Friday, November 22, 2024

J Lo tells Kamala Harris rally in Nevada this is the ‘most important stage’ she’s ever been on — as it happened

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That’s all for today!

Thanks for joining us for our live coverage on the US election trail.

Remember to head to the ABC News website for all of the latest on US politics.

To catch up on the week that was, click here:

Where to next for Donald Trump?

Tomorrow, which is Friday US time, Donald Trump will hold a rally in Warren, Michigan before heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Michigan is a swing state and has the largest proportion of Arab Americans.

Michigan helped propel Trump to victory in 2016, before Biden took the state back in 2020

Wisconsin is also one of the most contested states of the 2024 US election.

Republicans held their national convention in Milwaukee, which saw Trump receive a hero’s welcome from supporters after surviving being shot at just days before.

Rapper Cardi B to speak at Harris rally in Wisconsin Friday

A close up of Cardi B
(Reuters: File)

Celebrity endorsements are coming in thick and fast and stars continue to show up at democrat campaign events.

Tomorrow, rapper Cardi B will speak at Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally in Milwaukee on Friday.

The Harris campaign announced the addition on Thursday.

The event will also feature performances by GloRilla, Flo Milli, MC Lyte, The Isley Brothers and DJ GEMINI GILLY.

This is not the first time Cardi B has jumped into the political fray.

The rapper was close to Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign in 2020, including lauding his first run in 2016 and appearing in a video meant to appeal to young voters.

She has also been an outspoken critic of Trump and supported President Joe Biden in 2020.

“I’m tired of getting upset every single time I see this man talk,” she said of Trump before Election Day in 2020.

Reporting with AP

Trump announces he wants to put RFK Jr. in charge of women’s health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s role in a Trump administration kept on rolling Thursday, with the former president adding “women’s health” to his ideas for the former independent candidate for president who is now backing the Republican nominee.

“He’s going to work on health and women’s health and all of the different reasons,” Trump told supporters during a campaign stop in Henderson, Nevada.

This week, Trump has been talking about having a role for Kennedy, who has supported the disproven theory that vaccines are unsafe, in “health” and “food,” though he has joked, as he did Thursday, that he wants to keep Kennedy away from the nation’s petroleum. Kennedy opposes the petroleum extraction process known as fracking, for instance.

This week, a co-chair of Donald Trump’s transition team said Kennedy wanted access to federal health data so he could show that vaccines were unsafe and lead to them being pulled from the market during a second Trump administration.

Reporting with AP

Will Trump accept the election results if he loses?

Earlier this week, Donald Trump said he will accept the election result if he loses — if there is no evidence of voter fraud.

But whether or not the former president agrees claims of fraud have been debunked is a different story.

As Election Day approaches, Trump and his allies are increasingly sowing doubt about the legitimacy of votes, particularly in swing states.

This week, Elon Musk directed followers to report allegations of election integrity issues to an “Election Integrity Community” on X.

The feed, which is administered by Musk’s America PAC, includes many claims of fraud that have already been debunked.

One of those accusations claimed 53 voters were registered at the address of a Catholic church, but that not one actually lived there.

But, as CNN reports, people were living there — 55 nuns of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie.

Judge orders Arizona to release names of voters affected by glitch

A judge in Arizona ordered its secretary of state to release a list of registered voters who due to a glitch may not have provided proof of citizenship that is required by state law, a court filing showed on Thursday.

A conservative organisation had sued Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, earlier this month after his office declined a public records request.

A computer glitch had caused thousands in Arizona to be registered to vote without providing proof of citizenship. The secretary of state’s office had said earlier those on the list may face threats or harassment if their names were released.

The number of individuals affected by this issue is about 218,000, according to America First Legal, which filed the lawsuit.

Reuters

ICYMI: Jennifer Lopez speaks at Kamala Harris rally

The Kamala Harris rally with singer Jennifer Lopez is now over.

Jennifer Lopez is one of the many Hispanic celebrities who signed on to help in the days after a comedian at Trump’s rally in New York disparaged Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage.”

You can watch her full speech here:

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Kamala Harris is introduced by Jennifer Lopez in Las Vegas

Kamala Harris, introduced by Jennifer Lopez has kicked off her speech to Las Vegas.

Jennifer Lopez introduces Kamala Harris
Jennifer Lopez introduces Kamala Harris

She is hitting her usual points on women’s access to abortion, bringing down cost of living, making homes more affordable, at home medicare, raising minimum wage and Trumps plans to get rid of the affordable care act.

Jennifer Lopez: ‘This is the most important stage I’ve ever been on’

A still of J Lo
(ABC News)

Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to the stage in Las Vegas but she opens her speech by saying this one is the most important she has ever been on.

“The choices facing America now are monumental and you guys have made this place a city where dreams come true,” she says. 

“You are the ones who are going to send the message that Nevada is Harris country.”

The singer spoke to the about comments on Puerto Ricans made by a comedian at a Trump rally.

“At Maddison Square Garden he reminded us who he was and what he really thinks of us,” she says.

“It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans who were offended, it was every Latino in this country, it was humanity and anyone of decent character.”

Jennifer Lopez and Kamala Harris to speak shortly

By North America correspondent Carrington Clarke

(ABC News: Carrington Clarke )

It’s a brisk evening here in Las Vegas but Democratic supporters have filled the Craig Ranch Ampitheater.

They’ve been entertained by Mexican ban Maná — who by some measures are the most successful Latin American band of all time with 25 million album sales under their respective belts and a bunch of Grammys.

It’s quite the atmosphere.

We’ll see how they react when global superstar, Jennifer Lopez takes the stage. J-Lo as she’s also known has been a vocal supporter of VP Harris. She’s also one of the most famous Puerto Ricans in the world and is likely to once again reference the derogatory joke made about the American territory at a Trump rally over the weekend (it was called a ‘floating island of garbage’).

The Latino vote is hugely important here in Nevada and the VP’s pulling all stops to get their attention tonight.

Dueling sunbelt rallies illustrate the national divide

By North America correspondent Carrington Clarke

We’re here in glitzy Las Vegas, where instead of gambling or taking in a show, locals had a choice of rallies to occupy their afternoon/evening.

Donald Trump held his in Henderson in the mid-afternoon. When the ABC visited about 4 hours before he was scheduled to take the stage, there was already a sizable line of supporters patiently waiting for entry.

Sylvia Theis, 70, says she’s with “Donald Trump all the way”. She says she was “better off four years ago” and the biggest policy issues for her are “drill baby drill” (Donald Trump’s promise to approve the extraction of more fossil fuels, despite the threat of climate change) and “illegal aliens coming in”.

(ABC News: Carrington Clarke)

Over and over again I heard that the economy and immigration were the major issues for Trump’s supporters.

Meanwhile, at the Harris rally, the recurring themes were abortion rights and the threat they say Donald Trump poses to democracy.

One of those is Dianette Wells, 58, who says her most important issue is “A woman’s right to choose. I have two daughters and a granddaughter, and I’m here for them” and worries that Trump could spell “the end of Democracy in the US”.

(ABC Nes: Carrington Clarke )

This isn’t surprising, these are the issues both campaigns are hammering in their final pitches to voters.

What is interesting is that even at the Harris event, the state of the economy looms large. The difference is, they think the Democrats have a better answer as to what to do with the economy.

Latrisha Quarterman, 40, says she knows lots of people who’ve lost their jobs in recent years “Nevada had one of the highest unemployment rates. We’ve seen casinos shutting down.” She says Trump’s focus on the economy resonates with lots of people but “you have to look into what the actual plans are. And as far as Trump versus Kamala, it feels like Kamala has a little bit more of a plan of action versus Trump”

Latrisha Quarterman
(ABC News: Carrington Clarke)

Competing for Latino voters

(Reuters: David Swanson)

The Harris campaign is gearing its message toward Latino voters tonight in Las Vegas.

The band Maná is performing right now at the rally and Jennifer Lopez will deliver remarks soon.

While US Latinos generally favour Democratic candidates, the Trump campaign has made inroads and is actively working to court the community.

However, his campaign has also faced fallout from Puerto Ricans after a speaker at a New York rally disparaged the island.

‘They’re going to bankrupt this country’: Trump fans on why they love the former president

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Victor Willert, 68, was among the throngs of people who came to support the former president in Henderson, Nevada.

One of the key issues driving his vote is the current cost of living.

“On the economic front, I was better off four years ago, OK, just plain and simple,” he said.

“I’m a senior citizen, and fixed income. My buying power is reduced because of inflation.”

Recent figures have shown the rate of inflation has in fact cooled to 2.9 per cent. Despite that, many say they’re still financially stretched.

Kathy Schiefer is one of them. The mother of five, who’s originally from Washington DC, said three of her children are business owners, which concerns her.

“I worry about that because if she [Kamala Harris] gets into office, they’re just going to bankrupt this country. I firmly believe that.”

For others, America’s standing on the global stage is front of mind.

“[The Democrats] don’t represent the people that way, in the correct way. It makes us all look weak and other countries are laughing at us,” David Santalucia said.

The 37-year-old, who moved to Nevada from Buffalo, New York, came to the rally with his brother.

Asked who he’ll vote for, he tells me “big time Trump – all the way”.

“Like there’s no question. There are a thousand reasons.

“The weakness that the Biden administration has shown, it just makes the people look pathetic and it just makes our country look like jacks**t.”

Reporting by North America correspondent Carrington Clarke

Nevada voters urged to cast their ballot in Las Vegas

We have just under an hour until we hear from Kamala Harris in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus is warming up the crowd, speaking about the importance of voter turnout in the key battleground state.

Nevada is one of seven battleground states that could decide the US election.

Historically, voting in Nevada goes down to the wire.

But, in the last four elections, the Democrats have won the public’s vote.

The state also holds six critical Electoral College votes.

“I hate to tell you this, but Nevada is falling behind,” Titus said.

“No, in fact, the Republicans are kicking our ass at the early voting.

“We cannot let that happen.”

This will be Kamala Harris’s final pitch to Nevada voters before the election.

Where is Kamala Harris headed to now?

Make sure you stick with us as the day is not over for the vice-president.

Soon Kamala Harris will attend a campaign event in Las Vegas with none other than Jennifer Lopez.

Raffensperger calls on Musk to take down ‘fake’ video

By North America correspondent Barbara Miller

Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has called on Elon Musk to take down a video circulating on social media purporting to show a Haitian immigrant voting multiple times for Kamala Harris using fake identities.

Brad Raffensperger says the video is false and an example of “targeted disinformation”.

It is likely foreign interference attempting to sow discord and chaos on the eve of the election.

The Georgia Secretary of State says law enforcement is working to try and identify the source of the video.

In the meantime, he asks Elon Musk, who has directed followers to report allegations of election integrity issues to an “Election Integrity Community” on X and other social media platforms, to take the video down.

As Americans, we can’t let our enemies use lies to divide us and undermine our faith in our institutions — or each other.

Brad Raffensperger is the official who Donald Trump famously tried to pressure to find him extra votes after the 2020 election.

We caught up with him recently as he prepared for the 2024 election.

AP sources say White House altered record of Biden’s ‘garbage’ remarks

White House press officials altered the official transcript of a call in which President Joe Biden appeared to take a swipe at supporters of Donald Trump drawing objections from the federal workers who document such remarks, the Associated Press is reporting.

Biden created an uproar earlier this week with his remarks to Latino activists responding to racist comments at a Trump rally made by the comedian Tony Hinchcliffe who referred to the US island territory of Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”

Biden, according to a transcript prepared by the official White House stenographers, told the Latino group on a Tuesday evening video call, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his — his demonisation of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”

The transcript released by the White House press office, however, rendered the quote with an apostrophe, reading “supporter’s” rather than “supporters,” which aides said pointed to Biden criticizing Hinchcliffe, not the millions of Americans who are supporting Trump for president.

The change was made after the press office “conferred with the president,” according to an internal email from the head of the stenographers’ office that was obtained by The AP.

The authenticity of the email was confirmed by two government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

The supervisor, in the email, called the press office’s handling of the matter “a breach of protocol and spoilation of transcript integrity between the Stenography and Press Offices.”

Reporting with AP

Democrats attack Trump over ‘protector of women’ claim

Democrats are criticising Donald Trump over his controversial pledge to be the “protector of women” at his rally in Wisconsin.

The former president told the crowd he was going against the advice of his aides.

Gender issues are a major part of the election campaign after the US Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights in 2022.

Three of the justices were appointed during the former president’s first term.

Kamala Harris says his comments show he doesn’t understand women.

More on that here:

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Early voting extended in Pennsylvania

By North America correspondent Barbara Miller

Voters in Bucks County, Pennsylvania have been making use of extended hours for early voting. The deadline was extended by three days after the Trump campaign brought legal action arguing some voters were turned away near the close of the initial early voting deadline.

A long line of voters outside a polling station in Bucks County
Voters in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, waited two to three hours to cast a ballot. (ABC News: Marcus Stimson)

Pennsylvania has a somewhat complicated system for early voting. It’s an on-demand mail ballot system, where you line up to apply for a mail-in ballot, which you can then cast in person. Hence the initial early cut-off, which was the same last day for actually mailing in a ballot.

Confused? A lot of people are.

Some in this line wondered whether it might just be quicker to come on polling day. The answer is probably yes. For some, though, it was about making a point after what they saw as voter suppression before the hours were extended. Pennsylvania could potentially be ground zero for legal challenges following the election, but then so could any of the swing states if there’s a close result.

A table with a red cloth with a plastic pumpkin with Don't be scared, Vote written on it.
In Pennsylvania you are allowed to hand out stickers, water and Halloween candy to those in line. (ABC News: Marcus Stimson)

The people we spoke to in line were mainly Trump supporters. This time, the GOP is actively encouraging people to get out and vote early. Nationwide, more than 55 million people have already cast a ballot.

A line of people waiting to vote in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
This year the GOP is actively encouraging Trump supporters to vote early where possible.(ABC News: Marcus Stimson)

When can states start counting votes?

The rules around processing and counting early votes differ from state to state.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a handful of states allow ballots cast early to be processed and counted before Election Day.

Here’s when they are allowed to start counting:

  • Arizona: Immediately after processing
  • Colorado: 15 days before Election Day
  • Delaware: When processing is complete
  • Florida: Once the testing of automatic tabulating equipment is complete
  • Hawaii: 18 days before Election Day
  • Kansas: Prior to Election Day
  • Montana: One day before Election Day if using a vote-counting machine
  • Nebraska: 24 hours before polls open on Election Day
  • Nevada: 15 Days before Election Day
  • New Jersey: Five days before Election Day
  • Utah: Prior to Election Day

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