Comment on Opinion: Just say no to “ballot box budgeting” in November

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) suggested that a new political party might need to be created to replace the Republican Party if he is defeated, the New York Times reports. Said Cheney: “Whether it’s organizing a new party — look, it’s hard for me to see how the Republican Party, given what it has done, can make the argument convincingly or credibly that people ought to vote for Republican candidates until it really recognizes what it’s done.” She added: “There is certainly going to be a big shift, I think, in how our politics work.

Nate Silver: “In 16 years of running election forecasts, I’ve never seen such a close election.” “Our polling averages in seven swing states — in alphabetical order: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — are within 2 percentage points. A systematic polling error, or a shift in the race in the final six weeks of the campaign, could result in one candidate sweeping all of these states.

“Kamala Harris’ campaign advisers say the ongoing Mark Robinson scandal in North Carolina has given them a fresh opening with the state’s Black and suburban voters, as they continue to try to tie Donald Trump to the embattled candidate for governor,” Politico reports. “The plan, Harris advisers outlined in a memo… involves seizing on the current barrage of negative attention on Robinson and putting resources behind targeting suburban voters in the Charlotte and Raleigh areas, moderate Republicans and Black voters in the critical battleground state.” “Their messaging will focus not on a CNN report about comments Robinson made on a pornographic website — including that he enjoys ‘watching tranny on girl porn,’ and instead will emphasize the controversial candidate’s ties to Trump and his ‘extreme’ policy positions.”

“Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday accepted an invitation from CNN to debate former President Donald Trump on October 23, challenging her rival to another engagement on a public stage in the final weeks of the campaign,” CNN reports. Said Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon: “Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate.

“Donald Trump’s top advisers have insisted for months that his 2024 bid for the presidency is the most disciplined campaign he has ever run. They pointed to fewer leaks, less infighting and a more deliberate strategy honed by seasoned professionals and driven by data,” the Washington Post reports. “But with just 45 days left until the election, the past three weeks reveal whatever control and self-restraint helped launch Trump’s third presidential campaign has largely disappeared in the crucial final stretch.”

“Tired of playing only defense, a small but vocal number of Senate Democrats are pushing party leaders and political operatives to pour money into trying to knock off GOP incumbents in races most view as long shots for Democrats,” the Washington Post reports. “They fear Democrats are leaving potential pickups on the table, particularly in Florida and Texas, where unpopular incumbents, Sens.