Next GOP presidential debate set for December

Plans are already in the works for the next GOP presidential primary debate. Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel says the party has plans for additional debates in the 2024 election cycle. A fourth debate is scheduled for early next month in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. To make the stage, candidates must garner at least 6 percent in two approved polls, and gather at least 80-thousand unique donors representing 20 or more states.

A policy-focused debate still featured some bickering

Republican candidates still found time to criticize each other during a policy-focused debate. A recent campaign feud between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley carried over to the debate stage. Haley also took issue when Vivek Ramaswamy mentioned her daughter using TikTok. Ramaswamy opened the debate by tearing into the mainstream media, as well as the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee.

On debate stage, DeSantis and Haley take aim at absent Trump

Donald Trump’s rivals took aim at the frontrunner during the latest GOP debate. With Trump absent from the debate stage again, the two candidates fighting for a distant second place in the GOP field, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, both took notice. Trump held a competing rally here in South Florida during the debate.

At GOP debate, candidates address Israel, China, abortion

At the third GOP debate, candidates tackled a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. The candidates stood strong with Israel, including Ron DeSantis. Chris Christie took aim at TikTok, saying it represents a threat from China. On abortion, Nikki Haley said it’s time to face political reality. But Tim Scott held firm in his support of a nationwide 15-week abortion ban.

GOP debate to include domestic, foreign policy topics

Tonight’s Republican debate is expected to feature both domestic and foreign policy questions. This is the first debate since the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel and the military response. Ukraine and China are other hot-button foreign policy issues. Abortion is likely to be addressed, too, especially following last night’s vote in Ohio protecting access to the procedure. With frontrunner Donald Trump skipping the debate and holding a competing rally just a few miles away, the five GOP candidates here are hoping to break out as the former president’s top rival.

Five candidates to square off in 3rd GOP debate in Miami

Miami is hosting the third GOP presidential debate. Five candidates will face off here in South Florida this evening — Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, and Tim Scott. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel says this debate comes at a critical time in the election cycle. NBC News is televising the debate, which is co-sponsored by the Salem Radio Network.

Trump to skip Miami debate and hold nearby rally

Former President Trump will hold a rally instead of participating in the third Republican debate. Once again, Trump is skipping the debate. And once again, he’s scheduled an event to compete with the debate. One hour before his GOP rivals take the debate stage in downtown Miami this evening, he’ll hold a stadium rally in Hialeah, about a half-hour away. The former president has repeatedly said he sees no point in participating in the primary debates, given his commanding lead in the race.

White House views Biden-Trump polls with “grain of salt”

The White House is skeptical of the latest battleground states polls showing Donald Trump leading Joe Biden. Not surprisingly, the White House is urging caution on the six swing state polls conducted by The New York Times and Siena College. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said people should view them “with a grain of salt.” She pointed to the predicted “red wave” in last year’s midterms that never materialized. The new polls show the president trailing Trump in five of the six states — all states Joe Biden won in 2020.

Two GOP presidential rivals snag endorsements

Two Republican presidential rivals have snagged two sought-after endorsements this week. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis won the support of a fellow governor as he makes the case for being the leading Donald Trump alternative. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds endorsed DeSantis, who hopes it will boost his campaign in the first voting state in the country. Meanwhile, Trump was endorsed by his former White House press secretary and current governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Both endorsements were announced in the run-up to Wednesday night’s third GOP debate here in South Florida.

Donald Trump clashes with judge in New York courtroom

Former President Trump lashed out in a New York courtroom as he testified in the civil business fraud case against him. On the witness stand, a defiant Trump complained of unfair treatment, claimed that the judge was biased against him, and called the state attorney general who brought the case a “political hack.” At one point, the judge urged lawyers to “control” Trump, saying “this is not a political rally. This is a courtroom.” The former president boasted about his wealth and denied that he had deceived banks and insurers.

Biden touts billions in infrastructure money for Amtrak

President Biden announced more than 16-billion dollars in new funding for Amtrak trains. At an Amtrak maintenance facility not far from his Wilmington, Delaware, home, the president touted the new federal investments for trains. The money, which comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law, will go toward 25 passenger rail projects between Boston and Washington in the heavily trafficked Northeast Corridor.

Trump leads Biden in 5 key battleground states: NYT poll

One year before the election, Donald Trump leads President Biden in five key battleground states. White
New survey results from a New York Times/Siena College poll show Trump ahead in 5 of 6 swing states he lost in 2020 — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. The president holds a 3-point edge over Trump in Wisconsin. According to these battleground state polls, Trump is gaining among Hispanic and Black voters, while Mr. Biden is facing serious voter concerns about his age and the economy.

Donald Trump set to testify in New York’s civil fraud case

Handling of Israel-Hamas war critical to Biden’s reelection

RFK Jr is making some noise in the 2024 White House race

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s presidential campaign is making some noise in the 2024 race. Kennedy’s decision to run as an independent is gaining support, according to the latest Quinnipiac poll. In a Biden-Trump matchup, the two candidates are virtually tied. If you expand the contest to include RFK Jr, Biden leads Trump 36 to 33 percent — with Kennedy receiving 22 percent support. Among Independent voters, Kennedy leads both Trump and Biden. With those numbers, RFK Jr is poised to play a spoiler role.

Biden campaign predicts “very close” 2024 White House race

Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is predicting a “very close” race in 2024. With Election Day one year away, the president’s re-election team is prepping for a likely matchup against Donald Trump. In a strategy memo, Biden’s campaign manager said they’re already looking beyond the Republican presidential primary to a general election “that will be very close.” She said the president’s 2020 message will be central to this campaign, and that he will present a contrast with the “Make America Great Again” movement. One issue the memo omits is voters’ concerns that Mr. Biden is too old for the job.

Biden pays respects to Maine shooting victims, mourns with families

Biden pledges investment, wants to strengthen the Americas

President Biden welcomed leaders from countries across the Americas to an economic summit. During a White House meeting with officials from a dozen countries across the Western Hemisphere, the president pledged to increase U-S investment in the region. He did not specifically mention China in his opening remarks, but the White House is trying to counter Beijing’s influence in the Americas.

Bidens to visit Lewiston, Maine, after shooting left 18 dead

White House calls for “humanitarian pause” in Israel-Hamas fighting

The Biden administration is calling for brief pauses in airstrikes and fighting in the Israel-Hamas war for humanitarian purposes. The administration opposes a general ceasefire. But John Kirby with the National Security Council says President Biden supports a “humanitarian pause.” The goals, he said, are getting humanitarian aid into Gaza and getting people out.

74 more Americans evacuated from Gaza

The White House says 74 more U-S citizens have left the Gaza Strip as the nearly four-week old Israel-Hamas war rages on. The National Security Council’s John Kirby said those who evacuated were dual citizens. Kirby said that the administration hopes that additional U-S citizens will be able to leave Gaza in the coming hours and days, and the pace of Americans who want to leave will now move at an accelerated pace.

Secretary Blinken returns to Mideast amid Israel-Hamas war

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Before boarding a plane for Tel Aviv, Blinken said “these are challenging times.” As he did during a visit to the region last month, Blinken will stress U.S. support for Israel and try to prevent a wider Mideast war as he visits Israel and Jordan.

Plans taking shape for Biden-Xi meeting in California

Plans are taking shape for a meeting between President Biden and China’s Xi Jinping. A senior administration officials says Washington and Beijing have an agreement in principle for the two leaders to meet in San Francisco in mid-November. But important details still need to be hammered out. Separately, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the presidents are aiming to have a “constructive conversation” when they attend a global summit in California in a couple of weeks. But important details still need to be hammered out.

Muslim Americans threaten to stop supporting Biden over Gaza

President Biden’s re-election campaign could suffer because of his support for Israel. Muslim leaders in the U-S have issued an ultimatum to the president — secure an Israeli ceasefire in Gaza or lose donations and votes in the 2024 White House race. The National Muslim Democratic Council is pledging to mobilize Muslim voters against “any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.” The Council includes Democratic Party leaders from hotly contested states, such as Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.