Harris Slightly Ahead of Trump Nationally as Campaign Enters Final Stretch

Vice President Kamala Harris continues to hold a narrow but steady lead over former President Donald Trump in the RealClearPolitics polling average, edging Trump by 2 points nationally. Trump and Harris are essentially tied in the battleground states that will determine the election, with Trump slightly ahead in Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina. If Trump wins all three states, he only needs to win in Pennsylvania to beat Harris, where Harris holds a very slight lead in polling. Harris has small but slightly larger leads in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada.

Harris also picked up some polling momentum after the ABC News presidential debate, with Trump’s performance criticized as unfocused. Trump in turn criticized the debate moderators for only factchecking him and not Harris for untrue statements.

Vice presidential candidates Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance will meet this Thursday for the vice presidential debate hosted by CBS.

Harris has led Trump in fundraising since Biden’s July withdrawal from the race, raising over $540 million. In August, the DNC and Harris campaign raised $257 million to the RNC and Trump’s $85 million.

 

Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike

Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanese group Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike this past week, a culmination of Israeli efforts to destroy Hezbollah’s leadership. Nasrallah had led the group since 1992.

Hezbollah, considered Israel’s most potent non-state opponent, has been firing rockets into Northern Israel for years and has ramped up the attacks since Israel launched its offensive into Gaza following the October 7th attack. Israel’s airstrikes came after it successfully detonated pagers and handheld radios used by Hezbollah operatives.

 

US Tops Medal Table, Ties with China for Gold at Paris Games

The United States topping the medal table for the eighth consecutive Olympics Games. Team USA finished with an impressive 126 total medals, including 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. China closely followed with 91 total medals, also securing 40 golds. Great Britain rounded out the top three with 65 medals overall.

Several memorable moments defined these Games,, with the U.S. women's basketball team clinching their eighth straight gold medal in a thrilling 67-66 victory over host nation France. Simone Biles made a triumphant return to gymnastics, securing three gold medals and one silver. In the pool, Katie Ledecky continued her dominance with two golds, a silver, and a bronze.

The Games also saw first-ever medals for Cape Verde, Dominica, St. Lucia, Albania, and the Refugee Olympic Team.

Looking ahead, the Olympic torch will next travel to Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Summer Games will then return to the United States, with Los Angeles set to host for the third time, following previous editions in 1932 and 1984.

 

Harris Seeks to Continue Campaign Momentum Following DNC, CNN Interview

The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago concluded with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party's presidential nomination, capping a drama-filled effort to replace Biden of the ticket following his June debate performance. The four-day event featured speeches from prominent Democrats and supporters, aiming to energize the party base and appeal to undecided voters.

Notable speakers included Oprah Winfrey, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. Each emphasized their party's vision for the country while critiquing Trump and Republican policies.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris's running mate, addressed the convention on the third day, highlighting his background as a teacher and governor.

In her acceptance speech on the last day, Harris sought to introduce herself to the American people by highlighting her personal background and career experiences. While she provided a broad overview of policy goals, such as strengthening the middle class, combatting climate change, and ending the war in Gaza, she largely avoided detailed policy changes in her speech.

According to the RealClearPolitics polling aggregates, the race between Harris and Trump remains competitive. National polls show a tight contest, with Harris holding a slight edge. In battleground states, the margins are narrow. Pennsylvania, a considered a must-win state by both campaigns, shows Harris leading by just 0.5 points. Trump continues to lead narrowly in Georgia and North Carolina.

Harris did sit down for a joint interview with CNN that included Walz this past week, the first she has given since Biden’s withdrawal. In the interview, she said that her values have not changed since her 2019 campaign, but that she did change her position on banning fracking (from for to against such a ban during the 2020 campaign). She also said she had no regrets for her comments supporting Biden’s fitness to run for reelection following Biden’s widely panned debate performance.

Both campaigns are expected to focus heavily on battleground states in the coming months ahead of the September 10th debate with ABC News.

Joe Biden Exits Presidential Race, Endorses Kamala Harris

President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race on July 21 upended the general election campaign with just months to go until Election Day. His endorsement of Kamala Harris has allowed the Democratic Party to rally around Harris, who has largely united the party around her candidacy.

Biden’s decision came after sharply declining support from his fellow Democrats, lagging poll numbers against Trump, and concerns about his health. The 81-year-old president faced increasing pressure following a lackluster debate performance against former President Donald Trump on June 27, which heightened concerns about his capacity to lead for another term.

In a letter posted on social media, Biden expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and emphasized his commitment to fulfilling his duties for the remainder of his term. "While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down," Biden wrote.

The general reaction from fellow Democrats has been a mix of praise for Biden’s service and enthusiasm for Harris’s candidacy. Prominent Democrats, including potential presidential contenders California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, quickly echoed Biden’s endorsement of the vice president.

Harris has since clinched the presumptive nomination based on pledges from the delegates attending to the Democratic National Convention in August.