Welcome to the online edition of From the Politics Desk. This evening newsletter brings you the latest reporting and analysis from campaigns, the White House and Capitol Hill from the NBC News politics team.
In today’s issue, Deputy Political Editor Adam Wollner looks at the efforts of the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns to appeal to male voters, especially sports fans. Additionally, “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker analyzed the latest polls showing more voters think the next election is “very important” to their lives. are.
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Sports fans, Harris and Trump want your vote.
Written by Adam Wollner
October is a sports fan’s paradise. Football season is in full swing. It’s playoff time for MLB and the WNBA. NHL and NBA teams then play their first regular season games.
Of course, this month happens to coincide with the final stages of the presidential election, a fact that cannot be overlooked in either campaign.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are in the midst of a fierce battle for male voters, and that battle is increasingly drawing attention to people who spend this time of year consuming sports content on their TVs and smartphones. There is.
As Rebecca Chabad and Peter Alexander report, the Harris campaign on Friday launched ads that will run on websites covering sports news, sports betting, fantasy sports, and video games, including DraftKings, Yahoo Sports, and IGN. It is reported that.
In a 30-second spot posted on these sites, former NBA star Magic Johnson compares the economic policies of two candidates, as if previewing a clash between two sports teams. I am. Actor Ben Stiller appears in another ad, referencing “Dodgeball, the movie that didn’t win an Academy Award.”
Tim Walz also appeared on Rich Eisen’s sports talk show Friday afternoon to talk about Minnesota Vikings fans. The Harris campaign also said it is running ads on sports talk radio and taking advantage of major NFL, MLB and college football games.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign, along with Jonathan Allen, Alan Smith, Olympia Saunier, Ben Camisar, and others, have accused Harris of her past taxpayer-funded gender identity during NFL and college football games (and elsewhere). It has promoted a message that challenges support for affirmative treatment. Reported.
The ad ends with the following tagline: “Kamala is for them. Kamala is for them.” President Trump is on your side. ”
These efforts come against a backdrop of large gender disparities between the two candidates. NBC News’ latest national poll shows Harris leading among women by 14 points (55% to 41%) and Trump leading among men by 16 points (56% to 40%). In 2020, President Trump lost to Joe Biden by a similar 15-point margin (57% to 42%) among women, but by just 8 points (53% to 45%) among men, according to exit polls. I won.
This may help explain the focus on male voters in the final weeks of the campaign. Given Trump’s struggles to connect with women, he will need to extend his advantage with men as much as possible, while Harris will help the former president’s path to a potential victory. I think there is an opportunity to cut it off.
Presidential elections are more important than ever
Written by Kristen Welker
A common refrain from candidates, strategists, and pundits is that this presidential election is more important than ever.
Voters believe that, too, according to NBC News’ latest national poll.
The survey found that 62% of registered voters said the upcoming election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris would bring “big changes” to their lives and the lives of their families.
This is the highest share of any question in this NBC News poll dating back to the 1990s. Notice that the percentage continues to increase every decade.
In the most recent poll conducted earlier this month, Democrats (65%) were slightly more likely than Republicans (59%) to say this election will make a big difference in their lives.
That’s one way to gauge enthusiasm for an election. Another way our polls have historically measured enthusiasm is by asking voters about their interest on a 1 to 10 point scale, with “9” and “10” responses indicating high interest.
Our new poll finds that 74% of voters are highly interested in the November election, which is down from past cycles. By political party, 79% of Republicans expressed a high level of interest, compared to 77% of Democrats.
There were a few other things I wanted to share with you.
First: On the subject of Harris trying to distance herself from Joe Biden, NBC News reports that the Harris campaign is in close contact with the White House on how to distance itself from the president. Ta.
Harris associates have suggested there are no clear plans to change strategy, other than telling Fox News that her presidency is not a “continuation” of Biden’s. A person familiar with the matter told NBC News: If that were to happen, she feels it would undermine the confidentiality of the relationship between the president and vice president going forward. I had never seen Mike Pence do that until January 6th. ”
Harris herself said as much in response to a question from my colleague Peter Alexander after Friday’s rally in Michigan.
“Frankly, the vice president, including Mike Pence, has not criticized the president, and the fact is that it’s not productive, both from a tradition standpoint and from a future perspective. “I don’t think it’s going to be a significant relationship,” Harris said.
Second: This Sunday is packed with “Meet the Press,” which will feature interviews with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R.S.C., and Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. Please watch it!
🗞️ Today’s Top News
💵 Overcharging…: President Trump overcharged Secret Service agents protecting him and his family for hotel rooms in Washington during his time in office, a new report from House Democrats alleges. . Continue reading → ⛔ … and overworked: Acting Secret Service chief calls for “fundamental reforms” within the agency to prevent assassination attempts like the one that injured President Trump in July expressed concern about agent morale. . Continue reading → 🔀 Across the aisle: Harris is betting on someone like the moderate Republican who turned the late Sen. John McCain into a national figure in a key battleground state of Arizona. Continue reading → 🛣 On the road: Harris will campaign alongside the Obamas for the first time, hoping the former president and first lady will energize supporters at early voting locations ahead of Election Day. Continue reading → 📺 Battle of the Night: Republican Sam Brown casts Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, who is trailing in the polls, as an outsider during Thursday’s Nevada Senate debate , heaped criticism. Continue reading → 🎤 Miss Americana and the DNC: Democratic National Committee uses final leg of Taylor Swift’s Ellas tour to encourage young voters to support Harris. Read more → Follow live updates from the campaign trail →
That’s all from the political desk. If you have any feedback, love it or hate it, email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com.
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