This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
Mike Pence and Tim Kaine to face off in vice-presidential debate – campaign live
Mike Pence and Tim Kaine to face off in vice-presidential debate – campaign live
(about 2 hours later)
10.22pm BST
22:22
Links to “stories” by the bug-eyed conspiracy site Infowars have been tweeted approvingly this year by Trump père and by both Trump sons. The Trump campaign seems to think of Infowars, like Breitbart, as a kind of opposition research wing, or at least a useful whip for the base. The problem is that Infowars flies over the cuckoo’s nest on its commute to work.
Alex Jones, the program’s star host, thinks George W Bush did 9/11 and actors staged Sandy Hook. Jones’ audience has expanded immensely thanks to the Trump spotlight. Here is him last night mad that Wikileaks’ Julian Assange did not leak documents damaging Hillary Clinton as Assange hinted he would do:
Here's Alex Jones freaking out on Julian Assange https://t.co/zx6jSidGwp
10.11pm BST
22:11
White Stripes 'disgusted' by use of song in Trump video
The White Stripes, who broke up in 2011, have issued a statement of repulsion that the song Seven Nation Army was used in a Trump booster video – not a Trump campaign official video, it appears, but a video made by an outside fan group identified in at least one place as Downstream Politics (the video was taken down from the Trump subreddit site and elsewhere).
pic.twitter.com/k4n61xdXhz
9.48pm BST
21:48
What kind of dad are these two men? The Hill’s Reid Wilson has an answer:
Tim Kaine strikes me as the dad who brings you orange slices when you’re a few years too old for orange slices. (1/2)
Mike Pence strikes me as the dad who begins uncomfortable talks about sex or drugs by saying “Let’s rap.” (2/2)
9.46pm BST
21:46
Vice president Joe Biden’s advice for the debaters tonight seems to be, “drop out if you’re Mike Pence”.
What’s Kaine supposed to do with that?
Debate advice from @VP Joe Biden, via pool pic.twitter.com/gpLjLMueMk
8.16pm BST
8.16pm BST
20:16
20:16
Gary Johnson’s presidential campaign has announced that television host Drew Carey has joined the campaign as an honorary campaign chair for the state of California.
Gary Johnson’s presidential campaign has announced that television host Drew Carey has joined the campaign as an honorary campaign chair for the state of California.
“I couldn’t be more honored,” Johnson said in a statement. “Drew’s support means a great deal to Bill Weld and me, and his willingness to take such a prominent leadership role is extremely gratifying. His voice reaches millions of Americans across all ages and political persuasions. I look forward to joining Drew on the campaign trail in California and beyond.”
“I couldn’t be more honored,” Johnson said in a statement. “Drew’s support means a great deal to Bill Weld and me, and his willingness to take such a prominent leadership role is extremely gratifying. His voice reaches millions of Americans across all ages and political persuasions. I look forward to joining Drew on the campaign trail in California and beyond.”
“Getting behind Gary Johnson was an easy choice,” said Carey. “Gary Johnson is reasonable. He’s a real person. He’s a pragmatic problem-solver who knows how to govern.”
“Getting behind Gary Johnson was an easy choice,” said Carey. “Gary Johnson is reasonable. He’s a real person. He’s a pragmatic problem-solver who knows how to govern.”
“I’m happy to join Gary Johnson and to campaign for a candidate, here in California and across America, who doesn’t want your money to be wasted or want your children put at risk in a needless war.”
“I’m happy to join Gary Johnson and to campaign for a candidate, here in California and across America, who doesn’t want your money to be wasted or want your children put at risk in a needless war.”
7.57pm BST
7.57pm BST
19:57
19:57
Gary Johnson: Ignorance is an asset
Gary Johnson: Ignorance is an asset
No words:
No words:
7.26pm BST
7.26pm BST
19:26
19:26
Alex Jones has promised a game-changing leak of information on Hillary Clinton’s campaign tomorrow - clearly, he’s up to something.
Alex Jones has promised a game-changing leak of information on Hillary Clinton’s campaign tomorrow - clearly, he’s up to something.
There's a war on for your mind and https://t.co/q3XYgIsba1 is the 21st century cavalry! pic.twitter.com/O90PwBzwA2
There's a war on for your mind and https://t.co/q3XYgIsba1 is the 21st century cavalry! pic.twitter.com/O90PwBzwA2
6.41pm BST
6.41pm BST
18:41
18:41
Vice president Joe Biden crashed a college party today, starring in a public service announcement about preventing sexual assault on university campuses.
Vice president Joe Biden crashed a college party today, starring in a public service announcement about preventing sexual assault on university campuses.
Alongside actor Adam Devine, the vice president poses as a college student - complete with aviator glasses - before cutting the music and teaching college kids about consent.
Alongside actor Adam Devine, the vice president poses as a college student - complete with aviator glasses - before cutting the music and teaching college kids about consent.
“So, like, if you see a buddy and he’s talking to someone who’s too drunk to consent, you tell that buddy, like, ‘Yo, buddy, chill!’” Devine announces. “And then you make sure that drunk person gets home safe, right?”
“So, like, if you see a buddy and he’s talking to someone who’s too drunk to consent, you tell that buddy, like, ‘Yo, buddy, chill!’” Devine announces. “And then you make sure that drunk person gets home safe, right?”
“Exactly. You’ve got this,” Biden replies. “It’s easy to make a difference this school year.”
“Exactly. You’ve got this,” Biden replies. “It’s easy to make a difference this school year.”
Updated
Updated
at 6.55pm BST
at 6.55pm BST
6.20pm BST
6.20pm BST
18:20
18:20
Sam Thielman
Sam Thielman
It’s turning out to be an awful week for Donald Trump. The Republican nominee for president is worth some $800m less this year than he was last year, according to the Forbes 400, an annual ranking of the world’s wealthiest people.
It’s turning out to be an awful week for Donald Trump. The Republican nominee for president is worth some $800m less this year than he was last year, according to the Forbes 400, an annual ranking of the world’s wealthiest people.
Trump’s net worth fell from $4.5bn to $3.7bn between the 2015 and 2016 ranking. He is now tied for 156th place in the magazine’s annual wealth competition with fellow real estate developers Jerry Speyer and Igor Olenicoff, FedEx founder Frederick Smith, and Steven Spielberg, who saw his own net worth rise by about $100m. Trump is down 35 places from 2015.
Trump’s net worth fell from $4.5bn to $3.7bn between the 2015 and 2016 ranking. He is now tied for 156th place in the magazine’s annual wealth competition with fellow real estate developers Jerry Speyer and Igor Olenicoff, FedEx founder Frederick Smith, and Steven Spielberg, who saw his own net worth rise by about $100m. Trump is down 35 places from 2015.
His fall came as the rich got even richer. The country’s 400 richest were worth $2.4tn this year and had an average net worth of $6bn, both record highs. For the23rd straight year, the wealthiest person on the list was Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Gates gained $5bn in the last year – his net worth has increased from $76bn to $81bn.
His fall came as the rich got even richer. The country’s 400 richest were worth $2.4tn this year and had an average net worth of $6bn, both record highs. For the23rd straight year, the wealthiest person on the list was Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Gates gained $5bn in the last year – his net worth has increased from $76bn to $81bn.
Trump’s net worth has been a subject of much debate over the course of his presidential campaign, as his steadfast refusal to release his tax returns has kept most details of his financial dealings out of the public eye. The New York Times revealed last week that Trump had declared a $916m loss on his 1995 state tax returns; the partial returns provided to the Times by an anonymous source are the largest single disclosure of Trump’s financial dealings.
Trump’s net worth has been a subject of much debate over the course of his presidential campaign, as his steadfast refusal to release his tax returns has kept most details of his financial dealings out of the public eye. The New York Times revealed last week that Trump had declared a $916m loss on his 1995 state tax returns; the partial returns provided to the Times by an anonymous source are the largest single disclosure of Trump’s financial dealings.
Fortune’s research into Trump’s wealth has the advantage of 35 years of research on the man – the first time Forbes published an estimate of Trump’s wealth was on its first-ever Forbes 400 in 1982, when he was worth a mere $100m. Nowadays, young Trump wouldn’t even make the list – the poorest person on the 400 is car dealership magnate Gail Miller, with $1.7bn. Even adjusted for inflation, Trump’s $100m in 1982 is “only” $249m.
Fortune’s research into Trump’s wealth has the advantage of 35 years of research on the man – the first time Forbes published an estimate of Trump’s wealth was on its first-ever Forbes 400 in 1982, when he was worth a mere $100m. Nowadays, young Trump wouldn’t even make the list – the poorest person on the 400 is car dealership magnate Gail Miller, with $1.7bn. Even adjusted for inflation, Trump’s $100m in 1982 is “only” $249m.
5.38pm BST
5.38pm BST
17:38
17:38
Hillary Clinton campaigns in Haverford, Pennsylvania
Hillary Clinton campaigns in Haverford, Pennsylvania
Watch it live here:
Watch it live here:
5.28pm BST
17:28
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) looks like he’s getting ready for a future campaign run, speaking at the Iowa GOP’s Annual Reagan Dinner this Saturday night before the debate.
Cotton has been a hesitant Trump supporter. Cotton is pro NATO and thinks the Iraq War is just, he completed combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as a platoon leader at Arlington National Cemetery, where he ran military honors funerals. He’s seen as a rising star of the GOP.
5.00pm BST
17:00
Bernie Sanders is busy campaigning for Hillary Clinton with a packed schedule on Thursday, thanks to rallies in Dearborn, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and Grand Rapids.
The first of the four events on Thursday begins in Dearborn, a predominantly Arab-Muslim community just outside of Detroit, won by Sanders in the primaries.
But someone might need to remind President Bill Clinton that Sanders is a friend now.
Protesters shouting abt criminal justice reform, Bill replies: "Hillary didn't vote for the 94 crime bill even though Sen. Sanders did."
Updated
at 5.08pm BST
4.40pm BST
16:40
Filings suggest Trump Foundation helped fund 2016 run
Donald Trump used his foundation to donate at least $286,000 to conservative political groups to fuel his presidential run, according to an investigation by RealClearPolitics.
RealClearPolitics reviewed the foundation’s tax filings and say they found donations by Trump’s foundation from 2011-2014, totaling at least $286,000, that helped Trump secure speeches and endorsements as part of his campaign to become the Republican nominee.
President of the Palmetto Family Council, Oran Smith, said after he met with Trump to speak about conservative politics and the chance of a presidential run, Trump sent him a $10,000 check for Palmetto from the Trump Foundation.
RealClearPolitics explains how Trump donated money to specific organizations:
Although sources familiar with the thinking behind the donations cautioned that Trump did not explicitly ask for favors in return for the money, they said the contributions were part of a deliberate effort by Trump to ingratiate himself with influential conservatives and brighten his political prospects.
“He was politically active starting in 2011,” said one source with ties to Trump, and at that point he “started to make strategic donations.”
The lion’s share of those donations came from Trump’s personal funds and went straight to political campaigns or parties. But others, in particular those directed to the nonprofit arms of conservative policy groups, originated with Trump’s foundation.
“If he could do 501(c)(3) to 501(c)(3), he did it that way,” said the source, using the tax code designation for nonprofit organizations.
Yesterday to New York Attorney General placed a cease-and-desist on the Trump Foundation soliciting money in New York as part of an investigation into the Trump Foundation.
4.22pm BST
16:22
Eric Trump tried to spin his father’s 3am insulting tweets about Alicia Machado in an interview with Fox News today by saying it showed “he’s a worker” but did note that sometimes Trump’s energy can be a “downfall.”
“Listen, at least my father’s up at 3 o’clock in the morning, right? Which, you know, is great,” said Trump in an interview with FOX News Channel’s America’s Newsroom .
“Maybe that energy is sometimes a little bit of a downfall of his, but he’s an amazing guy and he’ll be there to answer the call, you know, when things go bad,” said Trump.
“The one thing I’ll say about my father is he works harder than any human being alive. He is a worker. He has worked tirelessly on this campaign, he has worked tirelessly his entire career and he’ll work tirelessly for America,” said Trump.
4.17pm BST
16:17
Former Florida Governor Charlie Christ is running for Congress, and his new ad is one of the most charming political ad we’ve seen in a while. It even addresses his well-documented love for fans, to stop him sweating in the Florida humidity.
3.26pm BST
15:26
Republican Senator says Trump 'absolutely' a role model, before recanting
It ain’t easy being a Republican these days.
New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte, a Donald Trump sceptic, yesterday said her party’s presidential nominee was “absolutely” a role model for children - and then later flipped and claimed that she “misspoke”.
Ayotte is busy trying to fight for re-election, but is in a complicated spot where she hasn’t endorsed Trump and doesn’t support him but says she will vote for him.
But during a debate as part of the contest for her seat last night, she was asked if she believed Trump was a good example for children: “Would you point to him as a role model?”
She seemed uncertain.
“I think that certainly there are many role models that we have, and I believe he can serve as president, so absolutely I would do that,” said Ayotte.
“If you think he can serve as president, why won’t you endorse him?” asked a moderator.
“Because I’ve had some disagreements with him,” she replied.
Immediately after the debate, she issued a statement.
“I misspoke tonight. While I would hope all of our children would aspire to be president, neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton have set a good example and I wouldn’t hold up either of them as role models for my kids,” she said.At the weekend Ayotte had struck a more moderate tone, giving away free condoms on the campaign trail to push her plan on birth control. The poster at the event claimed to “Use Condom Sense!”
Ayotte is in a close race with Democratic governor Maggie Hassan, who was endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Emily’s List and NARAL. While it’s unusual for a Republican to favor contraception, Ayotte is certainly attempting to appeal to women by pivoting from traditional party platforms.
Updated
at 3.54pm BST
3.16pm BST
15:16
The VP debate takes place at Longwood University in Virginia tonight and the marching band is already warming up.
Hey we've got a band! The VP debate is a blast #nbc2016 #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/KlsIuC3TSF
3.10pm BST
15:10
Jamie Weinstein
Columnist Jamie Weinstein says the biggest issue in tonight’s VP debate might be Donald Trump.
If you viewed the presidential debate as a bloody mixed martial arts cage match, the vice-presidential debate is more likely to be akin to a game of patty cakes.
When Tim Kaine and Mike Pence square off in rural Virginia on Tuesday night, many Americans will probably come away feeling like they did after the 2000 vice-presidential debate between Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman: can’t theseguys be at the top of their respective tickets?
Kaine and Pence are both fairly mild-mannered politicos with a deep interest in and knowledge of policy. Even as partisans view Pence and Kaine with disdain for their positions on various social and economic issues, many voters still see them both as more personally appealing than Clinton and Trump, which is empirically the lowest bar in modern presidential campaign history.
But just because the VP debate is likely to be more of a wonkfest than a rhetorical slugfest doesn’t mean there isn’t a potential for fireworks. There is – though mainly at the expense of Mike Pence.
Pence took a risk when he joined the Republican ticket. The Indiana governor tied his political fortunes to an erratic, orange-haired huckster. The upside was he got an escape from a competitive re-election race and, if Trump wins, would be one heartbeat away from the presidency. The downside is that his political career will forever be marred by his connection to a guy who goes around claiming his political rival’s father may have been an accomplice in the JFK assassination.
Pence has been forced to defend some pretty un-Pence-like statements during his time connected with Trump, such as Trump’s half-decade-long birther crusade. But nothing will compare to what Pence might get on the debate stage on Tuesday.
Read the rest here.
2.40pm BST
14:40
Emotional Biden slams Trump over veteran PTSD comments
A furious Joe Biden slammed the podium and called Donald Trump “uninformed” for his comments regarding veteran suicide and strength, getting emotional as he spoke of the toll of military deaths on the community and Trump’s misunderstanding of the issues.
“I don’t think he was trying to be mean. He is just so thoroughly, completely, uniformed,” declared Biden.
His anger sprung from Trump’s comments to a veterans group in Virginia yesterday.
“They see maybe what people in this room have seen many times over, and you’re strong and can handle it, but a lot of people can’t handle it,” said Trump.
Many in the military community viewed it as calling those suffering PTSD as not “strong.”
Biden’s response was passionate and emotional, mentioning his own son Beau Biden, a decorated officer who died last year from brain cancer.
He also recounted how on one of his 29 visits to Iraq and Afghanistan a young heroic captain tried to refuse his medal because the person he’d tried to save from a burning truck died.
“Sir, I don’t want the medal,” he said, the vice-president recalled.
“How many night does that kid go to sleep, seeing that image in his head, dealing with it,” roared Biden.
Biden said that every day his staff contact the Department of Defense and gets updated figures on military deaths and injuries. He quoted the death toll of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as 6753, slamming his hand against the podium while he said the number.
“Cause every one of those warriors left behind an entire family, a community, for us. Every one of them,” he declared, noting the 52,490 wounded military officers and the unseen wounds that result in 20 suicides a month in returned veterans.
“We only have one sacred obligation: to care for those we send to war and oto care for them and their families when they come home... That’s the only sacred, sacred, obligation we have,” said Biden.
1.33pm BST
13:33
Hello, and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House.
VP debate night
Tonight vice-presidential hopefuls Tim Kaine and Mike Pence will go head to head in the first and only vice-presidential debate.
Rarely have two running mates been so overshadowed by the candidates at the top of the ticket, writes David Smith in his debate preview. Can’t quite remember who they are? Check out our debate primer.
WikiLeaked nothing yet
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, promised a “significant” leak of documents before the upcoming US election – but so far he has still given no detail on what this #octobersurprise might be.
“We are going to need an army to defend us from the pressure that is already starting to arise,” said Assange at a early-morning video-link press conference from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been taking refuge from a Swedish extradition request since 2012.
In August Assange promised to release documents relating to Hillary Clinton.
Polls polls polls
A trio of new polls are out, all showing a lead for Clinton. A NBC News/SurveyMonkey online poll shows the Democratic candidate up six points, the same as last week. A CBS News poll, the first since the presidential debate last week, shows her up four points, 45-41. Before the debate she and Donald Trump had been tied at 42.
A new CNN/ORC poll has Clinton with a five-point lead over Trump, 47-42. The post-debate boost comes from men and independents – and even includes a bump from white people without college degrees, which is Trump’s base, says CNN.
The Real Clear Politics polling average has Clinton ahead by 3.8 points in a two-way race, and four points in a four-way race. That would give her a solid 205 electoral votes in the bag, with Trump winning 165, and 168 to play for. A total of 270 is needed to win.
Pollster Will Jordan from YouGov is noticing a new polling trend:
SIX polls in the field between Thursday and Sunday. ALL of them have Clinton leading by 5-7 points in a head-to-head. pic.twitter.com/rJUBi8EVU0
Events today
Clinton will campaign in Harrisburg, PA, with daughter Chelsea and actress Elizabeth Banks at midday ET. Reporter Dan Roberts will be there. Husband Bill is on his bus tour across eastern Ohio and the Mahoning Valley, Bernie Sanders will campaign for her in Minneapolis and Duluth and the first lady, Michelle Obama, will stump for Clinton in Charlotte and Raleigh.
Trump is hosting a 2pm rally in Prescott Valley, AZ.
Thanks for reading and please join us in the comments.
