10/31: How Close Is It?

🎃 Happy Halloween. Five days until Election Day.

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🎙️ Keystone Candidate Forum. Hear from the candidates for PA Attorney General. (PoliticsPA)

👀 What We’re Seeing. Does late money matter? Vice President Kamala Harris raised over $11 million on Monday, compared to just under $150,000 for former President Donald Trump.

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Top Story

1. Polls: A Coin Flip Contest in Pennsylvania

Kamala Harris, Donald Trump

“Remember when NFL referee Gene Steratore pulled out an index card to determine whether the nose of the football touched the first-down marker?

That may be the most apt description of the presidential race in Pennsylvania today?

Two respected polls from CNN/SSRS and Quinnipiac University unveiled results of their last surveys in the Keystone State on Wednesday and confirmed what we already thought we knew.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Decision Notes: What to Expect in Pennsylvania on Election Day. “The Associated Press doesn’t make projections and will declare a winner only when it has determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap.” (AP)

Kamala Harris Brings Presidential Campaign Into Harrisburg As Part of Final Sprint. “Central Pennsylvania Democrats finally had their moment in the presidential spotlight Wednesday, as Vice President Kamala Harris opened the last week sprint of her campaign with a drop-in rally with a few thousand enthusiastic friends in Harrisburg. Make no mistake, this was a business trip.” (PennLive)

Trump and His Allies Ramp Up Election Fraud Allegations in Pennsylvania. “Former President Donald Trump and his allies are seizing on routine election processes as signs of fraud in the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania, amplifying allegations, videos and litigation around purported voting irregularities even as local election officials push back.” (NBC News)

Pennsylvania’s Seen an Influx of Union Infrastructure Jobs. Harris Isn’t Getting Credit. “The infrastructure law is a central pillar of the Biden-Harris administration’s legacy. It’s been less of a political win.” (NOTUS)

Safeguarding the Pennsylvania Election. “For months, state officials have prepared to manage the threat of far-right conspiracists who may try to “stop the steal.”” (The New Yorker)

 

State

2. Pennsylvania Court Loosens Mail Ballot Rules, But a Fast-Track Appeal Is Likely

PA Judicial Center

“A divided Pennsylvania appeals court ruled Wednesday that the envelopes voters use to send in mail ballots do not need to have been accurately hand-dated, weighing in after the state Supreme Court sidestepped the issue and six days before the end of voting in the presidential election.

The 3-2 decision by Commonwealth Court upheld a Philadelphia judge’s ruling that 69 mail ballots should be counted in a pair of single-candidate state House of Representatives special elections held in September.” (AP)

Elsewhere

Casey States Case, Outlines Differences With McCormick in Lancaster Stop. “Sen. Bob Casey Jr. made a stop in the Red Rose City of Lancaster on Wednesday to accept an endorsement from a prominent Republican and make his case for a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.” (PoliticsPA)

Haley Campaigns For McCormick in Philly and Pittsburgh Suburbs. “Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley traveled to Pennsylvania on the final Wednesday before the 2024 election to rally support for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick in regions that have shifted away from the Republican Party over the past decade.” (Penn Capital-Star)

 

Republicans Outspend Democrats by $10M on TV Ads in PA Attorney General Race. “The Republican candidate for attorney general and the well-funded political action committees backing him have spent more than $13 million to flood Pennsylvania’s airwaves with TV ads through Election Day.” (Spotlight PA)

Auditor General Tim DeFoor Announced an Audit of Pennsylvania’s Motor Voter System. Will It Sow Mistrust In PA’s Elections? “Pennsylvania’s top auditor is investigating the state’s automatic voter registration system, coming as some GOP lawmakers in Harrisburg baselessly suggest that the “motor voter” program allows non-U.S. citizens to participate in elections.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvania Democrats Make Down-Ballot Abortion Bet. “Pennsylvania Democrats believe their path to expanding power in the state Legislature runs through the suburbs — and they’re hammering the importance of protecting reproductive rights to pull it off.” (POLITICO)

Democrats, Republicans Vie For Control of PA Legislature in Tuesday’s Election. “Gov. Josh Shapiro often has made a point of saying he is the only governor in the nation who has to deal with a divided legislature – with the House being under Democratic control and the Senate in Republican hands.” (PennLive)

House Candidates Tout Crossover Support in Final Stretch. “Democrat Janelle Stelson launched “Republicans for Janelle” in her 10th District race against Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.). Stelson was endorsed by multiple former GOP lawmakers like Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) and Barbara Comstock (Va.). Perry dismissed the push as irrelevant to the voters in the district.” (Punchbowl News)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. More Than 2M Pennsylvanians Choose Mail Ballot Option

Montgomery County mail ballots
credit: Montgomery County, PA Voter Services

“This no-excuse, mail ballot thing seems to be popular among Pennsylvania voters.

More than 2.18 million registered voters in the Commonwealth applied for a mail ballot application prior to the October 29 deadline. The total is considerably less than the 2.7 million citizens that voted by mail in 2020 in a pandemic-afflicted election, but significant nonetheless.

That works out to be nearly one-quarter (23.8%) of the 9.16 million registered PA voters.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

How Mail-In Ballots Are Processed in Pennsylvania. “Over two million mail-in ballots have been requested in the state alone. Here’s what happens to them all.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

  • Pennsylvania Democratic Party Suing Erie Board of Elections Over Thousands of Missing Mail Ballots. (Penn Capital-Star)
  • York County: About 740 Voter Registration Applications Referred to District Attorney. (York Daily Record)
  • Fraudulent Mail Ballot Request Forms Found in Monroe County, DA Says. (Allentown Morning Call)
  • Lancaster County DA Says Probe Into ‘Hundreds’ of Problem Voter Registration Forms Continues. (LNP | Lancaster Online)

 

Inside the Pittsburgh Warehouse Where Allegheny County’s Votes Get Counted. “County officials offer glimpse into equipment, manpower that helps run elections in Allegheny County.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pennsylvania County Has Election Sway, But Wants It Over. “Nestled within this quaint region by the Delaware River, among its bright autumn foliage and impressive Halloween decor, is an almost silent battle for the presidency.” (Roll Call)

 

These Areas of Pennsylvania Could Determine the Outcome of the 2024 Election. “From Erie County in the west to Bucks County in the east, votes are up for grabs.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

 

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

  • Finally! It’s Time For Pennsylvania’s `Only Poll That Counts.’ (John Baer)
  • As Election Day Nears, the Difference Between Trump and Harris Could Not Be Starker. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  • On Election Day, Poll Workers Will Be In the Spotlight. (Devi Lockwood)
  • What Happened to Civil Disagreement? (Beth Ann Rosica)

 

 

1 Thing

5. The Doctor Made a House Call

Here is your diversion from election news for Thursday. Dr. J. made this shot.

 

 

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  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
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