CNN poll shows Harris and Trump's favorability among young voters
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What we covered here
• Harris interview: In an interview with MSNBC, Vice President Kamala Harris said former President Donald Trump’s economic proposals would “invite a recession by the middle of next year,” while economists agree her plan would “grow the economy.”
• Trump to return to shooting site: Trump officially announced he is returning to the site of his assassination attempt for a rally on October 5. This comes after a bipartisan Senate committee revealed in a new report Wednesday that Secret Service agents failed to take charge of decision-making for security at the July Pennsylvania rally.
During remarks in battleground Pennsylvania, Harris outlined differences between her and Trump’s stance on growing the economy, while Trump spoke in North Carolina about prioritizing US goods.
As the two candidates continue to court voters, a new CNN Poll of Polls of surveys conducted in Pennsylvania in mid-September finds no clear leader in the key battleground state. Vice President Kamala Harris averaged 49% of support among likely voters compared with 47% for former President Donald Trump. That is unchanged from the prior CNN Poll of Polls in Pennsylvania.
Here’s what you should know:
Harris talks economics in Pittsburgh and with MSNBC:
Harris laid out her vision for an “opportunity economy” and called for greater investments in manufacturing for new technologies to boost the American economy, particularly in historic manufacturing cities like Pittsburgh, where she spoke.
Some details about Harris’ plans were shared in a policy paper released by the campaign following her speech. Specifically, Harris is calling for a new tax credit that she would call “America Forward.” The tax credit would be targeted at investment and job creation in key strategic industries, according to the policy paper, which mentions steel and iron, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, aerospace, autos and farming.
Also during the MSNBC interview, Harris responded to Trump labeling himself a “protector” of women by arguing that Trump has helped “punish women” through his role in appointing three conservative Supreme Court justices who helped overturn abortion protections in Roe v. Wade.
Trump’s comments on foreign policy:
While speaking in North Carolina Wednesday, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and claimed he “refuses to make a deal” amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. This marks Trump’s most explicit criticism of Zelensky’s handling of the war to date.
Trump said Wednesday if he were president, he would tell Iran or any country that if they harm a “leading candidate” in a US presidential election, “we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens.”
Upcoming VP debate:
Ohio Sen. JD Vance said he doesn’t “have to prepare that much” for the upcoming debate with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, because he is proud of Trump’s record and doesn’t have to hide from it.
Vance defended the upcoming debate, despite Trump, saying it is “too late” to debate again since voting has already started.
Government spending bill:
Trump made a last-minute private pitch to some House Republicans on a hardline funding strategy that differed dramatically from one that Speaker Mike Johnson brought to the floor, according to two GOP sources familiar with the conversation.
The House and Senate voted to pass the government funding extension to avert a shutdown at the end of this month. The bill will now go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
US President Joe Biden appears on ABC's "The View" on Wednesday.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Biden on The View:
Asked what advice he would give his vice president on ABC’s “The View” on Wednesday, President Joe Biden responded she should “be herself.”
During the rare live TV interview, Biden said he remains confident he would have beaten Trump in the 2024 election — but said he understands the “human nature” of people wanting him to step aside and said ultimately his age was the deciding factor to leave the race.
Biden offered a muted reaction to Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric. Asked to defend his own rhetoric going after Trump’s attacks on democracy, the president offered some restraint. “I think he is the most unusual president,” Biden said during the interview.
Sexual misconduct allegations:
A Secret Service agent is on administrative leave over alleged sexual misconduct against a staffer for Harris, the agency confirmed to CNN on Wednesday. The incident allegedly occurred during a trip for advance security planning in Wisconsin. When asked about the incident, a spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President said in a statement that “the Office of the Vice President take the safety of staff seriously.”
Kari Lake doesn't say how she would've voted on IVF Senate bill
From CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi in Chandler, Arizona
Kari Lake, Arizona Republican Senate candidate, did not say Wednesday how she would have voted on the Right to IVF Act — which would enshrine into federal law a right for individuals to receive IVF treatment — if she were in the US Senate.
Lake said that she “absolutely” supports IVF treatments and that she has many relatives and friends who were able to start a family because of IVF.
Senate Republicans voted last week to block advancing a Democratic-led bill that would guarantee access to in vitro fertilization nationwide. Many GOP senators criticized the bill as unnecessary overreach and a political show vote, while saying they do support IVF.
Lake is locked in a competitive Senate race in Arizona against Democratic opponent Ruben Gallego, who supports access to IVF.
Lake on Wednesday also unveiled her policy proposal to tackle the home affordability crisis in Arizona.
Lake called for an expansion of federal rental and mortgage assistance programs for senior citizens and families with children under 18 “so that nobody is thrown out on the street during this difficult time,” among other measures. To help first-time home buyers, Lake is proposing rate buydowns, arguing it’s a better option than down payment assistance.
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Ohio GOP senate candidate defends comments that suburban women are “single issue voters” on abortion
From CNN's Rashard Rose
Bernie Moreno, the Republican candidate for the US Senate in Ohio, continued to defend his comments that suburban women are “single issue voters” on abortion, during an interview on Fox Wednesday.
During a town hall Friday , Moreno said abortion is the only issue many suburban women vote on and questioned why women over 50 would care about the issue, according to video obtained by WCMH in Columbus, Ohio.
A Moreno campaign spokeswoman said the remarks were a “tongue-in-cheek joke.”
His opponent, Sen. Sherrod Brown slammed the remarks Tuesday saying “I think that 57% of Ohioans have said that abortion, that they want abortion rights for our country, for our state, and Bernie Marino apparently doesn’t care what they think.”
CNN reported earlier Wednesday that Ohio now ranks as the most expensive congressional race on record.
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Georgia Supreme Court rules presidential votes for third and independent candidates won't count
From CNN’s Jason Morris
Cornel West (left) and Claudia De la Cruz
Getty Images
Third party and independent presidential candidates Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz have been disqualified from receiving votes for president in Georgia, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday.
The Georgia Supreme Court upholds rulings by Fulton County judges in favor of Democrat-supported challenges to keep both West and De la Cruz off of ballots. The decision reversed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s decision last month that West, who is running as an independent, and De la Cruz, the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s nominee who had been on the state’s ballot as an independent, would be included on Georgia’s presidential ballot in November.
Because it is too late to reprint ballots, county election offices are already testing equipment, and overseas and military ballots have already been mailed out, all Georgia ballots will still have West and De la Cruz’ names on them. Signs at each precincts polling location will have signs posted informing voters they have been disqualified and that votes for them won’t count.
Raofensperger’s Office did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. CNN is reaching out to West and De la Cruz campaigns for comment.
Georgia is one of the states where Democrats challenged third party and independent candidates from being included on presidential ballots. Democrats argued that both West and De la Cruz should be removed because their electors didn’t file petitions in their own names.
Raffensperger intervened, pushing to keep all the candidates on the ballot, until the courts overruled his decision.
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Vance defends debating Walz after voting has started
From CNN's Ali Main
Sen. JD Vance speaks at a campaign event on Wednesday, September 25, in Traverse City, Michigan.
Paul Sancya/AP
Ohio Sen. JD Vance defended his upcoming debate against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz next week, despite his running mate, Donald Trump, saying it is “too late” to debate Vice President Kamala Harris again since voting has already started.
Asked if he thinks his debating Walz is “bad for America” based on what Trump has said about his own prospects for an October debate, Vance answered: “Well, the president already did a debate. I thought he did a hell of a job.”
Vance claimed that the “majority” of undecided voters say they’re voting for Trump after watching him in previous debates, saying “if a majority of undecided voters are voting for one guy, I’d say that guy won the debate.”
Harris announced over the weekend that she agreed to participate in a second debate hosted by CNN on October 23. Trump told a crowd in North Carolina that would be “too late” to debate in late October after early voting has begun.
In response to another question about how he’s preparing for the debate against Walz, Vance said that he views it as an opportunity show that the “the team of substance, the team that actually has a record that we’re proud of instead of running away from, and the team that actually has a plan is the team of Trump-Vance.”
He said he and Trump speak to Americans “like they’re citizens,” while arguing Harris speaks to voters “like they’re children,” and said he hopes to communicate to the national audience “how I think we can make their lives better” through policy.
Vance also brought up the vice president’s first solo network sit-down interview with MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle, which aired today as Vance was speaking in Michigan.
He said when Harris is asked to lay out specific plans to curb inflation, “Kamala will say, ‘Well, did you know that I grew up in a middle class family? I had a very nice lawn back there in Berkeley, California.’ It’s like, well, that might be true. What the hell does that have to do with lowering inflation?”
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Harris plans to use border trip to call out Trump and tout her record on border security
From CNN's Priscilla Alvarez
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to use her trip to the US-Mexico border on Friday to slam former President Donald Trump for scuttling a bipartisan border deal and lean into her work as California attorney general, according to a campaign aide.
Some Harris campaign officials remain concerned about the gap in polling, which shows Trump holding a lead on the issue, but also see an opportunity to narrow a gap they believe is closing and try to shut down GOP attacks over her not visiting the border enough, according to a source familiar.
The campaign has touted endorsements by border town mayors, pointed to a dramatic drop in border crossings to argue that the Biden-Harris administration has strengthened border security, and cited the bipartisan border bill, which included some of the toughest border measures in recent memory.
But that’s so far done little to convince voters who place more trust in Trump than Harris on handling the US-Mexico border. Recent polling shows that Trump continues to hold an edge on Harris on the issue of immigration.
Harris previously visited the border while vice president and has cited her work as a border state senator and attorney general.
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Harris says Trump's economic plan would "invite a recession by the middle of next year"
From CNN's Aaron Pellish
Vice President Kamala Harris accused former President Donald Trump of having “a history of taking care of very rich people” as she attempted to combat Trump’s apparent strength on economic issues in the minds of voters during an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday, suggesting Trump’s economic proposals would “invite a recession by the middle of next year.”
Harris responded to a question about Trump’s relatively higher approval on economic issues compared to Harris by claiming his administration lost “at least 200,000” manufacturing jobs prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and portrayed his economic agenda as one that would “shrink the economy” and could potentially increase the likelihood of a recession.
She said “top economists” have compared her economic plan with Trump’s.
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Senate passes government spending bill, averting shutdown and punting funding fight to December
From CNN’s Clare Foran, Ted Barrett and Morgan Rimmer
A view of the Senate floor on Wednesday, September 25, after passing the government funding extension to avert a shutdown at the end of this month.
Senate TV
The Senate has voted to pass the government funding extension to avert a shutdown at the end of this month. The bill will now go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law after the House approved the measure earlier today.
The Senate vote was 78 to 18.
The bill will fund the government until December 20, setting up a high-stakes fight over spending right before the Christmas holiday. It also includes $231 million for the US Secret Service in the wake of two apparent assassination attempts against GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The bill does not include the SAVE Act, a controversial measure targeting non-citizen voting that Trump had pushed for Republicans to include.
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Harris pledges to strengthen American manufacturing and its workforce
From CNN's Katie Lobosco and Tami Luhby
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at an event hosted by The Economic Club of Pittsburgh on Wednesday, September 25, in Pittsburgh.
Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that, if elected, she will expand the nation’s manufacturing industry during a wide-ranging economic speech in Pittsburgh.
Some details about Harris’ plans were shared in a policy paper released by the campaign following her speech. Specifically, Harris is calling for a new tax credit that she would call “America Forward.”
The tax credit would be targeted at investment and job creation in key strategic industries, according to the policy paper, which mentions steel and iron, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, aerospace, autos and farming.
The tax credits would prioritize companies that protect the right to organize.
Seeking to counter Trump’s claims that she is a Marxist, Harris described herself in the speech as a capitalist and said she believes that “an active partnership between government and the private sector is one of the most effective ways to fully unlock economic opportunity.”
Harris’ focus on manufacturing would be a continuation of the policies under President Joe Biden, who signed three major laws that provide federal investments for domestic industries.
Harris also promised in her speech that by the end of her first term, she’d double the number of registered apprenticeships, which she described as “tough duty.” Registered apprenticeships have been a focus of the Biden administration, which has invested more than $750 million in expanding registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs, according to Harris’ policy paper. It notes that new programs increased by 10% during Biden’s term.
In another bid for working class votes, Harris said she backs eliminating degree requirements and increasing skills-based hiring.
The Biden administration has also sought to boost skills-based hiring, announcing in April that it is implementing such hiring practices for certain federal information technology positions. It has pushed to grow the nation’s cybersecurity workforce through skill-based hiring and apprenticeships.
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Harris says Trump's proposed tariff hikes show he's "not very serious" on economic issues
From CNN's Aaron Pelish
Vice President Kamala Harris appears during an interview with MSNBC, released on Wednesday, September 25.
From MSNBC
Vice President Kamala Harris said former President Donald Trump’s plan to increase tariffs in all foreign imports demonstrates he is “not very serious” in his thinking around economic issues during an interview with MSNBC released on Wednesday.
In the interview, taped earlier Wednesday around Harris’ economic remarks at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Harris responded to a question about the appropriate use of tariffs in economic policy by suggesting that Trump’s proposal to add tariffs of up to 20% on products coming into the US is a “talking point ending in an exclamation point at a political rally” rather than a “real plan.”
The full interview is expected to air on MSNBC at 7 p.m. ET.
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Senators express outrage over sexual misconduct allegations by a Secret Service agent against a Harris staffer
From CNN’s Morgan Rimmer
Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks with the media on Wednesday, September 25.
Pool
Senators expressed outrage over allegations of sexual misconduct by a Secret Service agent against a Kamala Harris staffer as Congress continues to investigate the agency’s shortcomings around the assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump.
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the homeland security committee’s investigative subcommittee, called for new leadership, noting that the agency “has been plagued by scandal.”
Sen. John Kennedy speaks to the media on Wednesday, September 25.
Pool
Republican Sen. John Kennedy agreed that major reforms are necessary.
“Most of the people at Secret Service do extraordinary work, and I want to make that clear. I don’t want to paint with too broad a brush, but I’m beginning to suspect that our problem at Secret Service is not just money; I think it’s management, I think it’s role, I think it’s scope, I think it’s mission,” Kennedy said.
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Members of both parties leave Senate briefing disturbed by threats of foreign interference in US elections
From CNN’s Morgan Rimmer and Ted Barrett
Senate Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner speaks with the media on Wednesday, September 25.
Pool
Senators from both parties left their classified briefing this afternoon deeply disturbed by threats of foriegn interference in US elections.
Senate Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner, who also received a separate two-hour briefing on this issue earlier today, told reporters that “Russia’s goal is to undermine Harris, Iran’s goal is to undermine Trump, and China is focused more on down ballot races. That’s the challenge.”
Warner noted he is especially concerned about misinformation in the days after the election, as adversaries work to undermine American trust in the results.
GOP Sen. Mitt Romney added that foreign interference has focused on stealing information from campaigns so far this cycle. “I think at this stage, the interference is by trying to capture information about campaigns and give it to their opponents, and also influence public opinion. It’s not a disruption of our technology that allows us to count votes,” he said.
Independent Sen. Angus King told CNN: “We’re doing a good job, but I think the best defense is for the public to understand what’s happening, and then they can shrug it off.”
Romney and GOP Senator Dan Sullivan both argued the US should be more willing to go on offense, rather than try to combat disinformation as it comes.
Sen. Dan Sullivan speaks with the media on Wednesday, September 25.
Pool
Sullivan noted that he plans to bring legislation that would warn foreign adversaries not to spread misinformation within the US, unless they want the US to go on a public relations campaign against their own leaders.
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Harris pledges to drive manufacturing investment to boost factory towns in Pittsburgh economy remarks
From CNN's Aaron Pellish, Ebony Davis and Eva McKend
Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the Economic Club of Pittsburgh on the Carnegie Mellon University campus in Pittsburgh, on Wednesday, September 25.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Vice President Kamala Harris laid out her vision for an “opportunity economy” and called for greater investments in manufacturing for new technologies to boost the American economy, particularly in historic manufacturing cities like Pittsburgh, where she spoke on Wednesday.
Harris told a theater with dozens of volunteers and supporters at Carnegie Mellon University she believes her plans will meet the “extraordinary economy” to strengthen the middle class and drive US economic competitiveness globally.
Harris pledged, as president, to invest in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, biomanufacturing and aerospace, tying her pledge to historic industrial commitments from past presidents.
Harris also pledged to focus investments in manufacturing in “factory towns,” pledging not to “abandon” those in towns where industrial manufacturing plants have been closed in recent years.
She drew a sharp contrast with former President Donald Trump’s economic policy, portraying the Republican presidential nominee as looking to shape the economy to benefit the wealthiest Americans, claiming Trump “has no intention to grow our middle class.”
Harris also hit Trump for increasing the trade deficit with China, claiming Trump both increased China’s economic leverage over the US and facilitated China’s military growth.
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Mark Cuban says Harris will close in on economy polling with more time
From CNN's Tori B. Powell
Mark Cuban appears on CNN on Wednesday, September 25.
CNN
A recent CNN poll found that voters trust former President Donald Trump more than Vice President Kamala Harris when it comes to handling the economy. Entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban offered advice to anyone who might be worried about her closing in on that gap: “Be patient.”
He went on to commend Harris’ speech in battleground Pennsylvania Wednesday, where she outlined key differences between her and Trump’s economic policy.
“I think her speech today went a long way to really convey to voters that she is pro-business, that she wants to partner with businesses, that she wants to incent businesses,” Cuban said.
Earlier this month, Cuban and dozens of other high-profile business leaders signed a letter endorsing Harris.
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House passes government spending bill after Speaker Johnson turned to Democrats for votes
From CNN’s Clare Foran and Haley Talbot
The House voted to pass the government funding extension to avert a shutdown at the end of this month – with Speaker Mike Johnson once again turning to Democrats for votes to get the bill over the finish line after facing GOP defections.
The vote was 341 to 82 with 132 Republicans voting in favor of the bill and 209 Democrats voting in favor. Eighty-two Republicans voted against.
The bill will fund the government until December 20, setting up a high-stakes fight over spending right before the Christmas holiday. It also includes $231 million for the US Secret Service in the wake of two apparent assassination attempts against GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The bill does not include the SAVE Act, a controversial measure targeting non-citizen voting that Trump had pushed for Republicans to include.
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Harris slams Trump's economic plans as she pitches her vision as one that will "grow America’s middle class"
From CNN's Tori B. Powell
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, September 25.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
During remarks in battleground Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris outlined differences between her and former President Donald Trump’s stance on growing the economy, a top issue for voters this campaign cycle.
She went on to continue criticizing Trump’s policies, saying that “his agenda would weaken the economy and hurt working people and the middle class.”
Read about Harris’ and Trump’s campaign promises on key issues.
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Trump officially announces October 5 return to Butler, Pennsylvania — site of his first assassination attempt
From CNN's Brian Rokus
The Butler Farm Show, site of the campaign rally where former President Donald Trump was wounded, is seen Monday July 15, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Gene J. Puskar/AP/File
Donald Trump’s campaign has officially announced the former president’s plans to return to Butler, Pennsylvania for a rally on October 5.
CNN previously reported Trump’s plans to return on that date.
“During his visit, President Trump will honor the memory of Corey Comperatore, who heroically sacrificed his life to shield his wife and daughters from the bullets on that terrible day. President Trump will also recognize the two other Americans who were wounded by the shooter, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. He will express his deep gratitude to law enforcement and first responders, and thank the entire community for their outpouring of love and support in the wake of the attack,” the campaign added.
Trump phoning House Republicans urging hardline strategy on eve of funding vote, sources say
From CNN’s Sarah Ferris and Annie Grayer
Former President Donald Trump made a last-minute private pitch to some House Republicans on a hardline funding strategy that differs dramatically from one that Speaker Mike Johnson is about to bring to the floor, according to two GOP sources familiar with the conversation.
Trump has phoned several House Republicans, including two who voted against the initial proposal on the floor last week — reiterating his calls that voting measures must be added to the government funding proposal. This is not what Johnson is putting on the floor on Wednesday, after the initial plan — which included a measure requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote — failed.
Johnson was then forced to seek Democratic buy-in for a bipartisan bill, which is expected to easily pass later Wednesday.
Trump told one of the GOP lawmakers in a call Tuesday that if the initial plan — with the voting measure — came up again, he wants the lawmaker to vote “Yes,” one of the GOP sources said.
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Secret Service agent on leave over alleged sexual misconduct against a Kamala Harris staffer
from CNN’s Holmes Lybrand and Kevin Liptak
A Secret Service agent is on administrative leave over alleged sexual misconduct against a staffer for Kamala Harris, the agency confirmed to CNN on Wednesday.
The incident allegedly occurred during a trip for advance security planning in Wisconsin.
When asked about the incident, a spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President said in a statement that “the Office of the Vice President take the safety of staff seriously.”
“We have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct. Senior OVP officials were alerted by the USSS about an incident involving an agent and informed that USSS initiated an investigation,” the spokesperson said. “The Office of the Vice President will not be releasing further information.”
