JOE TRIPPI

Donald Trump is fueling an authoritarian movement abetted by far too many Republican senators and House members. We must unite to preserve democracy.

In the final throes of an increasingly daunting reelection campaign, President Trump is revving up his rally schedule and whipping his supporters into a frenzy with the type of nonstop outrage that helped make him the most polarizing political figure of his time. To Trump, turning the volume up to 11 is an instinct, and a near guarantee he will be the center of attention. His initial amusement over Trump’s election four years ago, he said, disappeared in wave after wave of chaos, controversy and cartoonish behavior. The surfboard builder did not vote in 2016 but plans to vote for Joe Biden this year. I know he’s a little bit crazy sometimes, the things he says.

“Donald Trump needs this election to be about Joe Biden as a choice,” said longtime GOP consultant Alex Conant. Trump’s support over the years has remained remarkably consistent, polls over the course of his presidency have found. Even today, when asked to explain their support for Trump, voters often point to his success in business as evidence of his acumen. Roughly half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, but the average income tax paid in 2017 was nearly $12,200, according to the IRS. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer tweeted an emoji calling on followers to raise their hands “if you paid more in federal income tax than President Trump.”“That’s why he hid his tax returns.

“Donald Trump needs this election to be about Joe Biden as a choice," said longtime GOP consultant Alex Conant. Trump's support over the years has remained remarkably consistent, polls over the course of his presidency have found. Even today, when asked to explain their support for Trump, voters often point to his success in business as evidence of his acumen. Roughly half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, but the average income tax paid in 2017 was nearly $12,200, according to the IRS. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer tweeted an emoji calling on followers to raise their hands “if you paid more in federal income tax than President Trump.”“That’s why he hid his tax returns.

Though the Biden campaign often emphasizes that it sees multiple ways to secure the 270 Electoral College votes it needs to win in November, the quickest path runs through Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It has since recovered to 8.7%, but Michigan has nearly 414,500 fewer jobs than it did when Trump was inaugurated. Previewing the president's own Michigan trip, the Trump campaign looked to paint Biden as deferential on China. Michigan Democratic Rep. Brenda Lawrence was among those on-hand. The difference is starkest in Michigan, where the Biden campaign has spent $17.2 million to Trumps $6.7 million.

LANSING, Mich. In 2016, Donald Trump tore down Democrats blue wall, winning the White House with surprise victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The Biden campaign sees an opening there to argue that, even before the pandemic, the president failed some of his most loyal blue-collar backers. The difference is starkest in Michigan, where the Biden campaign has spent $17.2 million to Trumps $6.7 million. Trump is slightly outspending Biden in upcoming ad reservations in Pennsylvania, while Biden is slightly outspending the president on air in Michigan. Were door-knocking all over the place, our local candidates are door-knocking and the Trump campaign volunteers are door-knocking, said Elizabeth Preate-Havey, GOP chairwoman in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania's third-most populous county.

When Ray Watkins watches the third Democratic presidential primary debate, hell do so with a twinge of trepidation. Thats a turnoff.The 10 Democratic candidates who take the stage in Houston on Thursday may see a verbal haymaker as a way to knock out a rival and claim victory in the debate. But many of their partys primary voters dread more attacks, fearing that intraparty sparring will harm their nominee in a general election against President Trump. Many Democrats were captivated by the thought of Harris similarly eviscerating Trump on a debate stage. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker speaks while former Vice President Joe Biden, right and former Housing Secretary Julin Castro listen during the second Democratic presidential debate in July.