Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are “essentially tied” in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, according to the average of The New York Times’s polls of the battleground states. No candidate holds a lead greater than two-tenths of a percentage point in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. According to the NYT, Trump had a slight uptick in the polls of about a point, but it was “enough to make the race more or less truly tied.” Most polls show Harris ahead of Trump, such as the Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, which showed her up by three nationwide on October 16; others illustrate Trump leading, such as the Fox News poll, showing he led by two points on the same date.
11:28 AM EDT
Donald Trump Faces New Central Park 5 Lawsuit After Debate Remarks
The five men wrongfully convicted of a 1989 New York City assault who became known as the “Central Park 5,” have filed a defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.
The report states, the suit filed in Pennsylvania federal court was prompted by Trump’s recent remarks during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, where he falsely claimed that the men were responsible for the crime and that one of the victims had died.
The Central Park 5 have long maintained their innocence, and their convictions were overturned in 2002 following DNA evidence that exonerated them.
The lawsuit highlights that the men never pleaded guilty to the Central Park assaults and consistently maintained their innocence throughout their trial, incarceration, and even after their exoneration.
The lawsuit also details an interaction between a member of the Central Park 5 and Trump in the spin room following the September 10 debate in Philadelphia. During this encounter, Mr. [Yusef] Salaam introduced himself to Trump, who then remarked, “you’re on my side.” Salaam replied, “no, I’m not on your side,” to which Trump simply smiled, walked away, and waved.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, claiming that Trump’s statements placed them in a false light and caused them to suffer severe emotional distress.
Read More: Donald Trump Faces New Central Park 5 Lawsuit After Debate Remarks
11:26 AM EDT
Elon Musk celebrates Republican voter registration
Donald Trump supporter Elon Musk celebrated new Republican voter registration “crushing” Democrat voter registration.
Trump retweeted the post.
New Republican voter registration last week in Pennsylvania absolutely crushed Democrat voter registration!
27.7k Rep vs 12.7k Dem, a 3X difference.
Midnight today is the deadline for registration. Let’s GOOOO!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2024
11:24 AM EDT
Shift towards Trump in recent surveys
According to the New York Times, Trump was leading by two points overall in a Fox News survey, while Harris was ahead by two points in the previous survey.
Fairleigh Dickinson University indicated Harris was ahead by three points nationwide, in contrast to her leading by seven in its last poll.
Meanwhile, Marquette Law School reported a tie in the race, whereas Harris had a six-point lead in August.
Ipsos conducted various polls showing Harris ahead by two to four points over the past week, compared to her usual leads of five or six points in September.
Emerson College also found a tied race, which is a shift from the two-point lead Harris had in its earlier poll.
11:22 AM EDT
Where to find Kamala Harris — Oct. 16
Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event at Divine Faith Ministries International on October 20, 2024 in Jonesboro, Georgia. Vice President Harris and Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, have been campaigning this week in the key battleground state of Georgia.
Megan Varner/Getty Images
Today, October 16, Vice President Kamala Harris will be in:
- Blue Wall battleground states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan with former Rep. Liz Cheney
- Malvern, Pennsylvania, at 11:40 a.m. ET
- Oakland County, Michigan, at 2:55 p.m. ET
- Birmingham, Michigan, at 4:10 p.m. ET
- Brookfield, Wisconsin, at 8 p.m. ET
11:12 AM EDT
Where to find Donald Trump — Oct. 16
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall at the Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, October 20, 2024. Trump will be holding a rally in North Carolina along with a meeting in the same state with son Eric Trump and Dr. Ben Carson.
Charly Triballeau/Getty Images
Today, October 16, former President Donald Trump will be in:
- Greenville, North Carolina, at 11 a.m. ET: campaign rally
- Charlotte, North Carolina, for an “11th Hour Faith Leaders Meeting” in Concord, North Carolina, at 6:30 p.m. ET with Eric Trump and Dr. Ben Carson
