Harris kicks off birthday at Georgia church as Trump heads to McDonald’s in Pennsylvania – live

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Tom Perkins

Biden’s economic legacy could decide the presidential race in Scranton.

From the north, motorists pull into Scranton via the Joseph R Biden Jr Expressway. Cutting through the scenic Pocono Mountains, now at the start of autumn color season, they are greeted with a towering, electric billboard, blaring an encapsulating – if divisive – message to this working-class town: “Democrats for Trump,” it reads. “Economy,” it continues, with a green checked box next to the word.

The sign in Biden’s hometown is the perfect fall 2024 welcome mat in this crucial swing state filled with voters whose economic anxiety or satisfaction will decide next month’s election.

The US has staged a remarkable recovery since the pandemic and Biden has successfully pursued an economic agenda, Bidenomics, that should benefit Scranton and the state – $13bn has been earmarked from his infrastructure bill for repairing highways and bridges alone. But poll after poll shows deep-seated worries about the economy – worries that could sink Democrats’ chances of keeping the White House come November.

Like many mid-sized upper midwest cities that have faced post-industrial decline, Scranton, a longtime Democratic stronghold, has grown more conservative in recent elections. With the city’s native son leaving office, and pocketbook issues top of mind, some believe Trump could finally take Scranton - a more-than-symbolic win.

But with Kamala Harris, Biden’s successor, and Donald Trump tied in the polls, guessing who will take Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the White House is a fool’s errand. And this politically split town shows why the race is so close. On the street, one person’s economic reality may be entirely different to the next.

The complicated political mix of fears about the local economy, faith and mistrust in both Harris and Trump and shifting political allegiance was evident at the Marketplace at Steamtown, a downtown mall filled with local mom-and-pop shops.

Read more about what people in Scranton have to say:

Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro questioned the legality of Elon Musk promising $1m giveaways to voters who sign his super PAC’s petition.

During an interview in NBC’s “Meet the Press,” governor Josh Shapiro called into question Elon Musk’s promise to give $1m every day until election day to someone who signs his petition that effectively encourages Republicans in the key battleground states to register to vote. The money would come from his Trump-supporting political action committee, America Pac.

“I think there are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing, not just into Pennsylvania, but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said. “That is deeply concerning.”

“Musk obviously has a right to be able to express his views,” Shapiro told moderator Kristen Welker. “But when you start flowing this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions that folks may want to take a look at.”

Shapiro added: “I think it’s something that law enforcement could take a look at.”

Kamala Harris concluded her remarks at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia.

She asked the crowd: “What kind of country do we want to live in, a country of chaos, fear and hate, or a country of freedom, compassion and justice?”

“The great thing about living in a democracy is that we, the people, have the power to answer that question,” Harris said. “So let us answer not just through our words, but through our action and with our votes.”

Kamala Harris, speaking at a service at an Atlanta church, continued talking about acts of kindness recently taking place in the US, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

“Right here in the Atlanta area, I saw the story of a reporter who was outside covering the storm live on television when he heard some screams, he dropped everything and waded into chest deep water to rescue a woman trapped in her car, carrying her on his back to safety,” Harris said.

The service at the church Kamala Harris is attending is honoring breast cancer survivors during National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Harris spoke about her mother, who was a breast cancer researcher.

“She had two goals in her life, to raise her two daughters, my sister, Maya and me, and to end breast cancer,” Harris said.

The Vice President later narrated the parable of the Good Samaritan to connect the story to a message of approaching others with kindness.

“As the Good Samaritan reminds us, it is not enough to preach the values of compassion and respect. We must live them,” Harris said. “Faith is a verb.”

Kamala Harris kicks off her birthday at a church in Stonecrest, Georgia

Kamala Harris is delivering remarks at a service in New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the Atlanta suburb of Stonecrest, Georgia. The crowd sang happy birthday when the Vice President, who turns 60 today, took the stage.

Harris began her speech by turning the attention towards the ferry dock collapse on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, where at least seven people were killed during a fall celebration by the island’s tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.

“Our administration has been in touch with state and local officials to offer any needed support,” Harris said.

Good morning, and welcome to our continuing coverage of the run-up to the US election. We’re nearly two weeks away from election day.

Today, Vice-President Kamala Harris will kick off her 60th birthday with two church visits in Georgia. The Democratic presidential nominee is slated to to rally early voters in the state a day after a star-studded campaign Saturday in Detroit with rapper Lizzo and in Atlanta with pop icon Usher.

Former president Donald Trump is heading to a McDonald’s fast food place in Pennsylvania. The visit will probably be used to undermine Harris’s stint at McDonald’s, which Trump constantly puts into question during his rallies. He will later hold a rally in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, his second event in the battleground state this weekend.

Both candidates are laser focused on rallying support from voters in battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, will take part in a “Souls to the Polls” event aimed at using gospel performances, national and state faith leaders, elected officials and others to mobilize voters.

Here’s what else is happening today:

• Elon Musk promised to award $1m every day to voters as he steps up campaigning for Trump. The commitment, which started on Saturday as Musk handed a lottery-style check to the first winner of his contest at a town hall event, could mean Musk is on the hook for $17m if he remains the sole donor to his own Pac.

• A Pennsylvania town is thriving with Haitian immigrants – and is the latest target of Republican hate. Despite a revitalization, Donald Trump wrongfully claimed Charleroi is “virtually bankrupt” with “massive crime.”

• Incarcerated Californians can’t vote. A prison held an election anyway. Voters in a mock election at San Quentin revealed strong feelings about prison labor, wages and the presidential race.