Obama, Trump clash in final pitches to midterm voters

BIDEN

In Pennsylvania, a hoarse former Vice President Joe Biden accused the Trump administration of shredding the nation's "moral fabric" and a GOP-controlled Congress of waging a broad war on middle-class protections, from health care to Social Security.

Democrats, he said, must take back the country to reset the nation's moral compass.

"This is the United States of America," Biden said. "We can take it back." Biden, campaigning in a tight congressional race in conservative central Pennsylvania, urged people to vote — "Don't boo, vote!" he told the crowd, quoting Obama — and said, "We are in a battle for America's soul."

Biden spoke to a crowd of more than 500 people at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg to boost George Scott, a Democratic candidate for Congress challenging three-term Republican Rep. Scott Perry.

Biden traced a line from the mass killing in a Pittsburgh synagogue and the slaying of two black shoppers at a Kentucky grocery store last month to Trump's remarks after clashes between white supremacists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville when he blamed both sides for the violence.

"When hatred is given space to fester, it gives license to others to come out from the darkness," Biden said, accusing Trump of putting "fuel on the fire of intolerance."

IMMIGRATION

The White House pushed back against claims that Trump's recent steps to secure the US southern border were motivated by the upcoming election.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation" that the president's moves had nothing to do with electoral politics.

"I've been involved in scores of conversations about stopping illegal immigration from Mexico and never once has there been a discussion of the political impact in US domestic politics," Pompeo said. "It has always been about securing the safety of the American people and securing our southern border."

Trump is sending up to 15,000 US troops to the border to stave off a caravan of migrants slowly making its way through southern Mexico, hundreds of miles from the border. Trump has also announced plans to try to end the constitutionally protected right of birthright citizenship for all children born in the US.

SENATE STAKES

Republicans predicted that they would pad their two-seat Senate majority even though the party of a first-term president typically struggles in midterm elections. Democrats are defending 10 Senate seats in states Trump carried in 2016.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said Republicans would not only "hold the majority — I believe we're going to add to it." Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel pointed to the recent October jobs report as evidence Republicans are delivering.

"We have a record of results and the Democrats have a record of resistance and obstruction," she said, arguing that voters would return Republicans to the majority.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said that even if voters are motivated by a strong economy, "many people realize we need a check on this president." And Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said the party still has a "very narrow path" to a Senate majority despite facing the toughest Senate political map in 60 years.

McDaniel and Warner appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation," Tillis appeared on "Fox News Sunday," and Van Hollen appeared on "Fox News Sunday" and ABC's "This Week."

ELECTION SECURITY

Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said that people should "go out and vote with confidence" but that the White House has "frankly held back" on ensuring the election will be secure.

The Virginia Democrat faulted the White House for opposing an election security bill that would have ensured that every polling station had a paper ballot to audit after the election. And he questioned Trump's decision to eliminate the role of cybersecurity coordinator on the National Security Council.

Trump received a briefing on election security last week. US intelligence agencies jointly asserted last month that Russia, China, Iran and other countries are engaged in continuous efforts to influence American policy and voters in the upcoming elections and beyond.

AP