Good morning everyone,

It’s a lock. Kamala’s VP choice is selected. The pick is not without controversy, but that’s what politics are for! We’ve got plenty to break down with the unfolding events this week. Let’s dive in!

In today’s edition: Kamala Harris selects Tim Walz as her VP candidate in the race for the White House. Trump and Harris are now set to debate in September. RFK has cancelled an appearance in Iowa amid security concerns. The latest polling updates between Trump and Harris has come in via RealClearPolitics.

• Tim Walz Selected as VP Candidate

• Trump v Harris Set For September

• RFK Cancels Public Appearance Citing Security Concerns

• Latest Polling Updates Between Trump and Harris

Tim Walz Selected as VP Candidate

August 6th, 2024 - The Democratic picture is now final for 2024. Vice President Harris has selected Tim Walz as her Vice Presidential nominee. With less than three months until the election, and less than two weeks until the DNC convention, the democratic ticket is now solidified for November. Although there was more than enough speculation towards other prospects, Walz presents the opportunity to shore up toss up democratic votes and prevent Trump encroachment in lean blue states like Minnesota.

Prior to his selection as the VP nominee during the selection process, Walz’s comfort around a camera and the rhetoric used by the now VP candidate signaled many positives to those within the democratic camp. Irrespective of how he’s perceived by those on the other side of the aisle, it can be theorized that he was chosen in part because of his ability to channel the right message in a receptive tone towards those across the political spectrum. This bipartisanship can be demonstrated through the legislation Walz passed in addition to third party organizations. Walz was ranked as the 7th most bipartisan House member during the 114th Congress.

From being a political novice and underdog winner for a Minnesota U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 2006 election to becoming the 41st Governor of Minnesota, Walz brings decades of political experience to the table. Prior to his political career, Walz has served in a variety of roles within the education system and the military. Ultimately achieving the rank of command sergeant major in the Army National Guard, Walz dedicated almost 25 years of service to the military. He retired from military service in 2005 to pursue a run for a congressional seat, ultimately defeating six term incumbent Gil Gutknecht.

As a progressive, Walz has championed democratic positions like abortion access, gun control, and LGBT policies. His stance of these positions have put him in the favorable light of core democratic voters in Minnesota and nationwide. However, his time as governor has not been without criticism and controversy as political pundits on the right side of the aisle have criticized him for the delay of the National Guard deployment during the summer of 2020 George Floyd riots. He has also received flak from those on the right for him voicing support for socialism.

Trump v Harris Set For September

August 8th, 2024 - The Trump and Harris campaigns have struck an agreement for a debate that will occur on September 10th on ABC. Excitement from both camps has been palpable. is Harris has come out in no uncertain terms voicing her readiness to debate the 45th President. Trump and those within his orbit have been publicly excited about the idea of debating Harris ever since her lock on the presidential ticket. Trump has now called for an additional two debates to be hosted on Fox News and NBC. The Harris campaign has stated that it will not give any confirmations for additional debates until after the September 10th debate.

Rules for the debate have not been disclosed as of Friday evening. While different formats have been arranged for past and present political cycles, it would be reasonable to assume that the Trump campaign would request an environment similar to the town hall debate with Hillary in 2016 for the Harris debate. Irrespective of the topics brought to bear by ABC, it could be considered a likelihood that Trump will look to spotlight his own concerns on the issues he cares about like southern border politics, bloated bureaucracies, and government spending.

Given Trump’s record of going off script along with interruptions, it would be also be reasonable to assume that the Harris campaign would prefer an environment similar to the most recent debate that featured silenced microphone while the opponent is talking, along with structured segments meant for channeling direct messages as opposed to a town hall debate which can be more conducive to more complex conversations.

In addition to rules not being announced, details for the location and moderators are forthcoming.

RFK Cancels Public Appearance Citing Security Concerns

August 9th, 2024 - Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has canceled his scheduled appearance at the Iowa State Fair, citing increased security concerns. The decision comes on the heels of RFK Jr getting secret service protection after being repeatedly denied by the Biden administration. Service was eventually given due to the events that unfolded after the Trump assassination attempt.

The cancellation has raised eyebrows and sparked renewed criticism for lack of protection for presidential candidates in the given polarity of the political climate. Kennedy's campaign released a statement emphasizing that the decision was made after careful consideration of the potential risks involved. The statement highlighted that the security team had identified credible threats that necessitated the cancellation to ensure the safety of Kennedy and the attendees.

This move underscores the increasingly precarious nature of public appearances for political figures, especially those who are outspoken. RFK Jr, a member of the prominent Kennedy family, has been a controversial figure due to his views on galvanizing topics like the Covid-19 vaccines and government overreach. His campaign has been marked by a mix of fervent support and intense criticism, making security a top priority.

As threats are expected to emerge as they have in the past, RFK Jr’s campaign has still pushed for outreach in every state. The stated goal of his campaign has been to get on the presidential ballot on all 50 states. Given the notable possibility of Kennedy dropping out of the race due to these security concerns, he has continued to pursue his presidential ambitions.

Latest Polling Updates Between Trump and Harris

August 8th, 2024 - As of August 8th, Harris holds a slight lead (half a point) in the national polling over Donald Trump via RCP. It should be noted, that the former president holds a lead in several swing states with the same RCP methodology. The states most up in the air remain Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin from records in the previous weeks. Most of the tossup states also remain within the margin of error, which only prompts more speculation towards the final result on November 5th.

There are two key factors playing into Trump’s favor in spite of the dwindling momentum garnered from the debate with Biden. The direction of the country, and the President Biden job approval rating. Latest polling for the direction of the country shows a 40.1 point favorability towards Trump. The most recent polling for President Biden’s job approval rating stands at a 15.4 point favorability to Trump as well. Harnessing these concerns and channeling direct messages to the public will be imperative for the Trump campaign in the months to come.

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