are Pacific time. Shake data is as of Monday, May 19 at 3:14 p.m. Eastern. Aftershocks data is as of Monday, May 19 at 4:24 p.m. Eastern.

Maps: Daylight (urban areas); MapLibre (map rendering); Natural Earth (roads, labels, terrain); Protomaps (map tiles)

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Trump says Russia and Ukraine to ‘immediately’ begin talks on ending war

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Trump says Russia and Ukraine to ‘immediately’ begin talks on ending war

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Donald Trump said on Monday that Russia and Ukraine would begin peace negotiations “immediately”, even though in separate comments Vladimir Putin did not spell out any substantive change in the Kremlin’s stance.

After a two hour call between the US and Russian presidents, Trump posted that “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War”.

In comments that indicated that Washington may be stepping back from any role as a broker between the warring parties, Trump said the Vatican would be “very interested” in hosting the talks, adding: “Let the process begin!”

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Putin’s readout of the conversation with the US president was much more tentative. The Russian president said he was “ready to work” with Kyiv on a memorandum to frame future talks, which could include a possible ceasefire “for a certain amount of time”.

Putin told a state media reporter that the conversation with Trump had been “very candid and therefore very useful”. But he did not announce any major shifts in Russia’s position on the war in Ukraine. 

“We agreed with the US president that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum about the possible future peace agreement,” Putin said. 

Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a separate phone call earlier in the day.

The comments from the Russian president come a week after he refused to attend peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey, leading Trump to say that “nothing is going to happen” until he and the Russian president met.

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Trump had indicated his willingness to meet Putin for the talks in Turkey.

On Monday, the Russian president said the memorandum would include “the principles on which a peace agreement would be based, the timing of a possible peace agreement” and “a possible ceasefire for a certain amount of time, if certain agreements are reached”.

However, Putin added that Russia’s main objective was “to eliminate the root causes of this crisis”, in language that signalled his key demands remain unchanged.

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have accelerated in recent weeks, with Russia and Ukraine holding direct talks in Istanbul on Friday, their first since the start of the three-year war.

Trump vowed to end the war on day one of his second term but peace has proven elusive, with both sides still far apart.

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In European capitals, leaders fear that Trump could cut a deal with Putin that accedes to his maximalist demands and sells out Ukraine’s interests in his haste to end the fighting.

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Pope Leo XIV receives White House invitation in meeting with JD Vance

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Pope Leo XIV receives White House invitation in meeting with JD Vance

Donald Trump has issued a White House invitation to Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born pontiff who as Cardinal Robert Prevost previously criticised Trump’s administration.

The invitation came via a letter from the US president and the first lady, Melania Trump, that was delivered to the new pope by the US vice-president, JD Vance, during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday morning.

A video of the start of the meeting shared by the Vatican also showed Vance and his wife giving the pontiff a Chicago Bears jersey with Leo’s name on it.

“As you can probably imagine, the US people are extremely excited about you,” said Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019.

In return, Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture with words in Italian meaning “peace is a fragile flower”.

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The pope spoke to Vance privately before they were joined by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio. The Vatican did not reveal what was discussed.

Before being elected pope earlier this month, Prevost criticised Trump’s administration in several posts on his X account, mainly targeting the government over its hardline policies on immigration.

In February he also shared on X an opinion article published in the National Catholic Reporter titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” after comments that Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, made in an interview on Fox News.

After meeting Leo, Vance spoke with officials from the Vatican’s secretary of state. Those talks were “cordial”, the Vatican said, adding that there was “an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved”.

The meetings at the Vatican took place hours before Trump was due to speak by phone with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in an effort to end the war in Ukraine.

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Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and Myanmar at inaugural mass – video

Vance, Rubio and their wives were in Rome to attend a mass on Sunday marking the official start of Leo’s papacy.

The Vatican has not confirmed or denied whether the previous social media posts were authentic, although the X account has been deleted. Trump and Vance also clashed with the late Pope Francis over immigration.

Christopher White, the Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and author of the forthcoming book Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy, said: “Vance certainly knows where the pope stands on the Trump administration’s position on migration, and so I think it was probably important for both sides to use the meeting today as a reset [in relations].

“But they’re obviously worlds apart on migration, and so today was really more about Ukraine and finding a solution. Before becoming pope, Leo was much more direct than Francis ever was because he characterised the war as an imperialistic aggression on the part of Russia.”

White said that while Trump would seek to capitalise on Leo’s papacy, it was unlikely the pontiff would make visiting the US a priority. “He will be quite shrewd,” White added. “I think it’s fair to say that we can expect him to visit Peru, his adopted country, before he visits his homeland.”

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