Now: Trump and Obama Hold Dueling Rallies

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1:02Out front next in this special edition countdown to election day, Trump versus Obama. The two titans holding dueling rallies at this hour as a new poll suddenly shows a tied race for a Senate seat that Republicans cannot afford to lose. And a special report, MAGA voters telling CNN why they think all the polls are off and the election is rigged. The conspiracy theory is taking a life of their own. And sounding off, two top Republicans not afraid to speak out against Trump and their own party. They're here with us tonight. Let's go out front.

1:45And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett. Out front tonight, the breaking news, the ultimate split screen in politics. President Trump and former President Obama dueling rallies this hour. The current president is in Ohio, the former in Georgia, where over the past few days, President Obama has been hammering President Trump when it comes to corruption and Trump's vanity projects. After two years of chaos and cruelty and corruption and incompetence, the likes of which we have not seen in modern times, you get a chance to say enough's enough. We have never seen a president excel so wildly and just straight up grifting on your dime.

2:36Never seen a president so intent on selling favors. Selling favors, the former president's word striking it's something that Americans care deeply about, corruption. It is one of the top, if not the top issue in many polls for many voters. According to the latest Fox News poll, 88 % of people say they are extremely or very concerned about corruption. And many of those voters may have already cast their ballot. Early voting is at record highs in many parts across the country. And in Ohio, where the president is making his third visit this election season tonight, the state's on track to shatter its early voting record.

3:14By the way, Trump won Ohio by 11 points last election. But the world has changed. And Trump's handpicked candidates are struggling there right now, like Vivek Ramaswani, who ran that despicable ad backing the estranged mother of his opponent, Amy Acton. Her mother fled the state of Ohio with her husband after he was indicted by a grand jury for sexually abusing Acton when she was younger than 12 years old. An ad so damaging, it may also hurt other Republicans in Ohio like John Husted, who is trailing well-known Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio polls. because it was Trump who doubled, then tripled, then quadrupled down, saying what an amazing ad that was.

3:50And now another image has voters' attention, an image that's making headlines across the country. We'll show you this one. Trump's ally, a man on the run fearing arrest. Take a look there. Behind that umbrella is the losing candidate for president of Brazil, given safe harbor from the law by President Trump. Intervention by the president of the United States in the case of one single person. That's Flavio Bolsonaro, a MAGA ally arriving in Florida, hiding behind the umbrellas. A man who just fled his country, despite the country's Supreme Court ordering him to hand over his passport. A man who is allowed into the United States because of one man's order to give him safe harbor.

4:28Donald J. Trump, who on his way to Ohio tonight, said this, quote. I know that we gave him a pass to come into the country, so we'll see. Bolsonaro fleeing his country after calling the election rigged. In a news statement tonight, writing, on Sunday night, I watched in horror as electoral fraud unfolded before my eyes. Electoral fraud. Now you get some of the connection, right? That is the statement straight out of Trump's playbook. In fact, Trump also called Bolsonaro's election rigged. Now, you called it rigged because Bolsonaro lost. Now, what Trump and Bolsonaro fail to mention is that Bolsonaro is under investigation for corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, accused of pocketing millions of dollars from a disgraced banker to finance a movie about his father.

5:15His father, the former president, who's actually in prison in Brazil for leading a coup attempt, among other things. Well, that's a rap sheet. So then what does Trump say about Brazil's former president? A very outstanding man. President Bolsonaro is a good man. They're treating President Bolsonaro very unfairly. Well, if that's outstanding, hard to imagine what's better than that. When it comes to the midterms, which are just five days away now, a report by the New York Times, though, is putting wind in Trump's sail on election fraud. The report reveals that in Alaska Senate race, Democrats recruited another Dan Sullivan to the ballot, hoping that voters would confuse him with the incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan.

5:57Fine, maybe it's legal, but it could effectively siphon votes from the Republican candidate in Alaska. It's a battleground race. And tonight, Trump is calling for the Democratic candidate, Mary Peltola, to drop out of the race and face prosecution. Betsy Kline is out front to begin our coverage. She's in Ohio. President Trump is about to speak. And Betsy, Trump is sharing the stage tonight with Vivek Ramaswamy. They, of course, supported each other on that despicable ad. So what are you hearing there? Well, yeah, Erin, this is President Trump's third rally in Ohio this month, and it's the first one since Vivek Ramaswamy put out that controversial ad featuring Amy Acton, his Democratic opponent's estranged mother.

6:38Now, even as many Republicans, including this state's governor, Mike DeWine, have condemned that ad, President Trump is showing no signs of contrition. He's actually even brought it up unprompted at campaign rallies in other states. And in fact, he has said that he encouraged Ramaswamy specifically to double down on that. Of course, Ramaswamy is here on site. He spoke a short while ago. And we're going to be watching closely to see whether it comes up again. But Ohio is a state that has shifted in the time that Trump has entered the political arena from a swingy battleground state to a reliable Republican stronghold.

7:17We are currently in a county that the president won by 39 points just two years ago. But now it is the site of competitive gubernatorial and Senate races. Senator John Husted, who's also in a very tight race, also here tonight. Here in Ohio, the early vote is up 36 percent compared to this point in 2022, according to CNN's most recent data. And the voters that I have spoke to, many of them have already early voted. The rest of them say they do plan to vote on Election Day. Most of them voting straight ticket, but just a couple of them say they're undecided. They point to economic issues like taxes, jobs, as well as data centers.

7:58And I talked with one elected Republican official who said that he writes to President Trump weekly, asking him the question, how are you putting America first, Erin? All right, Betsy, thank you very much. in Ohio, where, as I said, President Trump hosting a rally this hour, and Barack Obama will be hosting one as well at the exact same time. Everyone's here with me. Stephanie, let me just start with you. So you've got this, as I said, political split screen, an incredible one. And it's actually interesting because when we heard the time of the rallies today, it had seemed that it was possible that Obama might be speaking before Trump.

8:34But it may surprise nobody that they're actually going to speak at the exact same time. And that's probably purposeful, at least on the part of Obama. How much does something like that matter with Trump, you know, that he and Obama are competing? Oh, it matters a lot. Like, look, at the end of the day, there's one thing Donald Trump is really good at, and it's performing. And he knows TV. And he knows that Obama, love him or hate him, he knows that Obama is very good at messaging and being casual and being funny. And there's no way, I mean, I was even watching the split scene just at the start of the show.

9:04You had somebody singing, lights were going, that looked like a fun party that Obama was going to be speaking at. And then you had Trump with his normal red hats kind of standing there, you know, behind him. And he knows that his jokes about behinds are not really, they're falling flat. Pardon the pun. The fact that he's talking about men's butts. I mean, let's just be on every rally. He's talking about men's butts. I'll just say this, having worked and been with the Trumps for six years, on the way home from Ohio, I guarantee you the staff will be in the office on Air Force One having to watch the cuts of Obama.

9:35And he's not going to be happy. I mean, sure, Michael, That's that's he does care about that. And as I said, I'm sure Barack Obama is very aware of the time that he's going on. Yeah, look, the dueling optics, I think, are important. And in one vein, you have Obama who's out there trying to turn out the Democratic base, particularly African-Americans in places like Michigan, etc. I think he'll probably be a lot of reports. Be very effective, I think, in some regards there. But then you have Trump, who's testing a very interesting theory of trying to turn out his low propensity voters. Now, these are voters who we have seen in a series of elections over the past couple of years now.

10:08They typically don't turn out in high numbers when the president isn't on the ballot. I don't want to forget you here, Wendy, so excuse me. They typically don't turn out. So the objective here is to test this hypothesis. Can the president encourage us 2 % to 3 % of those folks to turn out in these very, very tight Senate races where that 2 % to 3 % could make a mathematical difference when the election is within the margin of errors, meaning three points ahead or three points behind? We'll see if this theory pans out. So I'm curious, Wendy, who do you think is going to be more effective at that?

10:36Because Obama has not been that present. You know, he's appeared a couple times, but this kind of we're seeing him every day is really just in this last stretch. So when it comes to who's going to be more effective in those neck and neck races, is it Obama or Trump, what appearance is like tonight? I mean, I think President Obama reminds people of a time when things worked. We delivered health care to millions of people around this country. And Trump, we're welcoming him to Texas. We love it when he comes because we see a dip in the polls every single time he's there. He reminds people of what's at stake.

11:11He reminds people of the corruption in his government, which, of course, President Obama is speaking about so articulately, and that he is completely ignoring the problems that they're facing in their everyday lives. He's talking about John Husted's ass and not talking about the cost of gas, the war in Iran, the tariffs, the things that have made people's lives so painful. And so I think the closing argument of a President Obama versus a President Trump is going to have a much better impact. Such a weird thing that we're sitting here talking about what she just said, what we just said. I mean, that he gets on the stage and he talks about men's derrieres.

11:52Let's use the third synonym. But, Paul, you know, Obama has been talking about corruption. He's appearing with John Ossoff tonight in Georgia, who I have been noticing over months has been going into great detail on corruption in a way that many would have thought you couldn't do at a rally. He's done it. He's ahead in the polls. We'll see if it actually works. But on that same night, they expect to hear more of that, more detail from Obama, from Ossoff. You have Flavio Bolsonaro claiming a rigged election under investigation for all sorts of financial corruption and crimes given safe harbor in the United States.

12:24by President Trump, right? He's admitted, I gave this guy the pass to come here. Yeah, and it's all a battle ultimately in these final days for independence. In Ohio, 37 % of voters are independents, and now it's become the choose-your-fighter moment, right? You've got Obama on one side and Trump on the other. And Obama's funny. I mean, he's charismatic. He's good at this. He's the most, I think, the most dynamic communicator of our time. And he's landing, and he's also just more popular. He's in the 50%, I think, range on approval. Trump's down around 30. So this is advantage to Obama, especially when it talks about integrity.

12:58We talk about ethics. And corruption is the winning issue, whether it's a Republican, a Democrat, or an independent. This is what worked in Hungary. It's what's working here. I think it'll work in Israel. People are ticked off about everything. But most of all, when folks are getting rich and they're getting screwed, that's the feeling across all parties. And if you can square that circle most effectively with Obama more than any other Democrat, I think you're going to move independence. The question for Democrats is, what have you been sitting on him for so long? I mean, where has he been? With Obama, that's what I'm saying.

13:25He has not been. He's like Captain America from the Avengers, but he's been on the sideline for the last couple of months. And they're pulling him out in the final hours. But they would have been further along if they had brought him out earlier, I think. Yeah, Stephanie. And Stephanie, what do you think? I mean, are there people for whom something like Flavio Bolsonaro, just like another reminder? Independence, right? When you talk about people in this final decision or maybe moderate Republicans that are really struggling with, it's one thing to sit this one out or not check that line. And it's a very different one to check a Democrat.

13:53in a state like Ohio or Texas or Kansas. Well, yeah, again, I mean, you know, he's worried about letting this Bolsonaro come into our country when, again, I mean, I live in ruby red Kansas right now. I live in the most rural Kansas you guys can imagine. And farmers are truly struggling right now and wondering, hey, am I going to be able to plant for the spring? And if I can't plant for the spring, I can't harvest then. And if I can't harvest, what am I going to do? And he's worrying about letting Bolsonaro come into the country. So, yeah, I think that this is something that will impact more independence.

14:24I think the Republicans are going to still stay with their ticket. Farmers that you know, are any of them going to go Democrat? Yeah. Actually, I've talked to a few who have said, you know, I have voted for him three times, for Trump three times now, but he's got to go. You know, and I still am a Republican. I love Jerry Moran. He's a senator in Kansas. I love that guy. I would never vote against him, but I think that Adam Hamilton, I think he'll do a great job. He's done a great race. He's really running it right down the center. And there have been other Republicans that I've heard from that will do that in Kansas.

14:55It's been amazing to be on the ground and to see some of these things. And to see some of that actually happening. Absolutely. And yet, Shermichael, in the midst of this, we have this Alaska situation where, you know, the New York Times reports, there's all these texts showing that the Democrats had talked about finding someone with the same name as the Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan to run against Dan Sullivan, purposely to sow confusion. Oh, Which apparently is, this is the worst part about it. Apparently this happens. Apparently this is how Democrats and Republicans all over do things, which I think everybody can agree is pretty distasteful, to say the least.

15:31But it gives a lot of wind in Trump's sails when he filed the lawsuit to block the results if Dan Sullivan doesn't win. It may also, look, I used to be an opposition researcher, so I'm used to some level of dirty tricks. But this was a bit surprising to me, this close to the election, to not presume that this would ultimately come out. Now, the Democrat appears to have been running rather competitively in Alaska. Some Republicans were even concerned that maybe we could even lose that seat. I think that may be reversed now. Whatever voter apathy that may have started to creep in with Republicans, I think they're energized now.

16:03I think to your point about some of those independents who may have been looking at maybe voting Democrat and said, but wait a minute here, why couldn't you just win on the merits of your case? Why did you have to try to deceive me or confuse me that you were the better candidate over the Republican? may suddenly say, you know, maybe I'll vote for that Republican after all. So I think this race is far more competitive than it was just 48 hours ago because of this reporting from The New York Times. What do you think, Wendy? I don't know. I mean, Lisa Murkowski has come out against Donald Trump's ploy here.

16:34And to me, it reads more like what we would expect of him, which is the, you know, idea that the election will be rigged, that it's going to be stolen. He's starting that narrative all over again. And it feels as though, I don't know, I don't live in Alaska, but I would be thinking about that as, oh, my gosh, here we go again. More of the same. Can we just talk about solutions for the problems that we're having in our lives? He's telegraphed this punch. He said he's going to attack the election. He said that out in the open. He wants to undermine free and fair elections because he knows it's the only check on his power.

17:13He knows if the Democrats take power, they're going to slow him down. They're going to jam him up. And he sees that as the most immediate threat to his power. So I think he's going to go in all that. But I do think there's something else here in Alaska. This is why people are sick of all of it. It's why they're sick of the Republicans and the Democrats. And if anyone's honest with themselves, nobody's saying, oh, this is good. I mean, come on. And they're not always willing to jump from one party to the other. And this is the white space that independent candidates are filling right now. Like Dan Osborne in Nebraska, Todd Achilles in Idaho.

17:42in Idaho, Brian Bangs in South Dakota, Seth Bodner in Montana. They're providing an off-ramp for Democrats or Republicans who want an alternative without going all the way. And that's where 45 % of the country is. And these independent candidates especially are surging and competing against incumbents. All right. All of you stay with me. You're going to be with us here through the hour. Next, the conspiracy theories that are running wild. MAGA voters are telling CNN why they believe that the polls are all wrong. Now, who's running the polls? You can make polls say anything you want. It depends on who you're polling.

18:17And there is a surprising new poll in South Carolina. It's surprising because it shows a dead heat for a Senate seat that would certainly not have been in contest. I guess it maybe comes down to who Trump backed on the Republican side again. The Democrats actually pull off a win. Harry Enten tells us something we don't know. And Trump, not the only Republican man who is talking about certain aspects of the male physique on the campaign trail. Set bump. Stand by your brake, Master. In five, four, three, two, one. Effect. Thank you. Sign up for your$1 per month trial at shopify.com slash special offer.

19:27This holiday, all plans, even unlimited, are just$15 a month. A holiday deal this good obviously deserves an enormously expensive holiday song, like All I Want. Right. Okay, we can afford that. You know what? Forget the music budget. We're going to stick with whatever's in the public domain. Give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three months,$90 for six months, or$180 for a 12-month plan required,$15 per month equivalent, taxes and fees extra. New customer offer for initial plan term only. Greater than 50 gigabytes may slow when network is busy. See terms.

20:03And welcome back to a special edition of Outfront, the countdown to election night. And the breaking news now, House Speaker Mike Johnson is campaigning in Ohio, telling Republicans not to believe what they're hearing in the polls. Republicans don't trust pollsters anymore. We don't want to give our information to somebody on the phone. We don't know how they're going to use it, weaponize it against us. The polls are saying we're going to lose. The polls are wrong. Johnson, along with many Trump allies, is obviously worried about losing the GOP slim House majority. Johnson's a rational person.

20:35He knows that that is a very real risk. So enter the conspiracy theories. Donio Sullivan is out front.

20:45The polling showing that the Senate race is pretty close here. Yeah, but who's running the polls? You can make polls say anything you want. It depends on who you're polling. President Trump has been on a mad dash across the country, campaigning even in traditionally Republican strongholds like here in Kansas. The fake news media is trying to demoralize Republican voters with bad journalism and rigged polls. Kansas hasn't elected a Democratic US Senator in almost a century. Well, they say he didn't win, but we knew he did. But the president has rallied here and in other deep red states like Texas, as polls show razor-thin races for Republican-held states.

21:28I think a lot of polls are kind of disqueued in one direction. The midterms are almost always challenging for the party in power, but the president and his allies are trying to convince their supporters that Republicans' positions in the polls is part of a grand conspiracy. I believe there's a concerted effort between the Democrats and mainstream media. Opinion polls are not meant to be predictive, but rather a snapshot of where racists stand at a given moment. This year, there were several Senate battlegrounds where polls show no clear leader in the final stretch of the midterms. But despite this, I think it's fake polls.

22:07Trump and MAGA media repeat the basis claims ad nauseum. These polls are designed to trick you and say that there's no reason to vote at all. All is lost. And it's filtering through to the mega base. It's going to be a pretty close Senate race here based off the polls race. Right. I don't think so. I don't believe the reports. So you think it's possible the Republicans could maybe keep the House and the Senate? I think they're going to. You think so? I think so. I think so, because as far as, the farther away from election day, the polls are wider. And now as it comes closer, they tend to tighten up.

22:45And now a lot of them are within the margin of error that were all there 10 to 12 point leads. So what they're doing is they're admitting the fact that they tried skewing it and they don't want to look like idiots. Part of the purpose of the president's and MAGA media's attacks on polling is to prime their base to question Democratic Party victories next week. And all you idiots promoting that Texas is going blue, Texas is going blue. The conspiracy theory spelled out most succinctly by former 60 Minutes correspondent turned election denier, Lara Logan. No, it is not going blue. That is a shaping operation in information warfare that is designed to make you believe the cheat.

23:28So that when this deal happens, you don't look at it and say, these people are insane. You say, oh, well, you know, they said Texas was going blue, I guess. They were right. They are not right. But at the same time as the president attacks the polls and the media, he proudly touts any polls that reflect positively on him. And just before we leave, I thought we'd put up, There's a couple of charts of all groups from CNN. But even good poll numbers are a sign of conspiracy to the president. And they do them both ways. In some cases, they have me leading by so much that people aren't going to vote.

24:04And in some cases, they have me losing. You know, by the way, I'm here with Harry Anton at the Magic Wall. Harry, it's worth saying that, you know, the president says what he says about the polls. Mike Johnson says what he says. But they have their own internal way of looking at the situation. And on that, they base their actions. And their actions are where they are spending money and time. And they are doing all of that in states that they shouldn't have to. So I just think it's worth saying that. But as there's this, you know, sowing of conspiracy theories. So when you talk about the polls, there's a new one in the South Carolina Senate.

24:37Yes. That has just come out that even, I mean, the most seasoned people are shocked because this race, if Lindsey Graham were in the seat, we wouldn't we wouldn't be talking about South Carolina. So what would it look like if Democrats pulled this out? Yeah. What would it look like? I mean, my goodness gracious, this one is an earth shattering earthquake in terms of if Democrats were able to win in the great state of South Carolina. I mean, just take a look here. Annie Andrews, the Democrat that's running a Dem win in South Carolina would give Democrats about a 96 % chance of winning the United States Senate.

25:14I mean, they'd be basically all the way there. Why is that? Well, we're going to go in to the great Senate map here. And let's just say that we turn South Carolina blue. OK, that gets from Democrats from 47 to 48. Then they can go up to Maine and win a state like Maine that Kamala Harris, of course, won back in 2024. That gets into 49. Why don't we give Democrats Michigan, which, of course, Joe Biden won back in 2020 and has not elected Republican senators since Spencer Abraham all the way back in 1994. And then we'll give him Ohio as well. Sherrod Brown, of course, the longtime senator, lost in 2024, but the polling looks pretty good for him this year.

25:48And all of a sudden, you get the 51 seats. You've done it. You don't have to win in Texas. You don't have to win in Kansas. You don't have to win in Iowa. And you don't have to win in Alaska. By South Carolina going blue, it makes the map so much easier for Democrats. OK, so you talk about what is it in South Carolina? Democrats haven't won, you said, 28 years, right? I have not won a South Carolina Senate race since 1998, Fritz Hollings. And then this one, I'm not going to go like Jake Tapper, who sometimes went and touched John King's wall. You're allowed to hit it. I'm not going to touch it.

26:15You can do it. I'm not going to touch it. But that state there hasn't elected a Democrat in, what, 10 years more than South Carolina? Yeah. 38 years. Texas. That's exactly right. So let's say that we turn South Carolina back into yellow, back into a toss-up. If, in fact, then we turn Texas blue, that can also work. Getting you to 51 Senate seats with these other seats that are on the board. And I will note that right now, James Tallarico is polling historically well for a Democrat in the great state of Texas. Right. Lloyd Benson was the last Democrat to win it there back in 1988. Just look at this.

26:49Just look at this. The late October Texas Senate polling where the Democrats are. Look right now, James Tallarico is up by three. You go back to 2018. Beto O 'Rourke was down by five points. What we're seeing right now is James Tallarico is polling better than any Democrat has this late in the campaign since Lloyd Benson for United States Senate all the way back in 1900. By the way, I'll just point out when people criticize the polls, Beto did better than that on Election Day. That's exactly right. He did better than that. He only lost by two and a half. That's exactly right. That was actually twice as bad as he did.

27:18All right. Tell me something I don't know. OK. I will tell you something that you don't know, Aaron Burnett, which is you talk about polling errors, right? And you talk about polls underestimating Republicans. Well, take a look here. Which party beat poll expectations? We're looking at close Senate races since 1998. The Democrats have actually outperformed their polls more frequently than Republicans have over the long term. And they've also did so back in the 2022 midterm elections as well. Which is really important because we all tend to remember, right, some of those polling misses with Trump, right?

27:47It's important to look over time and perspective. Where do the errors happen? That's exactly right, Aaron Burnett. Harry Anton, thank you very much. And next, two top Republicans sounding off. They've got a lot to say tonight about a new ad that's urging Republicans to pass on Ken Paxson in Texas. And Ted Cruz, leaning hard into fear as he tries to help his party keep the Senate. But do his jihadist attacks go way too far?

28:23an enormously expensive holiday song, like, all I want. Right. Okay, we can't afford that. You know what? Forget the music budget. We're gonna stick with whatever's in the public domain. Give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three months, $90 for six months, or$180 for 12-month plan required. $15 per month equivalent. Taxes and fees extra. New customer offer for initial plan term only. Greater than 50 gigabytes may slow when network is busy. See terms.

28:54And welcome back to a special edition of Outfront Countdown to Election Night. Top Texas Republicans joining forces announcing they will pass on Paxton. That's the tagline of a new video just released by Tallarico's campaign. I'm a Republican. I'm a Republican. I'm a Republican. And I'm passing on Ken Paxton. And I'm passing on Ken Paxton. And I am passing on Ken Paxton. I truly believe that he is the most corrupt politician Texas has ever seen. Ken Paxton is just far too corrupt for Texas. And this comes as a Fox News poll shows that nearly 30 percent of non-MAGA Republican voters in Texas support Tallarico.

29:32Nearly 30 percent. Ken Paxton, for his part, telling Republicans today that they will lose America. Those are his words if Texas goes blue. I think Texans are going to decide this. If we don't hold on to Texas, we're going to lose America and Chuck Schumer is going to run the Senate.

29:52Out front now, two Republicans familiar to our audience who are not afraid to speak out and speak up. Dade Phelan is the Texas state representative and former House speaker in Texas. And also with me, the former Kansas Governor Bill Graves. OK, I appreciate both of you. Representative Phelan, obviously you're a Republican and you remain one. But you are also passing on Paxton. I'm curious what you think about this ad that's put out in the context of the Fox News poll that shows 30 percent of non-MAGA Republicans in Texas support Tallarico. Do you think this ad gets anybody over the finish line for Tallarico or not?

30:26I don't know if it changes hearts and minds. I think a lot of voters have made their decision at this point in time. I mean, given the amount of money that has been spent on this race and the fact is this race has been going on far longer than the typical Labor Day start. I think voters have made their mind up. I think this ad is just maybe something that the Tallarico campaign can go out there and say it's OK to do this. It's OK to skip a race or to vote for myself, Mr. Tallarico. I understand why they're running the ad. You know, there's been polls and surveys out there and models showing that the Tallarico was going to get 99 percent of Democrats for quite some time.

31:06and that Paxton was going to get somewhere around the 94 % of Republicans. That's a pretty big delta in a race like this. And that's been going on for weeks, if not months. So this is pretty steady of what we've been seeing. And that could probably translate into a couple hundred thousand votes, one way or the other, in a state as big as Texas. So post-runoff, I think the Paxton campaign could have done a much better job of reaching out to those half a million folks. Let's say there's half a million people who voted for John Cornyn in the runoff. They could have done a better job of reaching out to those voters.

31:42And I don't think they did. Yep. Governor Graves, you know, Stephanie Grisham was just saying a few moments ago, she lives in the ruby red part of Kansas that she knows some farmers near her who have said they voted for Trump three times. They are now voting for Adam Hamilton, whom you've endorsed. He's the Democrat running for Senate against the Republican incumbent Roger Marshall. And obviously this is an incredibly tight race. So there was a story that crossed my feed the other day that I thought was really interesting in the Kansas City Star. Reporter went and visited Marshall's hometown. And he said, I was struck by how few Roger Marshall signs I saw around Great Bend.

32:17And then he spoke to a homeowner who was actually a donor to Roger's campaign who said, I'm a lifelong Republican, but I just think Adam Hamilton is a much stronger leader and has the values that really represent Kansas. You know, I know, obviously, Governor, where you stand on this. But where do you think this race really is tonight? You know, Aaron, I think I think Adam Hamilton has a slight lead in this race. I just have to tell you, and this is true. You've covered so many states here. But this is true in South Carolina. It's true in Texas. It's true in Kansas. The Democrats are fielding good, viable candidates, people who are, you can tell, are committed to going to Washington and, you know, doing the heavy lifting that needs to be done.

33:04And they are running against Republicans who are just not good candidates. They're in one form or fashion. They're just not as electable as they otherwise ought to be. So I'm seeing a lot of I think the advanced voting, the speaker referred to it. I think all the numbers around the nation of, what, 38 million people have already decided what they're going to do. I believe people have made up their minds. And I think the notion of undecideds on Election Day swinging one way or the other, I think, is at least in this election a thing of the past. And I think for the most part, Republicans like myself are going to swing Democrat just because we're fed up with what's been going on in the Trump administration.

33:49And Representative Phelan, you know, Trump is in Ohio tonight and he's he's on the stump for the Republican candidate for governor, Vivek Ramaswamy. Right. He's the one who ran the ad featuring Acton's estranged mother. Now, Acton has come out with this new ad. I'll play part of it. This is a Jeep Wrangler made in Toledo. This is a Bombardier 5000. Amy Acton is campaigning in this. Vivek Ramaswamy in this. Jeep people built Ohio. Jet people like Vivek Ramaswamy fly right over it.

34:27You know, you said, Representative, that you think that Ramaswamy's ad sealed the deal in that governor's race. And, you know, you're not alone in that sentiment. Is there anything at this point Trump can do that would help him turn it around? And by the way, I will say it's important to note that Vivek Ramaswamy had actually been silent on whether he really had put that ad out himself as his campaign. until Trump came out and said how great it was. Then Vivek tripled down.

34:55Well, at this point, what Trump can do, he did in Texas yesterday. And that is he came down to South Texas and he went up to West Texas. And he's trying to get out the rural vote. And that's a smart tactic. That's a good strategy because in Texas, the rural Texans are not voting right now. And rural Texans is what saved Republicans in 2018. We had several statewide, including Mr. Paxton and Senator Cruz, who won by less than three points. And they were losing the entire night until the boxes from rural Texas started slowly coming in at the end of the night. And then they moved into the victory column and won.

35:35Right now, the urban and suburban votes are through the roof here in Texas. And what's lagging right now are the urban, I mean, probably the rural Republican votes. And they're very strong Republican votes. And so what he can do is get that base out. There's a lot of MAGA voters out there. And I'm sure the same is in Ohio. I'm sure there's a lot of rural voters in Ohio that may have not shown up yet. They only show up when he's on the ballot. So that may be a good strategy to get those voters to the polls. We shall see. You know, time is running out, especially here in Texas. Democrats are neck and neck with Republicans in early vote.

36:12when in the past three cycles, Republicans have had a 15, 14 and 12 point lead right now. It's dead even. Yep. Yep. And Governor Graves, it's interesting. Our Kevin Liptak was reporting from Mississippi the other day, obviously not a swing state, but one that has worried Republicans somewhat. They put some more money into it, but saying that once he was traveling across the state, that many people were only vaguely aware there was an election. So you're also dealing with a lot of low propensity voters. Well, I think back to what the speaker said, though, about rural areas, I know the president's coming to Kansas again this weekend, actually to my hometown, which is sort of on the western half of the state, if you will, and reaches into the rural areas of Kansas.

36:56And the problem is, is the messenger is just, I think, wrong. He's the guy that's created all the problems in the agricultural community. He's the guy that's responsible for their diesel fuel and their gas prices. I mean, it's just this is like the emperor that didn't have any clothes. I just think politically, the president doesn't have anything really to offer. All right. Well, I appreciate both of you very much. Thank you. And next, Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall in that tough race, speaking out tonight about the top issue. This is one of the best economies I've ever seen in my lifetime.

37:39This is incredible. It's like Kevin Hassett yesterday, who literally went on national television and said affordability was a myth. Is that really what Republicans want to hear? Plus, making history is the United States about to elect its first black woman governor. Starting a business can seem like a daunting task, unless you have a partner like Shopify. They have the tools you need to start and grow your business. From designing a website, to marketing, to selling and beyond, Shopify can help with everything you need. There's a reason millions of companies like Mattel, Heinz, and Allbirds continue to trust and use them.

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39:05Breaking news. Brand new early voting numbers are into CNN. This is out of Michigan, which is of course home to the Senate race that could decide which party controls the Senate. and this has been a nasty race so far. About 1.5 million ballots have been cast in the state of Michigan. Actually, about 1.6 million will round up. Republicans are ramping up the fear factor in that race to try to help Mike Rogers beat Abdul El-Sayed. Just listen to these baseless accusations that Senator Ted Cruz just made. My nickname for the guy is the Johannes Leprechaun. If Abdul El-Sayed becomes the senator for Michigan, there is absolutely nothing to stop Chuck Schumer from placing Abdul Al-Sayed on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

39:48The Senate Intelligence Committee has access to our most closely guarded secrets. And if I am correct that he is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, there is a very real risk that Americans will die as a result. So El-Sayed has denied he has any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and has denounced the movement. But obviously, being that he, you know, people are taking the whole Muslim religion and they're happy to go to jihad and Muslim Brotherhood and all of those things, as you've seen Republicans do. Everyone's back with me. And Wendy, that's, I guess, the question here. Ted Cruz jumping in on the fear factor.

40:30It's not the only one, you know, who's just jumped in on this. You know, because he's a Muslim, we can throw around all these all these words accusing him of being a terrorist. Is this rhetoric going to help? I mean, I think there's two things at play here. Number one, they know they cannot respond to the concerns of the American people right now. And their play in that situation is always to go to fear mongering. Always. We've seen it campaign season after campaign season. But the other thing is that they are reminding people of who they are, the bigotedness that is becoming more and more reflective.

41:08And we're seeing that in Texas right now. Beau French, who is running for railroad commission, who said the most foul things about a group of students celebrating at a UT football game. And, you know, even people like Karl Rove came out against that and said he was not going to vote for him. He's actually going to vote for John Rosenthal, the Democrat there. And to me, this just feels like them continuing to go down that path and remind people of the ugliness. And they don't need to be doing that. And it's not, in my opinion, the way that they should be prosecuting the case here in the final days of the election.

41:44I mean, sure, Michael, what do you think in Bo French? You know, it was posting the picture. Look, this is a bad picture. Too many brown people. You're a Muslim. We can just call you a terrorist. I mean, this is ugly stuff. Look, that's not my type of politics. I have concerns about the nominee out of Michigan. And if you look at a lot of focus group data from Jewish residents in particular, they are worried about his positions on Israel and statehood and Palestinian issue. And that's a problem for him. There's issues with African-Americans in Michigan and around Detroit because of some local issues with blacks and Arabs who reside in the state.

42:16That's why President Obama was there to try to energize African-Americans to turn out. Will the fundamentals and the angst and anxiety among both groups make a determinative factor one way or the other? I'm not sure at this point, but I think there's enough to execute the case against El-Said on that issue. Medicare for all, raising the debt$7 trillion, the country can't afford it. Some of his positions on immigration. There's enough there is a point I'm trying to make here. Without calling someone a terrorist. You don't have to call him a terrorist or go and attack his faith, et cetera. There are a lot of people who are Arab Muslims who died in Afghanistan and Iraq, supporting our troops.

42:50And so I think we ought to be cognizant of these things as we debate this in the last stages of this race. It is just so ugly, though, what they've turned to. I mean, I know it's different, but, you know, the Vivek Ramaswamy ad, Stephanie, just, you know, the bow front. These things are ugly. They appeal to the worst of people. You know, I think that's because, and I don't, look, I was there again six years. That is what Trump does. He deals in fear. He deals in bullying. And that has worked for him. But it only works for him. And I hate to say that because it shouldn't work for him. But then now these people trying to parrot him as like toddlers parroting a child and it doesn't work for them.

43:28And to Shermichael's point, we've got six days out. Let's talk about policy. Let's talk about the fact that people can't afford gas. I mean, I feel like a broken record talking about gas and diesel and food costs, but that's what people want to hear about. But you heard Roger Marshall say no issue with affordability. Kevin Hassett said it's a myth, right? They're talking about it. They're just, that's what they're saying. Yeah, I mean, it's nasty. It's Islamophobic. I think it's utterly un-American. And when they sit around and say, okay, who can go do the nasty thing? Ted Cruz raises his hand and says, I'll go in and do it.

43:58I also don't think it's going to work. It might rile up the base that's really extreme, but it's going to drive independents away, and that's where the ballgame is. No, it keeps Ted Cruz out of Texas, which maybe he wants to be. I don't know. All right. No comment. All right. Thank you all very much. And next, black candidates from across the country tonight could be on the cusp of making history as one tries to become the next governor, Georgia.

44:38Breaking news, John Ossoff speaking live in Georgia, where President Obama has moments from taking the stage with him. Voters for Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms. She is one of eight black candidates for governor who could make history next week. And Jeff Zeleny is out front. Hey, Kelsey, this is Keisha Lance Bottoms. How are you? She's calling voters. I am the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia. And asking them to do something Georgia hasn't done since 1998, elect a Democratic governor. But that's not the only history Keisha Lance Bottoms could make. The first African-American female governor in the United States.

45:18How about that? Let's make it happen. Americans have elected three black governors in the nation's 250-year history. By next week, that figure could multiply. We're a complicated, beautiful country. And just because it hadn't happened, that means it's not going to happen real soon, in eight days. And this feels like the year, you think? I know it's the year. This year, eight black candidates are on the ballot. The five Democrats include Bottoms in Georgia, David Crowley in Wisconsin, Aaron Ford in Nevada, Jermaine Johnson in South Carolina, and Wes Moore, who's seeking reelection in Maryland. The Republican candidates include longshot John James in Michigan and Lisa DeMuth in Minnesota, and frontrunner Byron Donalds in Florida.

46:05Black voters need to take a look at these elections and look at the policies that are going to improve their lives. And more and more, you'll find that that's in the Republican Party. Less than a week before the election, she's locked in a tough fight with businessman Rick Jackson, who has assailed her record as mayor of Atlanta. Bad mayors don't make good governors. Yet at a campaign stop in northern Georgia, Jackson signaled his own concerns. This race is tied at best right now. And the only reason we'll lose is because rural Georgia doesn't show up to vote. Sue Ross, a campaign volunteer, hopes the state is on the cusp of monumental change.

46:46We can take this state with our troubled history and move it into the future. This election is not just about Georgia, though. It is also about America. She's been appearing alongside Senator John Ossoff. It's time to elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, our next governor, and make sure no child in Georgia is turned away from the pediatrician. hoping that alliance will lift her first statewide race. America has only elected three black governors, never a woman, to be among them. What do you make of that? For me, it's so much more personal. My family goes back at least five generations in Georgia. I say at least five because it's as far back as we can trace our family.

47:30My people were once enslaved in this state. While campaigning, she doesn't dwell on the prospect of breaking one more barrier in politics. I wake up as a black woman every day. So it's no surprise to me that I'm capable and I'm qualified and I'm able. But if it's representation for other people who may not have thought that it was possible, then it's all worth it. And she just appeared on stage here at this rally just outside Atlanta. Senator John Ossoff is on stage now. Former President Barack Obama, he is the Democratic closer. He will also be here urging Georgians to early vote before Friday, if not by next Tuesday.

48:11Erin, potentially some history here in Georgia. Erin. Jeff Zeleny, thank you very much in Georgia. And thanks so much to all of you for joining us. The AC 360 starts now. Shaq here. What's it like to buy a car from Carvana 100 % online and get it delivered to your door? Let me tell you. Your car is here, Mr. Shaq. Thank you, Mr. Carvana guy. Can't wait to take it for a spin. Only the best for you, Mr. Shaq. Hey, have you always been so big, tall, and handsome? Not always. I was 6 '10 once. Seven days to love it or return it, Mr. Shaq. Not that I would. You never do. No, I never do. So buy your car today on Carvana.

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