Harris and Trump in close race

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are closing in on the final weeks of the 2024 presidential election.

On Thursday, Harris is focusing her campaign on a pivotal state: Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Trump will participate in a longtime political tradition in New York City, known as the Al Smith dinner.

Regardless of where they’re hitting the campaign trail, Harris and Trump will spend the weeks leading up to Election Day making their final pitches to voters across the country, outlining how they’d approach issues ranging from inflation to the southern border and abortion rights.

Check back here for live coverage from across the USA TODAY network.

Georgia election board loses again in court

For the second time in two days, a Georgia judge delivered a major blow to the state election board’s efforts to change the rules for the upcoming 2024 election.

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Judge Thomas A. Cox Jr. struck down seven new rules from the board in a late-Wednesday ruling, including a controversial ballot hand-count rule that another judge had already temporarily blocked on Tuesday. Cox said the rules exceeded the state board’s authority.

“An administrative agency can only act to implement existing statutory schemes; they hold no authority to create new requirements or otherwise expand their own authority,” Cox wrote.

The board has come under increasing scrutiny after its Republican majority passed a flurry of new requirements within weeks of the election, despite being cautioned by the state’s Republican attorney general that some rules were likely unlawful.

– Aysha Bagchi

Trump cancels NRA appearance  

The Republican nominee has canceled an Oct. 22 appearance before the National Rifle Association because of scheduling conflicts, the campaign and the NRA said Wednesday.

Trump had been scheduled to attend a “Defend the 2nd” (amendment) gun rights event Tuesday in Savannah, Ga.

While the Harris campaign tries to use gun violence as an issue against Trump, the NRA said in its cancellation notice that it still backs Trump.

“The NRA is committed to ensuring Donald Trump wins in November and returns to the White House,” the organization said.

Trump has also canceled media interviews with CNBC and CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ in recent days.

-David Jackson

What is the Al Smith Dinner?

The annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a white-tie charity event in New York City, is known for prominent political figures poking fun at one another and the issues of the moment.

The Al Smith dinner benefits Catholic charities. Smith was known for his sense of humor, and speakers at the event often take jabs at themselves or others.

In 2016, Trump and his opponent Hillary Clinton took swipes at one another, but some of the audience booed at Trump, feeling he went too far. Trump is scheduled to speak but Harris declined the invitation for the annual event.

– Kinsey Crowley

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Harris thanks Carter

Kamala Harris seized the opportunity to thank a special supporter: Former President Jimmy Carter.

“President Carter, thank you for your support,” Harris said on the X social media platform.Carter, who turned 100 years old earlier this month, used Georgia’s early voting period to cast his ballot for the Democratic vice president.  

– David Jackson

Who will control the U.S. Senate next year?

While a large chunk of the national attention in the 2024 battle for control of the U.S. Senate rests in the same presidential battlegrounds – think Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada – several other states that are likely slam dunks for Kamala Harris or Trump also have potentially competitive contests too.

Without a Senate controlled by their own party, the next president will likely struggle to pass the most ambitious parts of their campaign platform. The Senate is also solely responsible for confirming a president’s Cabinet officials and judges, from federal district courts up to the U.S. Supreme Court, where four of the nine justices will soon be in their 70s.

– Riley Beggin

Trump gives thumbs down to Harris’ performance on Fox News

Not surprisingly, Trump gave a negative review to Harris’ interview on Fox News, saying all she did was criticize him.

“She has a massive and irredeemable case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,”Trump said on Truth Social.

Trump, who has been critical of Fox’s coverage of the Harris campaign, gave a thumbs-up to interviewer Bret Baier, who frequently interrupted and clashed with the vice president. “Great job by Bret Baier,” Trump said.

– David Jackson

Where do Kamala Harris, Donald Trump stand in the polls?

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are neck-and-neck in the 2024 race for the White House. In a Real Clear Politics average of national polls, Harris leads Trump by 1.7 percentage points.

It’s even closer when it comes to polling averages from the battleground states. Trump leads Harris by 1.1 percentage points in Arizona, for example, and Harris leads Trump by 0.3 percentage points in Wisconsin.

– Marina Pitofsky

Where is Donald Trump campaigning on Thursday?

Donald Trump on Thursday is attending the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a white-tie charity event in New York City. It’s known for prominent political figures poking fun at one another and the issues of the moment.

The Al Smith dinner benefits Catholic charities. Smith was known for his sense of humor, and speakers at the event often take jabs at themselves or others.

The Harris campaign confirmed with USA TODAY that the Democratic presidential nominee will not attend the dinner scheduled for Oct. 17, as they want to focus on the battleground states so close to the election.

– Kinsey Crowley

Where is Kamala Harris campaigning on Thursday?

Kamala Harris is bringing her presidential campaign back to Wisconsin Thursday with stops in Milwaukee, La Crosse and Green Bay.

Harris’ upcoming travel to the battleground states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan comes as the race with Donald Trump reaches its final weeks. Thursday will mark her sixth visit to Wisconsin, and her third stop in Milwaukee County. She launched her presidential campaign in Wisconsin in late July with a rally in West Allis.

– Mary Spicuzza and Hope Karnopp