Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump use whatever they’ve got in the final push
Knock on every door. Marshal every volunteer. Lob every attack. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are opening the final weekend of a marathon campaign by pulling out every tool they have to get their supporters to vote. Polls show critical battleground states may still be up for grabs ahead of Tuesday’s election. Clinton and her allies rushed to shore up support among African-Americans, acknowledging signs of weaker-than-expected turnout in early vote data. That has raised a red flag about diminished enthusiasm that could spell trouble for Democrats up and down the ballot. The Democrat was due to campaign in Pennsylvania and Michigan on Friday, states long considered Democratic strongholds. She’s been pounding Trump for his record on race, accusing him of tacitly encouraging support from white supremacists. “He has spent this entire campaign offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters,” Clinton said at a rally in Greenville, North Carolina. The Democrat got a boost Friday in the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report which showed the unemployment rate declined to 4.9 percent while wages went up in October. It’s the sort of news that might nudge voters to continue current economic policies, as Clinton has promised. But this campaign has rarely seemed to hinge on policy. The big personalities on both sides have overshadowed more nuanced questions. Heading into the final days, both campaigns are presenting the choice as a crossroads for democracy. For Trump, that means zeroing in on questions about Clinton’s trustworthiness and a new FBI review of an aide’s emails. Trump warned Thursday that never-ending investigations would prevent his Democratic opponent from governing effectively, speaking directly to voters who may be reluctant Trump supporter but are also repelled by the possible return to Washington of Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. “Here we go again with the Clintons – you remember the impeachment and the problems,” Trump said Thursday at a rally in Jacksonville, Florida. “That’s not what we need in our country, folks. We need someone who is ready to go to work.” In spite of a close race in national polling, Trump’s path to victory remained narrow. He must win Florida to win the White House, which polls show remains a neck-and-neck race. Early voting has surged in the state. The number of early voters so far, 5.26 million, has already exceeded the overall early voting figure for 2012, and voting will continue this weekend. Republicans have a very narrow edge in ballots cast. North Carolina also has emerged as critical state for Trump – in part because of early signs that African-American turnout there is lagging. Both campaigns are so focused on the two states, the candidate and allies have been nearly running into each other at airports. Trump tweeted about gazing at Air Force One at the Miami airport Thursday, using the moment to rip President Barack Obama for campaigning instead of governing. Both candidates are leaning on surrogates to help carry their message. While Clinton rallies voters in Pittsburgh and Detroit, Obama was to campaign Friday in North Carolina. Bill Clinton was headed to Colorado and Vice President Joe Biden was due in Wisconsin, both states Clinton was believed to have locked up weeks ago. Clinton planned to end her day at a get-out-the-vote rally in Cleveland, using hip-hop artist Jay-Z to draw young people to her cause. On Thursday, she campaigned with former primary opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders and pop star Pharrell Williams. Trump was set to headline events Friday in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Ohio, while running mate Mike Pence is visiting Michigan, North Carolina and Florida. While Trump’s children, Eric and Ivanka Trump, hit the trail Thursday, his wife, Melania, made her first speech in months. She vowed to advocate against cyberbullying if she becomes first lady, although she made no reference to her husband’s frequent use of Twitter to call his opponents “liars” and “crooked.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Guest lineups for Sunday news shows
Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows: ABC’s “This Week” — Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; former CIA Director David Petraeus. ___ NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Vice President Joe Biden; Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence. ___ CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Pence, Kaine ___ CNN’s “State of the Union” — Rep. Nancy Pelosi; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. ___ “Fox News Sunday” — Pence, Kaine ___ Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
What’s on Hillary Clinton’s to-do list before Election Day?
Hillary Clinton will celebrate Labor Day with an edge over rival Donald Trump in any number of the most competitive states, even as she struggles with the challenge of sealing the deal with large groups of voters who consider her dishonest and untrustworthy. Clinton’s experience as secretary of state and her handle on domestic policy make her the favorite in three presidential debates beginning later this month. She has appeared in more than 30 as a presidential candidate in 2008 and 2016. But she still has work to do. A look at Clinton’s Labor Day to Election Day to-do list: DOMINATE THE DEBATES Millions of voters will watch the debates, which offer her an opportunity and a challenge. She needs to prepare for a candidate who’s the most unpredictable nominee in decades. She also needs to prevent Trump from using the televised forums to present himself as a plausible commander in chief, and from turning them into referendums on President Barack Obama’s two terms and Clinton’s decades in politics. Clinton acknowledges that the debates could be pivotal. She told donors last weekend, “Somebody said to me, ‘Well, remember, there’ll be a lot of people watching.’ One hundred million people watching. And 60 million will be paying attention to the campaign for the first time.” CHART A PATH TO 270 Clinton has an edge in most of the highly contested states, the roughly dozen or so where the election will be decided. Her campaign is trying to keep open as many paths as possible through those states to reach the decisive 270 electoral votes needed to win. She enters the fall with a decided advantage, both in terms of history and in this year’s campaign. If Clinton can hold onto the set of states that every Democratic presidential nominee has won since 2000, she starts with 242 electoral votes. Beyond those states, preference polls show her ahead in Virginia and Colorado, and competing in close contests in North Carolina, Florida and Ohio. Applying pressure on Trump, Clinton is advertising in GOP-leaning Arizona and in an Omaha, Nebraska, congressional district. If Clinton can keep open as many routes to victory, she will make it difficult for Trump to chart a way to 270. That will make it hard for him to convince fellow Republicans who are worried about maintaining their congressional majorities that he can win. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Clinton’s campaign is bracing itself for some type of ‘October surprise” — an unexpected event that requires the nominee to adjust in the pressure-cooker of the campaign’s final days. Clinton must be able to deftly deal with such a development, and there are plenty of contenders on the horizon. The State Department is expected to release some of the 15,000 emails from Clinton’s time there that have yet to be made publicly available. WikiLeaks has threatened to release more damaging information before the end of the election. She’ll need to make sure any new revelations don’t further damage the public’s view of Clinton, which isn’t particularly strong for a candidate seen as ahead on Labor Day. TURNOUT, TURNOUT, TURNOUT Clinton’s campaign needs to maximize voter turnout among members of the “Obama coalition” — the legions of black, Latino, unmarried women and young voters who powered him to two decisive victories. Trump has sought in recent days to turn around his dismal standing among minorities. But the negative tone of the campaign could dampen turnout and make Clinton’s task more difficult. Clinton also aims to make the most of early voting in a number of critical states, replicating a strategy that worked well for Obama. She will have plenty of help: Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are hitting the road on her behalf and she can also rely on her husband, former President Bill Clinton. TRUSTWORTHINESS Questions about Clinton’s honesty and trustworthiness have dogged her throughout the campaign and she can ill afford to have more voters view her in a negative way. Her saving grace during the campaign has been Trump’s high negative ratings, untrustworthiness and penchant for saying provocative things that have turned off many voters. But more revelations about her private email server or the Clinton Foundation could reinforce the perception that she’s not trustworthy. On Friday, the FBI released notes from its investigation of her email use as secretary of state. It’s the kind of day Clinton needs to avoid. Even if she wins in November, this is a problem could haunt Clinton in the White House. That’s why she needs to start chipping away at her trust deficit now, so that if elected, she will have some public goodwill as she tries to lead the nation and work with Congress. Clinton could find it difficult to enact her agenda if questions about her honesty linger as president. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Her turn now: Hillary Clinton makes her case for presidency
It’s Hillary Clinton‘s turn. After three days of Democratic stars, including a pair of presidents, asserting she is ready for the White House, Clinton must make that case for herself on her nominating convention’s final night. The first woman to lead a major U.S. political party toward the White House, Clinton will be greeted Thursday by a crowd of cheering delegates eager to see history made in the November election. But her real audience will be millions of voters who may welcome her experience but question her character. For Clinton, the stakes are enormous. She’s locked in a tight general election contest with Republican Donald Trump, an unconventional candidate and political novice. Even as Clinton and her validators argue Trump is unqualified for the Oval Office, they recognize the businessman has a visceral connection with some voters in a way the Democratic nominee does not. Campaigning in Iowa Thursday, Trump said there were “a lot of lies being told” at Clinton’s convention. In an earlier statement, he accused Democrats of living in a “fantasy world,” ignoring economic and security troubles as well as Clinton’s controversial email use at the State Department. The FBI’s investigation into Clinton’s use of a private internet server didn’t result in criminal charges, but it did appear to deepen voters’ concerns with her honesty and trustworthiness. A separate pre-convention controversy over hacked Democratic Party emails showing favoritism for Clinton in the primary threatens to deepen the perception that Clinton prefers to play by her own rules. Former Oklahoma Sen. Fred Harris said it was important for his party’s nominee to showcase the “original Hillary Clinton, before she became so guarded” when she takes the convention stage. A parade of speakers at the Philadelphia convention vigorously tried to do just that on Clinton’s behalf. First lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden each cast Clinton as champion for the disadvantaged and a fighter who has withstood decades of Republican attacks. Advocates and other Americans who have met Clinton throughout her career spoke of their quiet moments with one of the world’s most famous women. The Clintons’ daughter, Chelsea, will introduce her Thursday night, painting a personal picture of her mother. The week’s most powerful validation came Wednesday night from President Barack Obama, her victorious primary rival in 2008. Obama declared Clinton not only can defeat Trump’s “deeply pessimistic vision” but also realize the “promise of this great nation.” Seeking to offset possible weariness of a politician who has been in the spotlight for decades, he said of Clinton: “She’s been there for us, even if we haven’t always noticed.” Clinton appeared unannounced on the platform as Obama’s closed his remarks to soak up the midnight roar of cheering Democrats. She pointed at the man who denied her the White House eight years ago, smiled wide and gave him a hug. A studious wonk who prefers policy discussions to soaring oratory, Clinton has acknowledged she struggles with the flourishes that seem to come naturally to Obama and her husband. She’ll lean heavily on her “stronger together” campaign theme, invoking her 1996 book “It Takes a Village,” her campaign said. Indeed, the Democratic convention has been a visual ode those mantras: The first African-American president symbolically seeking to hand the weightiest baton in the free world to a woman. A parade of speakers – gay and straight, young and old, white, black and Hispanic – cast Trump as out-of-touch with a diverse and fast-changing nation. Clinton’s campaign believes there are opportunities to woo moderate Republicans who are unnerved by Trump. That effort was hammered home Wednesday by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican-turned-independent, who implored Americans to “elect a sane, competent person with sane, international experience.” Ret. Marine General John R. Allen, a former commander in Afghanistan, will underscore the same point. He’s one of several military leaders and service members who have taken the stage to vouch for Clinton’s national security experience. To Democrats, Trump’s comments this week about Russia underscored their concerns about him becoming commander in chief. Following reports Russia hacked Democratic Party emails, Trump said he’d like to see Moscow find the thousands of emails Clinton deleted from the account she used as secretary of state. The appearance of him encouraging Russia to meddle in the presidential campaign enraged Democrats and Republicans, even as he dismissed suggestions from Obama and other Democrats that Moscow already was intervening on his behalf. Hours later, Trump told Fox News he was being “sarcastic” although shortly after his remarks on Wednesday, he tweeted that Russia should share the emails with the FBI. Thursday night’s convention lineup will also showcase Democratic up-and-comers, including Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro; Katie McGinty, a Senate candidate from Pennsylvania, and Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth, also a candidate for the Senate. Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost her legs in combat, took on Trump’s readiness to be commander in chief, saying “I didn’t put my life on the line to defend our democracy so you could invite Russia to interfere with it.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Barack Obama says vote, don’t just boo Donald Trump’s name
The Latest on the Democratic National Convention (all times EDT): 11:33 p.m. President Barack Obama was coming to the part of his convention speech where he’s critical of Donald Trump – and the mention of the GOP nominee’s name caused the crowd of delegates to boo. Obama didn’t miss a beat. He deviated from his prepared remarks to implore his fellow partisans: “Don’t boo. Vote!” 11:31 p.m. President Barack Obama is telling the Democratic convention and voters watching on TV that if they’re “concerned about who’s going to keep you and your family safe in a dangerous world,” then their Election Day choice is clear. Obama says Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is “respected around the world not just by leaders, but by the people they serve.” He says Clinton has worked closely with “our intelligence teams, our diplomats, our military.” He says Clinton won’t relent until the Islamic State group is destroyed. And in a reference to GOP nominee Donald Trump, Obama says Clinton will “finish the job – and she’ll do it without resorting to torture, or banning entire religions from entering our country.” 11:30 p.m. President Barack Obama is blasting Donald Trump’s for trying to scare Americans into handing the GOP nominee the keys to the White House. Obama tells the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia that Trump believes he will win if he “scares enough people” over immigration and crime. Obama says Trump is “selling the American people short” by suggesting “he alone can restore order” as a “self-declared savior.” The second-term president notes that Democrats are meeting in the same city where American founders signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and later wrote the Constitution. He’s quoting words from those documents, and saying it’s “We the people” who “can form a more perfect union.” 11:28 p.m. President Barack Obama is telling the Democratic National Convention that if they believe that there’s too much inequality in our country and too much money in our politics, they need to be as vocal, organized and persistent “as Bernie Sanders‘ supporters have been.” He says they need to get out and vote for Democrats up and down the ticket and then hold them accountable. Obama says politics can be frustrating, but that “democracy works.” He says Americans have to “want it, not just during an election year but all the days in between.” 11:27 p.m. President Barack Obama is trying to make the case for his preferred successor and he says: “Hillary Clinton is that woman in the arena.” Obama says the Democratic nominee has been “there for us – even if we haven’t always noticed.” The president tells the delegates at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia that if they’re serious about democracy, “you can’t afford to stay home just because she might not align with you on every issue.” That’s a coy reference to supporters of Clinton’s primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. He tells activists: “You’ve got to get in the arena with her, because democracy isn’t a spectator sport.” Obama’s also making a reference to GOP nominee Donald Trump. The president says, “America isn’t about, ‘Yes he will.’ It’s about, ‘Yes we can.’” 11:26 p.m. President Barack Obama says Donald Trump “shows no regard for working people.” Obama says he knows plenty of businessmen and women who’ve achieved success like Trump has. But Obama says they’ve done it without leaving a trail of lawsuits, unpaid workers and “people feeling like they got cheated.” Obama tells Democrats at their convention that “The Donald is not really a plans guy. He’s not really a facts guy, either.” He said anyone concerned about pocketbook issues and who wants a bigger voice for workers should vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. 11:21 p.m. President Barack Obama is criticizing what he says is the “deeply pessimistic vision” of America he says he heard from Republicans at their convention last week. Obama is telling the Democratic National Convention that Republican nominee Donald Trump and his supporters proposed “no serious solutions to pressing problems.” Instead, the president says Republicans spent their time fanning “resentment, and blame, and anger, and hate.” Obama says “that’s not the America I know.” He’s delivering a speech that makes the case for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s election as his successor. Obama says the country is “full of courage, and optimism, and ingenuity.” The president is acknowledging that Americans have “real anxieties” and that some have not shared in the economy recovery. 11:17 p.m. President Barack Obama says there’s never been a man or a woman – “not me, not Bill” – who’s more qualified than Hillary Clinton to be president. Obama says at the democratic convention that “nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office.” Obama says Clinton has been in that room and has been part of the decisions that a president makes. He’s vouching for Clinton as someone who listens to people, keeps her cool and treats everybody with respect. Obama says, “that’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Joe Biden says this will be ‘the American century’
The Latest on the Democratic National Convention (all times EDT): 9:37 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden has wrapped up his speech to the Democratic convention by making a forceful case for American exceptionalism. He says the United States “does not scare easily,” and when confronted with crisis, “we endure, we overcome and we always move forward.” Biden says the 21st century “is going to be the American century.” He says that will happen because the U.S. leads “not only by the example of our power but by the power of our example.” 9:33 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden is casting Donald Trump as too dangerous to trust with the presidency. Biden says “no major party nominee in the history of this nation has ever known less or been less prepared to deal with our national security.” The vice president tells the Democratic National Convention that Trump – the GOP presidential nominee – offers policies that are more in line with the United States’ adversaries. Biden says Trump backs “torture” and “religious intolerance.” Biden says that “betrays our values” and makes it harder for the United States to defeat Islamic State militants. 9:27 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden is skewering Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for suggesting he represents the middle class. Biden says the billionaire real estate mogul “has no clue about what makes America great.” The vice president is telling the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia that he’s known as “middle-class Joe” in the nation’s capital – and he says that’s not a compliment. He says it actually means … “you’re not sophisticated.” Biden says Trump isn’t actually a friend to the middle class, but instead is a wealthy man who “doesn’t have a clue” about middle America. 9:25 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden says Hillary Clinton‘s election will have a major impact on young girls. He says when she walks into the Oval Office as president, “it will change their lives.” Biden is vouching for Clinton in a speech to the Democratic National Convention. He recalls his weekly breakfasts with Clinton when she served as secretary of state during the Obama administration. Biden says everyone knows that Clinton is smart and tough but he says, “I know what she’s passionate about. I know Hillary.” 9:20 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden is paying tribute to his late son Beau, who introduced him at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Beau Biden went on to become attorney general of Delaware. He died in 2015 after a battle with cancer. The vice president tells delegates in Philadelphia that the nation got to see “what an incredibly fine young man” Beau Biden was when he nominated his father for vice president. Biden says his challenge in dealing with his son’s death makes him appreciate “the unbreakable spirit of the people of America” who deal with problems every day with “so much less support,” but still “put one foot in front of the other.” The vice president was considered to be a potential 2016 presidential candidate, but cited his son’s death as a reason he wasn’t up for a national campaign. 9:17 p.m. Donald Trump’s running mate is sounding a humble tone during his first solo campaign event since joining the ticket. Mike Pence is calling himself a “B-list Republican celebrity.” The Indiana governor was introduced in Waukesha, Wisconsin, by a fellow GOP governor, Scott Walker, and Pence is playing up his self-effacing Midwestern persona. Waukesha overwhelmingly voted for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz during Wisconsin’s presidential primary – and Cruz won the state handily. But Pence tells a crowd of several hundred people to vote for Trump because of the conservatives he’d nominate to the Supreme Court if he’s elected president. He says they should vote Trump for the sake of the Constitution, the sanctity of life, the Second Amendment and “all our God given liberties.” 9:15 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden is paying tribute to President Barack Obama at the Democratic convention, calling Obama the “embodiment of honor, resolve and character.” Biden says Obama is “one of the finest presidents we have ever had.” Biden reminds delegates it’s been eight years since he accepted the nomination to become vice president. He says he and his wife, Jill, now considers the Obamas “family.” Biden says of the president, “He’s become a brother to Jill and me.” 9:10 p.m. WikiLeaks has released 29 voicemails stolen from the Democratic National Committee, and they include several from unidentified party members upset by Bernie Sanders’ influence on the party. The anti-Sanders messages are included with mostly run-of-the-mill messages about upcoming Democratic events that WikiLeaks selected for release Wednesday. One caller objects to Sanders’ choices for the party’s platform committee and doesn’t even want the Vermont senator to have a speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention. The caller – speaking about Sanders – says “he’s not a Democrat. Please stop this man now.” Another complains about the role given to Sanders supporter Cornel West, who’s been highly critical of President Barack Obama. The release follows more than 19,000 stolen DNC emails that WikiLeaks published on its website last week. 9:05 p.m. Leon Panetta‘s critique of Donald Trump’s preparation for the presidency has drawn dueling chants from the audience at the Democratic National Convention. Chants of “No more war!” broke out during Panetta’s speech. The former defense secretary and CIA director questioned Trump’s ability to become commander in chief. Later in Panetta’s speech, chants of “USA!” filled the arena. It was one of the first times that chant was heard during the Democratic convention. It was common during last week’s Republican gathering. Panetta promoted Hillary Clinton’s national security credentials. 9 p.m. Democratic convention delegates are watching a video tribute to Vice President Joe Biden in which he proclaims he’s more optimistic than ever about the country’s future. The video recaps Biden’s long career and is being shown just before his speech in Philadelphia. Biden is praised for taking on the National Rifle Association in pushing for an assault
Joe Biden says Hillary Clinton ‘clear-eyed’ and ‘steady’
The Latest on the Democratic National Convention (all times EDT): 8:40 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden is tweeting out his admiration for Hillary Clinton in advance of his convention address on the Democratic nominee. He writes: “I’ve seen Hillary in the Senate & the Situation Room” and he calls her “clear-eyed. Steady. Understands working with people. Exactly the leadership we need.” The vice president also is savoring the campaign ahead. “It’s good to be back, folks. … Let’s go elect some Democrats.” Biden addresses the convention later Wednesday. 8:30 p.m. Gabby Giffords – the former Arizona congresswoman nearly killed in a 2011 shooting – is telling the Democratic National Convention that “speaking is difficult for me. But come January, I want to say these two words: Madam President.” Joining Giffords on the convention stage is her husband, Mark Kelly, as they talk about the need to challenge the gun lobby and place new restrictions on firearms. Giffords calls Hillary Clinton – the Democratic nominee for president – “tough” and “courageous,” and Giffords says Clinton, as president, will “stand up to the gun lobby.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
NRA ad claims Hillary Clinton is threat to gun rights
The Latest on the Democratic National Convention (all times EDT): 7:45 p.m. On the same day Hillary Clinton is set to claim the Democratic presidential nomination, the National Rifle Association is coming out with an ad saying Americans’ “right to own a gun for self-defense is at risk in this election.” The group says it plans to begin airing the 30-second ad on Thursday. It features a rape victim who confronted President Barack Obama over gun right at a town hall meeting this year. She tells viewers that “self-defense is your right. Don’t let it be taken away.” Word of the ad campaign comes as the Democratic Convention features speeches Wednesday night from relatives of the nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, and the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The ad’s narrator says Clinton “would take away your rights.” 7:30 p.m. Some Hillary Clinton supporters at the Democratic convention are becoming noticeably agitated by the continued protests of Bernie Sanders‘ most vocal supporters. Danielle Adams is a Clinton delegate from North Carolina. She says, “I’m so exhausted by it.” Some in the Colorado delegation at the Wells Fargo Center have scratched out letters in signs that say “Stronger Together” – and those signs now say “stop her.” Delegates from Louisiana and Delaware are standing in front of them holding their own signs and attempting to block the view. In California, an older woman in tears had to be led out of the arena because she was upset by some of the protesting Sanders backers. Cheryl Brown is a state representative from California. She says the way some Sanders delegates are behaving is exacerbating tensions between the two campaigns. 7 p.m. Harry Reid is speaking at his final Democratic National Convention as a senator, and the Senate’s Democratic leader is blasting Republicans and Donald Trump for wanting to – in his words – “tear down the pillars of middle-class security.” The retiring Nevada lawmaker has some harsh words for the Senate’s Republican leader, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell. Reid says McConnell and the GOP have slandered the country’s first black president, whipped up fear of Muslims and sown hatred of Latinos. Reid says parents are right to worry about their kids hearing what comes out of Trump’s mouth. He says Trump learned it from watching Republicans. 6:50 p.m. Movie director James Cameron is calling Donald Trump “a madman,” and “incredibly reckless, incredibly dangerous” when it comes to global warming. The director of “Titanic” and “Avatar” has made a short film – airing Wednesday night at the Democratic convention – about how climate change is harming the United States. The film shows wildfires, heat waves and the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – and then segues to Trump calling man-made global warming a hoax. Cameron tells reporters that attacking Trump on his rejection of mainstream climate change science is a winning strategy for Democrats. He calls Trump’s positions “incredibly reckless, incredibly dangerous” and later refers to Trump as “a madman saying we’re going to tear up” the landmark climate change agreement negotiated in Paris. 6:35 p.m. The Rev. Jesse Jackson says Hillary Clinton can be trusted to fight for issues such as a fair Supreme Court, gun control and progressive policies. The former presidential candidate says Clinton understands the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement and the shooting deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Alton Sterling. Jackson also is congratulating Bernie Sanders for energizing the campaign with “ideas and hope.” In Jackson’s words: “The Bern must never grow cold.” Still, he says, “It’s healing time. It’s hope time. It’s Hillary time.” 6:30 p.m. California’s governor is criticizing Donald Trump for failing to mention the words “climate change” or “global warming” during his acceptance speech at the Republican convention. Jerry Brown says it’ll take “heroic efforts on the part of many people and many nations” to combat climate change. But, the Democratic governor adds, “You wouldn’t know it by listening to Donald Trump.” Brown is speaking at the Democratic convention later Wednesday, and in his prepared remarks, he notes Trump has called global warming a hoax. That’s why Brown isn’t holding back: “I say Trump is a fraud.” Brown’s also disputing Trump’s assertion there’s no drought in California – only water mismanagement. Brown’s response: “I say Trump lies.” He says Trump and others who reject climate science “are dead wrong – dangerously wrong.” 6 p.m. President Barack Obama has a message for fellow Democrats, and all those watching the Democratic convention at home: There’s never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president. It’s a theme Obama is stressing in his convention speech later Wednesday night. According to the White House, Obama plans to say “nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office.” He intends to vouch for Clinton as someone who’s been part of his biggest decisions in the Oval Office and a leader who never quits – no matter the odds or “how much people try to knock her down.” The president is set to describe his 2008 campaign rival as someone who listens to people, keeps her cool and treats everybody with respect. Obama says, “that’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire.” 5:50 p.m. President Barack Obama plans to tell the Democratic convention that the America he knows is “full of courage and optimism and ingenuity.” The White House released a preview of Obama’s Wednesday speech to the convention a few hours before he’ll address delegates in Philadelphia. Obama says Americans have “real anxieties,” including paying their bills, protecting their children, frustrations with political gridlock and racial divisions. But he says during his travels as president, he’s “seen, more than anything, is what is right with America.” That includes people working hard and “a younger generation full of energy and new ideas.” 5:31 p.m. Six drafts and a few late nights went into the speech President Barack Obama will give at the Democratic convention. White House officials
Barack Obama returns to convention stage to make case for Hillary Clinton
President Barack Obama acknowledged Wednesday that his hopes for a new tone in politics, embodied in the rousing Democratic convention speech he delivered 12 years ago, never materialized. Still, he says he remains undaunted. In 2004, he was the obscure Senate candidate from Illinois whose words catapulted him to the center of American political consciousness. On Wednesday night, he steps on the convention stage as the battle-hardened president hoping his legacy won’t be eroded by the outcome of the election to replace him. It’s hard to overstate what Obama has at stake as he implores voters to elect Hillary Clinton. Take Republican Donald Trump at his word, and if elected, he’d undo just about everything Obama has done, from climate change and immigration to trade and foreign relations. Obama has cast Trump as dangerous and unprepared. In an interview aired hours before his remarks, he said Trump lacks “basic knowledge about the world” and has shown no interest in learning more about it. Democrats should be “running scared’ about the real political challenge Trump poses, he said in an interview aired Wednesday on NBC’s “Today” show. Obama’s speech will also be a moment to revisit his political story and words that captivated Democrats in Boston and beyond. His scolding of pundits who carve up America into red and blue states, and his declaration that there is no black or white America but “we are one people” looks largely aspirational after a decade of increased political polarization and months of heighten racial tensions. “I’m the first to admit that when I spoke in 2004, when I ran in 2008, my hope, my expectation was that we could lift up all that common ground and create a new way of doing business in Washington and a new political tenor, a new political tone that was more respectful and more practical in trying to solve problems,” he said. “And that hasn’t happened. But it doesn’t keep me from wanting to keep on trying.” After his wife, Michelle Obama, brought delegates to their feet with a stirring speech Monday evening, Obama stayed up late into the night fine-tuning his words, the White House said. His speech will combine an affirmation of Clinton’s judgment and fortitude with a rebuke of the scare tactics he accuses Trump of deploying. “The president will talk about who we are as a country and that we are better united than divided, and that we’re better together than apart,” said White House spokesman Eric Schultz. That Democrats are so eager for Obama to grace the convention stage is a reflection of how dramatically things have changed from just two years ago, when Democrats practically begged an unpopular Obama to keep his distance from the campaign trail. His approval ratings have since recovered, though a solid majority of Americans still feel the country is moving in the wrong direction. His vice president, Joe Biden, also addresses the convention on Wednesday, in a reminder to some Democrats that the candidate they wanted this year was the one they couldn’t have. With his last State of the Union address behind him, Obama’s speech in Philadelphia will be one of his final opportunities to define and defend his tenure with a massive audience watching. Tens of millions have been tuning into the conventions in primetime this year. Democrats are hoping that Obama is uniquely positioned to persuade wary voters that Clinton is right for the job and to vouch for the trustworthiness of a nominee most voters say they still don’t trust. White House officials have described him as a “convert” to Clinton’s cause who, after fighting her bitterly in the 2008 Democratic primary, saw her abilities firsthand when he picked her as secretary of state. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Hillary Clinton’s turn: Guide to the Democratic National Convention
It’s Hillary Clinton‘s turn. The Democratic National Convention opening Monday in Philadelphia is Clinton’s chance to hit reset after a vigorous primary against Bernie Sanders and the unlikely movement that formed behind the Vermont senator. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has endorsed Clinton, but many of his supporters have not. Some of them were dismayed by her choice of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., as her running mate. Last week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland exposed deep, lingering reservations about Donald Trump from within his own party. The Democratic gathering is expected to be a more smoothly choreographed display of unity among Clinton, Sanders and Democratic lawmakers and voters. What to know about the week: THE POINT Both parties use their national conventions to formally nominate candidates for president and vice president. Party leaders showcase their nominees, and the prime-time speeches by the candidates and prominent politicians win some of the largest television audiences of the campaign. That makes the convention a critical opportunity for a party to introduce its candidates to the country. Democrats also will adopt its platform, which lays out policy principles but has no binding effect. THE LOCATION The Wells Fargo Center, home to the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, is the convention site. The arena has been transformed with stages, platforms, cameras and lights. Democrats are hoping that city’s historical role in the founding of American democracy will serve as a powerful backdrop for the themes they’ll highlight. WHO’S GOING More than 5,000 delegates are among the 50,000 people set to be in Philadelphia. They include alternates, lawmakers, special guests, journalists and protesters. Among the delegates, about 15 percent are superdelegates, mainly members of Congress and members of the Democratic National Committee. At the GOP convention, a striking number of prominent Republican lawmakers and party leaders were nowhere to be seen, including the party’s previous two presidents and its two most recent presidential nominees. In contrast, bold-name Democrats have been eagerly vying for a chance to speak in Philadelphia. Most Democratic senators and House members are expected to attend. THE SCHEDULE First lady Michelle Obama is set to speak Monday. That’s also when Sanders will give his speech — a closely watched moment for signs of whether his loyal supporters will line up behind Clinton, as he’s asked them to do. Former President Bill Clinton, the candidate’s husband, is the speech to watch Tuesday. A day later, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden come to Philadelphia. On Thursday, the final night, Chelsea Clinton will introduce her mother for her speech accepting the Democratic nomination. Kaine, who made his debut as Clinton’s running mate at a joint appearance Saturday, will give a speech introducing himself to the country. Officials haven’t yet said when, but the running mate typically speaks Wednesday. Other scheduled speakers are Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. THE ENTERTAINMENT Shoop Dogg, Lady Gaga, Lenny Kravitz and Cyndi Lauper will appear in Philadelphia during the convention. Fergie will perform at The Creative Coalition’s gala. THE ROLL CALL States will get a chance to announce how their delegates are voting in the formal roll call Tuesday. It’s a high point for Sanders delegates; they’re pushing to have their votes fully tallied. In 2008, Clinton halted the roll call midway through to call for then-Sen. Barack Obama’s approval by acclamation, or unanimous vote. Sanders says he favors a state-by-state roll call, but he hasn’t indicated exactly what he will do. There’s a total of 4,763 delegates. It takes 2,382 to win the Democratic nomination. Clinton arrives in Philadelphia with 2,814 delegates to Sanders’ 1,893, according to an Associated Press count. That includes the superdelegates, who can vote for any candidate they choose. This year, those superdelegates overwhelmingly backed Clinton. The remaining 4,051 are pledged delegates, won by the candidates based on the results of state primaries and caucuses. THE PROTESTS If there are any fireworks in Philadelphia, expect them to come from Sanders supporters. They have said they plan to show up in full force. Philadelphia officials estimate between 35,000 and 50,000 people will demonstrate across the city each day. Activists have put the estimate higher, at roughly 100,000. Among the groups planning to demonstrate are gun control advocates, the group Occupy DNC Convention and Trump supporters from Pennsylvania. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Mike Pence with Donald Trump on blocking some immigration
The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign (all times local): 10:40 p.m. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he supports Donald Trump‘s call to “temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorists’ influence and impact represents a threat to the United States.” Pence spoke Friday on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” giving his first TV interview since Trump invited him to join the Republican ticket for the White House. Last year, Pence came out against Trump’s proposed temporary ban on foreign Muslims entering the United States, calling such a ban “offensive and unconstitutional.” Trump’s spokeswoman recently said he no longer supports his proposed religious test. Pence says he “stepped up without hesitation” when Trump asked him to be his running mate. He says Trump “understands the anxiety and the aspiration of the American people” like no leader since President Ronald Reagan. __ 9:10 p.m. Hillary Clinton is expressing support for the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after an attempted military coup rocked Turkey’s capital. The Democratic presidential candidate is urging “calm and respect for laws, institutions, and basic human rights and freedoms — and support for the democratically elected civilian government.” She says, “All parties should work to avoid further violence and bloodshed, and the safety of American citizens and diplomatic missions must be ensured.” Turkish officials say the government appears to have repelled the attempted coup following a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across Ankara. __ 8:10 p.m. A leader of conservatives making a last-ditch attempt to block Donald Trump’s nomination says she’s dropping her effort to force the Republican National Convention to vote on her plan to let delegates back any presidential candidate they want. The convention rules committee has already rejected Colorado delegate Kendal Unruh‘s proposal to “unbind” delegates from the candidates they were committed to by state primaries and caucuses. Unruh had been saying that despite that defeat, she’d get enough support to force a full convention vote next week on her plan to let delegates vote their conscience. But she said Friday that the Trump campaign and party officials have peeled away that support. She says she and her supporters believe delegates already have the right to vote their conscience and will oppose Trump’s nomination. ___ 5:35 p.m. Donald Trump says the taxes he pays are a private matter. But for candidates auditioning to be his running mate, similar reluctance wasn’t an option. Vice presidential search finalist Newt Gingrich said Thursday that Trump’s campaign required him to submit more than a decade worth of tax returns as part of the vetting process. Vetting potential vice presidents’ tax returns is a standard practice for candidates in both parties — but Trump has so far refused to make his own returns public on the grounds that he is being audited by the Internal Revenue Service. But tax scholars and former IRS officials have noted there is no rule against releasing tax filings during audits and say Richard Nixon released his returns while under audit in 1973. __ 5:15 p.m. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro has met with Hillary Clinton at her Washington home as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee considers her choice for vice president. That’s according to a person familiar with the Friday gathering, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. Two other senior Democrats also appeared to meet with Clinton on Friday. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper were seen in separate cars that departed Clinton’s home Friday afternoon. Clinton is also vetting Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine for the vice presidency and campaigned with him in his home state Thursday. Castro is considered a rising star in the party and is a former mayor of San Antonio. ___ 4:40 p.m. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has visited Hillary Clinton’s Washington home as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee ponders her choice for vice president. Hickenlooper was in a car that departed Clinton’s Washington home Friday afternoon. The Democratic governor declined to comment on his visit. The apparent meeting came after Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren visited Clinton’s house earlier Friday. Other candidates Clinton is known to be vetting are Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro. A person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters said earlier that Clinton was holding meetings Friday about her running mate selection. ___ 4 p.m. Delegates to the Republican National Convention are embracing Donald Trump‘s choice for vice president — even those who have yet to warm up to Trump. Some delegates hope the choice of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will help unite Republicans and fire up the party base to support Trump. Not everyone is on board. But at the very least, Trump has all but assured that next week’s convention vote for vice president will go smoothly. Pence has a strong reputation among fellow Republicans as a social conservative. The former congressman has plenty of Washington experience and a calm, thoughtful demeanor that stands in stark contrast to the bombastic Trump. New Hampshire delegate Tom Rath called Pence a solid pick who should reassure a lot of people in the party. __ 3:40 p.m. An application by Bernie Sanders‘ campaign for a permit to rally during the Democratic National Convention has been denied. A spokeswoman for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney says it was rejected because of the requested location in a park across from the convention site. She says the campaign sought to use a certain field that can only be used for recreational purposes. The application said the July 24 rally would be in support of Sanders’ campaign and estimated the crowd size at 15,000 to 40,000 people. Kenney’s spokeswoman, Lauren Hitt, says it’s not too late for the campaign to apply for a different location, if it is still interested. Sanders said Friday he won’t be holding any large rallies during the July 25-28 convention, but will focus on attending smaller events and talking to delegates. __ 3:30 p.m.
With few political allies, Donald Trump plans celebrity convention
Donald Trump‘s team promises an extraordinary display of political entertainment at this month’s Republican National Convention, with the accent on entertainment. The former reality television star plans to feature his high-profile children at the summer gathering in Cleveland, with the hope they’ll be joined by a number of celebrity supporters. Prospects include former Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and longtime boxing promoter Don King. “I’m going to be involved, definitely,” said King, who lives in Cleveland and is a passionate supporter of the presumptive Republican nominee. “He’s my man. I love him. He’s going to be the next president.” While those bold-face names have yet to be confirmed, the fact they’re on Trump’s list is a reminder that many of the Republican Party’s biggest stars aren’t willing to appear on his behalf. The GOP’s two living presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, its most recent presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, and Ohio’s Republican governor, John Kasich, all plan to avoid the four-day event that traditionally serves as a powerful display of party unity heading into the sprint toward Election Day. “He’s going to have to bring all his skills to bear to make this work, not just in Cleveland, but for the next four months,” said Matt Borges, the Ohio Republican Party chairman. “It won’t be easy, but that’s what he’s got to do.” Trump’s team says he’s up to the challenge. “This is not going to be your typical party convention like years past,” said Trump spokesman Jason Miller. “Donald Trump is better suited than just about any candidate in memory to put together a program that’s outside of Washington and can appeal directly to the American people.” When Hillary Clinton hosts her party at the Democratic National Convention the following week, she’ll face a different issue entirely: how to squeeze in the many popular, prominent Democrats backing her campaign. Along with Clinton and her eventual vice presidential pick, there are sure to be speeches from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama and, of course, the candidate’s husband, former President Bill Clinton. There’s also Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of progressives and one of Trump’s fiercest critics. Warren is on Clinton’s running-mate shortlist but will surely be slotted for a prominent convention speech even if she’s not selected. By necessity as much as preference, Trump’s team is crafting a far different lineup. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one of the likely speakers, praised Trump’s plan to use his celebrity connections to reach a broader audience. “Trump understands that if he can appeal to consumer America, he drowns political America,” Gingrich told The Associated Press. He said he had little idea of what kind of show to expect, but recalled a recent conversation with a Trump family member who confidently told him, “We know how to do conventions.” “My children are all going to be speaking: Ivanka, Tiffany, Don, Eric. They’re going to be speaking,” Trump said Friday during an appearance at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver. “My wife is going to be speaking at the convention. We’re going to have a great time.” Trump’s campaign has also been in touch with aides to chief primary rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has been trying to win a speaking slot. Other national leaders under consideration include former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Gingrich. Some celebrities backing Trump have passed on the chance to be a part of the show. Among them: former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, who told the Chicago Tribune last week, “I spoke with Mr. Trump this afternoon, and he invited me. But I don’t think I’m going to go.” Clinton’s speaking program, too, isn’t without its uncomfortable riddles. There’s no public sense yet of what role she’ll give to Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator whose surprisingly strong challenge in the Democratic primary has yet to officially come to an end. Sanders says he’ll vote for Clinton, but he’s yet to formally endorse her and is pushing for changes to the Democratic platform. Ivanka Trump predicted in a recent radio interview the GOP convention would be “a great combination of our great politicians, but also great American businessmen and women and leaders across industry and leaders across really all sectors, from athletes to coaches and everything in between.” “I think it will be a convention unlike any we’ve ever seen,” she said. “It will be substantive. It will be interesting. It will be different. It’s not going to be a ho-hum lineup of, you know, the typical politicians.” And that will still leave room for complaints from Trump’s Republican skeptics. “Whatever you want to say about Trump, he’s been a showman. And I expect something completely different,” said former Kasich adviser Jai Chabria. “I find it hard to believe that that’s going to be enough to put him over the top.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
