Trump rally in North Carolina focuses on economic issues

Donald Trump held a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday which was promoted as a key economic address. However, much of his speech was used to criticise his opponents and revisit familiar topics such as the U.S.-Mexico border. The event, situated in a Democratic city but surrounded by Republican mountain counties, had both national and local significance for Trump.

On the other hand, Kamala Harris’ campaign is launching a $90 million advertising drive over the next three weeks to introduce her to voters and highlight the differences with Trump. This marks the campaign’s largest investment in voter messaging with just 2.5 months to go until the November Election Day.

Sen. JD Vance has not yet committed to debating his Democratic opponent, Gov. Tim Walz, on October 1, but indicated he might, under certain conditions. Trump’s running mate mentioned on Fox News that he only learned of CBS News’ debate invitation after landing from an event in Michigan. CBS News had invited both Vance and Walz to debate in New York City on one of four dates including October 1. Walz responded positively to the date, while Vance said he would decide based on the specifics of the debate format.

During his North Carolina rally, Trump oscillated between economic issues and personal attacks on Harris, calling her intelligence into question and criticising her past as district attorney in San Francisco. He also diverged from the topic to comment on issues like energy prices and Hunter Biden’s laptop.

Meanwhile, Google reported that an Iranian group linked to the Revolutionary Guard has attempted to hack the personal email accounts of people associated with Biden, Trump, and Harris since May. Google’s findings build on a previous Microsoft report about Iranian cyber intrusions in the U.S. election.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz praised the economies of Minnesota and Colorado at a Denver fundraiser. He criticised policies like school vouchers and book bans, drawing cheers from the audience.

Trump’s rally in Asheville, North Carolina, was supposed to focus on economic issues, but he often veered off-script to attack Harris, the media, and Biden. His speech was a mix of planned remarks and impromptu comments filled with hyperbole and hand gestures.

Walz and Harris will start a joint bus tour ahead of the Democratic National Convention. The tour begins in Pittsburgh and follows Harris introducing Walz as her running mate at a Philadelphia rally, emphasising the importance of Pennsylvania as a swing state.

Senate Intelligence Committee leaders warned Iran and other adversaries against meddling in the election after Trump’s campaign claimed it was hacked, blaming groups linked to Tehran. They called for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate and deter such attempts.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance accused Kamala Harris of supporting policies that harm the American auto industry during a campaign stop in Michigan. He has been campaigning extensively in Rust Belt states, targeting Harris and her policies on immigration among other topics.

Former President Trump cast his early vote in the Florida state primaries before heading to North Carolina for his rally. He continues to criticise the Biden administration over inflation, though recent reports suggest inflation is slowing down. When questioned about the FBI’s investigation into the alleged hacking of his campaign, Trump blamed Iran.

A pro-Trump lawyer in Michigan has been disqualified from representing Patrick Byrne in a defamation case against him by Dominion Voting Systems. The lawyer, Stefanie Lambert, was disqualified after admitting to releasing confidential documents.

Republican millionaire Eric Hovde and Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin are gearing up for a competitive Senate race in Wisconsin. Baldwin began her campaign with a rural tour, while Hovde launched positive ads featuring his charitable work.

Trump lost his bid for a new judge in his New York hush money criminal case. Judge Juan M. Merchan declined to step aside, dismissing Trump’s claims of bias due to the judge’s daughter’s political consulting work.

Wisconsin’s election turnout was the highest in 60 years for a presidential year primary, with over 26% of the voting-age population participating. The election saw voters reject two constitutional amendments and marked the first under new legislative maps.

A proposed amendment to New York’s constitution to protect abortion access is part of Democrats’ strategy to drive voter turnout. Arguments began Wednesday over a lawsuit aiming to include the term “abortion” in the ballot explanation.

During the Democratic National Convention, the DNC will host “DemPalooza” events featuring trainings, panels, and interactive spaces. The initiative aims to organise and reach voters in an evolving media environment.

A poll from The Associated Press-NORC indicates that Kamala Harris is perceived as more honest and committed to democracy compared to Trump, although Trump is trusted more on the economy and immigration. Both parties are racing to define Harris as she prepares to accept the Democratic nomination.

Trump will have another chance to recalibrate his campaign with a rally in North Carolina, focusing on economic issues. The event is significant both locally and nationally, especially as Trump attempts to consolidate his arguments against Harris.