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| Tim Kaine and Mike Pence to face off in vice-presidential debate – campaign live | Tim Kaine and Mike Pence to face off in vice-presidential debate – campaign live |
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| 4.40pm BST | |
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| 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. | |
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| 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 | 4.17pm BST |
| 16:17 | 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. | 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 | 3.26pm BST |
| 15:26 | 15:26 |
| Republican Senator says Trump 'absolutely' a role model, before recanting | Republican Senator says Trump 'absolutely' a role model, before recanting |
| It ain’t easy being a Republican these days. | 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”. | 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. | 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?” | 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. | 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. | “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. | “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. | “Because I’ve had some disagreements with him,” she replied. |
| Immediately after the debate, she issued a statement. | 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!” | “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. | 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 | Updated |
| at 3.54pm BST | at 3.54pm BST |
| 3.16pm BST | 3.16pm BST |
| 15:16 | 15:16 |
| The VP debate takes place at Longwood University in Virginia tonight and the marching band is already warming up. | 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 | Hey we've got a band! The VP debate is a blast #nbc2016 #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/KlsIuC3TSF |
| 3.10pm BST | 3.10pm BST |
| 15:10 | 15:10 |
| Jamie Weinstein | Jamie Weinstein |
| Columnist Jamie Weinstein says the biggest issue in tonight’s VP debate might be Donald Trump. | 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. | 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? | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | Read the rest here. |
| 2.40pm BST | 2.40pm BST |
| 14:40 | 14:40 |
| Emotional Biden slams Trump over veteran PTSD comments | 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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | “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.” | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. | “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. | 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. | “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. | “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 | 1.33pm BST |
| 13:33 | 13:33 |
| Hello, and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. | Hello, and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. |
| VP debate night | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | “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. | In August Assange promised to release documents relating to Hillary Clinton. |
| Polls polls polls | 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 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. | 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. | 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: | 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 | 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 | 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. | 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. | Trump is hosting a 2pm rally in Prescott Valley, AZ. |
| Thanks for reading and please join us in the comments. | Thanks for reading and please join us in the comments. |