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In battle against Trump, Harris crisscrosses biggest of the battlegrounds on election eve

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Vice President Kamala Harris is urging her supporters to “get out to vote… let’s win.”

The Democratic presidential nominee, at a canvass kickoff Monday afternoon at a ski area in Scranton, Pennsylvania, told the crowd, “Let’s get to work. Twenty-four hours to go.”

On the final full day of campaigning ahead of her Election Day face-off against former President Trump, the Democratic Party nominee was crisscrossing the largest of the battleground states.

Following her event near Scranton, Harris headed south to Allentown, a majority Latino city, to hold her first rally of the day.

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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Montage Mountain Resort in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Montage Mountain Resort in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

“Momentum is on our side,” Harris told the large crowd in Allentown. “Can you feel it.”

The vice president was then scheduled to make a stop at a Puerto Rican restaurant in Reading, where she would be joined by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising Democratic Party star, and by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the high-profile member of progressive and diverse House members known as the Squad.

The spotlight on courting Pennsylvania’s crucial Puerto Rican voters comes as polls suggest Trump has made gains with Latinos, and in the wake of a controversy sparked by a racist joke by a comedian who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” as he spoke ahead of the former president last month at a large rally in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

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Harris will close out her election eve swing through Pennsylvania with two star-studded rallies – an evening one in Pittsburgh and a late-night one in Philadelphia, by the famed “Rocky Steps” outside the city’s Art Museum.

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But Harris doesn’t have the state to herself on this final full day of campaigning.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at Santander Arena, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Reading, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at Santander Arena, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Reading, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump, who is also making stops Monday in battlegrounds North Carolina and Michigan, holds two rallies in Pennsylvania – in the afternoon in Reading followed by an evening one in Pittsburgh. And he held a rally Sunday in Lititz, outside of Lancaster.

“With your vote, we’re going to win Pennsylvania. And we’re going to defeat Kamala and the radical left,” the former president said at his Reading campaign event.

And he told his supporters “we’ve been waiting for this. I’ve been waiting four years for this.”

VICE PRESIDENT KEEPS HER DISTANCE FROM BIDEN IN FINAL STRETCH TO ELECTION DAY

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With 19 electoral votes up for grabs, it’s the biggest prize among the seven key battlegrounds whose razor-thin margins decided President Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump and are likely to determine if Trump or Harris succeeds Biden in the White House.

“Pennsylvania is the one state that it’s hard to see someone losing and then still winning the presidential race,” Mark Harris, a Pittsburgh-based longtime Republican national strategist and ad maker, told Fox News. “It’s clearly ground zero.”

Harris, a veteran of multiple GOP presidential campaigns, called Pennsylvania “a big tipping point state.”

And pointing to the state’s major cities – Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – its electorally crucial suburban areas, and its vast swath of rural counties, Harris highlighted, “I think it’s a good microcosm of America.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, headlines a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Election Eve, November 4, 2024.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, headlines a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Election Eve, November 4, 2024. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

Harris, Trump, and their running mates – GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance and his Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – as well as top surrogates, have repeatedly stopped in the state this summer and autumn.

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And while the campaigns and their allied super PACs have poured resources into all seven battlegrounds, more money has been spent to run spots in Pennsylvania than any of the other swing states, according to figures from AdImpact, a top national ad tracking firm.

Pennsylvania, along with Michigan and Wisconsin, are the three Rust Belt states that make up the Democrats’ so-called “Blue Wall.”

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The party reliably won all three states for a quarter-century before Trump narrowly captured them in the 2016 election to win the White House.

Four years later, in 2020, Biden carried all three states by razor-thin margins to put them back in the Democrats’ column and defeated Trump.

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A New York Times/Siena College poll in Pennsylvania conducted last Tuesday through Saturday and released on Sunday indicated Harris and Trump deadlocked at 48% among likely voters in the state. It was the latest survey to indicate a tied or margin-of-error race in the Keystone State. 

Senior Harris campaign officials, taking questions from reporters on Sunday evening, noted that roughly three-quarters of Keystone State voters will cast ballots on Tuesday “because unlike other states, the guidelines, and availability of early voting is just more limited in Pennsylvania.”

But they added that when it comes to the early vote in the state, “we really like what we’re seeing.”

And they predicted that “we expect in Pennsylvania, we’ll have a very strong Election Day.”

The Harris campaign also confirmed to Fox News on Monday that the vice president made an intentional choice while stumping in swing state Michigan on Sunday not to mention Trump by name. Senior campaign officials say the plan is to “close fully positive”.

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On Monday, Harris called Trump “the other guy” a couple of times in her comments at the Scranton event.

But Pennsylvania is the state where Trump survived an assassination attempt in July – two days before the start of the Republican National Convention. And the former president returned to the site in Butler, in the western part of the state, for a massive rally last month.

Former President Donald Trump returns to Butler, PA. to hold another rally on Oct. 5

A large crowd waits for the arrival of former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 5, 2024. The rally is in the same location where Trump was shot on July 13. (Matthew McDermott for Fox News Digital)

While Harris closes out her campaign with a late-night rally in Philadelphia, Trump will be in Grand Rapids, in battleground Michigan, for his final rally. For Trump, it’s tradition. He closed out his 2016 and 2020 campaigns in the southwestern Michigan city.

Trump campaign senior officials told Fox News they were cautiously optimistic as they pointed to early voting leads in some of the key battlegrounds.

And they argued that the Democrats’ early voting advantage in Pennsylvania is substantially behind where it was in 2020 and wouldn’t be enough to withstand the Election Day vote. 

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Boosting the GOP’s early vote success is a concerted effort for two years by the Republican National Committee and state parties to encourage Republicans to be comfortable with early voting, absentee balloting and voting by mail. But just as important, after years of heavily criticizing early voting and blaming it for his unproven claims that his 2020 election loss to Biden was rigged, Trump has now embraced early voting.

Meanwhile, Trump, as he has in recent days, on Sunday once again argued without providing proof that the Democrats were trying to cheat.

“They are fighting so hard to steal this damn thing,” the former president charged at his Pennsylvania rally.

And later, at his rally in North Carolina, he also reiterated his claim that “we have a big lead. We have a big lead. The fake news, they don’t tell you this. We have a big, beautiful lead.”

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Trump and Harris

Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are locked in a dead heat with just hours to go until Election Day. (AP)

Responding, Harris told reporters on Sunday, “I would ask in particular people who have not yet voted to not fall for his tactic, which I think includes suggesting to people that if they vote, their vote won’t matter. Suggesting to people that somehow the integrity of our voting system is not intact so that they don’t vote.”

“It is meant to distract from the fact that we have and support free and fair elections in our country,” Harris argued. “We did in 2020. He lost.”

The Harris campaign on Sunday night also touted its very formidable get-out-the-vote operation, highlighting that it had more than 90,000 volunteers over the weekend helping to turn out voters, and that they knocked on more than 3 million doors in the key battlegrounds.

Fox News Jacqui Heinrich and Aishah Hasnie contributed to this report

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

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Boston, MA

Preparing Celtics fans for the regular season doldrums

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Preparing Celtics fans for the regular season doldrums


Some games are easy to get up for. Opening Night (in particular, when it’s a Banner Night) is euphoric. Primetime matchups and nationally televised games generate a lot of buzz. The playoffs are a whole other level. But it is a long NBA season and sometimes it is hard to get excited about a random mid-week game against a team counting ping pong balls. I’m not even talking about the players (that’s Joe Mazzulla’s challenge). I’m talking about fans.

The new-car smell of the start of the 82-game regular season has already worn off. The Celtics picked up their first loss, so there’s no epic winning streak to track at the moment. Football is still going on. The election is a distraction from the importance of NBA games. Soon, most will be shopping and traveling for the holidays.

We already established that the customary 20-game rule doesn’t apply this year. We know who this team is and what they are capable of (even if they don’t show it every quarter of every single game). So how should we approach the rest of the year as we wait for the playoffs? I have some suggestions.

Make up mini-challenges

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This is pretty much the approach that we take on the blog. Look for storylines in the mundane. Tease out an angle that others may have overlooked. Get creative.

Everyone is already tracking Jayson Tatum’s MVP status, but what about Payton Pritchard’s 6th Man of the Year case? How about Jordan Walsh’s development checkpoints? Track career milestones for Al Horford and Jrue Holiday. Hyper-analyze Xavier Tillman’s corner three shooting mechanics.

We need someone tracking the team’s record in various alternative records and Tatum 3’s colorways. Someone should be monitoring Jaylen Brown’s social media posts armed with the Enigma cipher machine to interpret for the rest of us. Have fun with it.

One quick don’t: Don’t join one of those NBA conspiracy cults. I know they have fun flyers with pictures of Tommy yelling at refs on them, but just steer clear. I mean, if there really was a conspiracy against the Celtics, they have failed miserably, and I feel bad for them.

Schadenfreude

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This one kind of speaks for itself, but I think it is important to do this responsibly. We don’t want to anger any basketball spirits in the process. So obviously no cheering for injuries or unfortunate events off the court. And don’t be a front-running troll online (unless provoked and even then maybe consider rising above the mud and muck, lest you get sullied yourself).

With all that said, it is always fun seeing the Lakers lose. I’ve never gotten tired of watching the process falter in Philly. The Knicks might be a worthy foe this year, but if/when they fall short, it will be fun as usual.

Mix in a 2nd hobby

Look, I’m at peace with my singular obsession. I know that on Christmas morning I’ll open several Celtics related items because “we didn’t know what else to get you.” I’ve had to stare blankly at people when they talk about “the big football game” (college or pros). And when I explain that all my basketball consumption leaves no time for other sports the look of mixed pity and disgust is something else entirely. When people brag about the home project they completed or the 20 lb. pork shoulder that they smoked, I smile and nod and wonder if the injury report has been released yet.

With that said, I’ve tried to expand my horizons over time. I read a pretty good amount. I try to volunteer at church. I actually kind of enjoy yard work (if you don’t shake a handful of peanuts in your hand while staring out the window at your lawn, are you even a dad?). The point is, find your other thing and enjoy it (at least when the game isn’t on).

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Oh, and I shouldn’t have to say this, but always do life first. Basketball games can be recorded. Be there for your friends and family.

Enjoy the season! Go Celtics!



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Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh looking at periods of rain on Wednesday then a dry and mild rest of the week

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Pittsburgh looking at periods of rain on Wednesday then a dry and mild rest of the week


KDKA-TV Morning Forecast (11/6)

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KDKA-TV Morning Forecast (11/6)

03:02

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Tuesday brought record-breaking warmth to Pittsburgh with a high of 81 degrees. This broke the old record of 80 set in 1948 and is also the second warmest temperature ever recorded for the month of November. After a very dry few weeks across the Ohio Valley region, today brings in the best chance of rain since about mid-October across Western PA and Northern West Virginia. 

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A band of steady light to moderate rain will spread into our area by 7-8 a.m. this morning and persist for a few hours before dissipating gradually around noon. 

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High temperatures and rain chances – November 6, 2024

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KDKA Weather Center


This will leave us with mostly cloudy skies and mild conditions with temperatures reaching the upper 60s to near 70 for most areas today. As the cold front associated with this system moves southeast, additional isolated to scattered showers will develop. There may even be a thunderstorm as models show very minimal amounts of potential energy in place. 

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High temperatures – November 7, 2024

KDKA Weather Center


By tonight and Thursday morning, the best chance of showers will shift toward the Laurel Highlands and our Northern West Virginia counties with temperatures dropping into the mid to upper 50s by daybreak Thursday. Total rainfall amounts will range from 0.1″ to locally over 0.25″ in our northwestern zones. 

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Skies will gradually clear Thursday afternoon and evening. The low temperature for Thursday will occur closer to midnight as cooler air settles into the region late.

For Friday and Saturday expect mostly sunny conditions and mild temperatures. The potency of the cooler air behind this front will be lacking substantially, so we expect temperatures to still be above normal despite the passage of a cold front moving through. Our next system looks to arrive by Sunday with increasing clouds, moisture, and winds along with plenty of showers, especially by Sunday afternoon and evening.

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Rain chances over the next week

KDKA Weather Center


A few thunderstorms are possible too given that there will be some potential energy along with strong winds aloft to help organize storms. Following the passage of this system, temperatures STILL look to stay mild next week with no sign of any substantial cold air mass in the foreseeable future.

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7-day forecast: November 6, 2024

KDKA Weather Center


Stay up to date with the KDKA Mobile App – which you can download here!

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Connecticut

OPINION: Whither Connecticut Republicans post election?

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OPINION: Whither Connecticut Republicans post election?


November 05, 2024 6:03 pm
• Last Updated: November 05, 2024 8:34 pm

State Senator Heather Somers, R-18th District, in the red sweater, tries to avoid having a photo taken of her outside the Sterling polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (David Collins/The Day). Buy Photo Reprints

A Hartford Democrat shared with me a screenshot of a recent Facebook posting by Stonington Republicans, likening the coming presidential election to awaiting a pregnancy test.

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“We either get a healthy baby boy or the daughter of Satan,” said the Facebook posting by the Stonington GOP.

Ouch. It’s hard to learn that any political leaders in the town you live in would say such a thing about the presidential candidate of the opposing party, the current vice president of the country.

I know national Republicans have called the vice president all kinds of names and assailed her politics, policies and intelligence. That’s campaign fodder, I suppose, although some of it has surely had a misogynist strain.

But daughter of Satan? Stonington Republicans think she’s evil? I thought maybe I lived in a more civilized, sophisticated town than that.

I kept thinking about that posting all Tuesday, during my usual Election Day tour through eastern Connecticut. I always enjoy using a road trip to clear my head from the turmoil of campaign season, to finally welcome the finality of what used to be voting day, now vote counting day.

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It’s always a pleasure to drive through the magnificent scenery of this corner of Connecticut, usually resplendent in late fall. I generally meander up through North Stonington and Preston and end up in Sterling, at the northern reaches of one of our most sprawling state Senate districts, the 18th.

The Satan comment makes me wonder what will become of Connecticut Republicans after this consequential election. As I drove through the countryside, and as I write this before deadline, the final count is not in.

For those in our region who think of Kamala Harris as the daughter of Satan, a Trump loss might be unimaginable. Maybe those Republicans harbor a fantasy of Connecticut voters suddenly embracing in large numbers the tenets of the new national GOP, led by a felon who boasts of “my beautiful white skin,” robs women of reproductive rights and promises to vindictively lock up his enemies.

Good luck to them if they think that’s the future of their party here, even with a Trump win.

I’m quite sure, though, that many other traditional Connecticut Republicans have done their best to duck Trumpism, avoiding it like a passing cloud of radiation from a nuclear bomb.

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They can’t admit to their base they are ducking Trump. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them even voted for Harris, hoping the Trump phenomena might finally pass by.

I actually ran across my own state senator, Heather Somers of the 18th District, when I pulled into the parking lot of the Sterling polling place.

Remembering my editor’s request to staff to snap a picture of any candidates at the polls, I tried for one of Somers, who was standing with a small group alongside the driveway.

My attempt at a simple candidate picture turned into a comical scene, as Somers hid from the phone camera, first turning away and then hiding behind the person she was standing next to. She was eventually escorted, hiding between two people, to the nearby building and someone drove her Cadillac, with its Senate 18th plates, from across the parking lot, so she could slip in at the front door, Lady Di style, without being photographed.

Sterling Republican Chairman Victoria Robinson later called an editor at The Day, saying that I was “very creepy,” following a candidate around and scaring them. Sterling Republicans posted a picture of me on their Facebook page and said I was stalking Somers, following her there from Mystic.

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Somers has a history of ducking photographers Election Night, but her behavior Tuesday was incredibly strange, a state senator refusing to have her picture taken in public, outside a polling place on Election Day.

I suppose it could be extreme vanity. I suspect it might have more to do with not being pictured with all the Trump signs adorning the Sterling polling place parking lot, in the heart of Trump country.

She was there to court Trump voters, but not be photographed with them.

Trump may continue to haunt Connecticut Republicans, either from the White House or prison.

And I’m sure an ambitious politician like Somers doesn’t want a picture of herself near a Trump sign that might surface in the future.

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Alas, my road trip ended badly when my 20-year-old Mini broke down on Interstate 395. I had a nice chat with the tow truck driver, who told me he never votes because the candidates are merely the puppets of the richest people in the world who manipulate them. The government could cure cancer, but chooses not to because it benefits from the money spent on treatments.

I thought maybe I should put him in touch with the Satan-fearing Republicans of Stonington.

This is the opinion of David Collins

d.collins@theday.com

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