As the months-long contest over Donald Trump’s potential second term came to a close Tuesday, both he and Joe Biden spanned the country in last-minute attempts to get procrastinating supporters to the polls.
Trump, for his part, has painted Democrats as fundamentally un-American, beholden to China an eager to paint American history as irredeemably racist. He’s also sought to undermine confidence in the election’s results, alleging fraud at every turn while ominously telling Democratic governors that he and his supporters are “watching you” as he warned Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D).
Biden has tried to keep the focus on COVID-19, which he characterized a “mass casualty” that Trump has failed to address. In his closing message to voters Monday, he pitched human decency and competency.
Follow along with the TPM staff as we track every twist and turn in the hours leading up to Election Day:
As the months-long contest over Donald Trump’s potential second term came to a close Tuesday, both he and Joe Biden spanned the country in last-minute attempts to get procrastinating supporters to the polls.
Trump, for his part, has painted Democrats as fundamentally un-American, beholden to China an eager to paint American history as irredeemably racist. He’s also sought to undermine confidence in the election’s results, alleging fraud at every turn while ominously telling Democratic governors that he and his supporters are “watching you” as he warned Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D).
Biden has tried to keep the focus on COVID-19, which he characterized a “mass casualty” that Trump has failed to address. In his closing message to voters Monday, he pitched human decency and competency.
Follow along with the TPM staff as we track every twist and turn in the hours leading up to Election Day:
Blumenthal With The Coney Barrett Jab
Blumenthal snuck in an Amy Coney Barrett jab after Garland said unequivocally that he has no doubt that humans are responsible for climate change.
“I ask it because the last major nominee before this committee, back in September, it was a Supreme Court nomination, seemed to have some trouble with that question, but I’m glad you don’t,” Blumenthal said with a grin.
That nominee, of course, was Barrett who refused to answer then-Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) question about whether climate change was happening.
“I will not express a view on a matter of public policy, especially one that is politically controversial,” Barrett said.
The refusal to acknowledge an established scientific truth sent alarm bells ringing for environmental groups.
“To be fair, I don’t have any ‘views on climate change’ either,” tweeted activist Greta Thunberg. “Just like I don’t have any ‘views’ on gravity, the fact that the earth is round, photosynthesis nor evolution…But understanding and knowing their existence really makes life in the 21st century so much easier.”
Dean Emotionally Closes Out Her Remarks
Dean tears up as she closes her remarks with memories of the insurrection pic.twitter.com/mugDoeAOGy
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 10, 2021
Psaki: Fauci Will Represent The Country At WHO Meeting Tomorrow
Psaki said that Dr. Anthony Fauci — the coronavirus task force member that Trump’s White House tried to discredit — will participate remotely in a meeting of the World Health Organization tomorrow as the U.S. head of delegation.
In one of his final acts as VP, Pence — who led the White House coronavirus task force — warned that the WHO “significantly obstructed the ability of the rest of the world to mount an informed response.”
Much Like Biden, Psaki Won’t Wade Into Impeachment Talk
Adding to several Biden officials declining to directly weigh in on matters related to the Senate impeachment trial, Psaki highlighted Biden’s remarks earlier today on “the importance of unity” instead.
“The Senate can also multi-task and they can do their constitutional duty while continuing to address the needs of the American people,” Psaki said.
Trump’s Closing Message: He’s Ready To Legally Challenge Election Results
Read my key takeaway from Trump’s Election Eve campaigning frenzy here.
Trump on Election Eve re-upped his threat that “we’re going in with our lawyers” to challenge results:
-Called SCOTUS decision in PA allowing ballot counts after Election Day a “horrible thing”
-Hopes SCOTUS “has the wisdom” to change decision
-Predicted violence as a result https://t.co/Idav9WXUzI— Summer Concepcion (@seriouslysummer) November 3, 2020
‘We Love You’ Is Unprecedented In Political History, Trump Claims
Trump just made an assertion so bizarre I’m not sure what to make of it. After the crowd in Grand Rapids began chanting “we love you,” he thanked them and said that, in all of political history, no one had ever recorded a politician being told “we love you” by a crowd.
“It’s never been said before, to the best of anyone’s knowledge,” he said. Meanwhile, it’s getting late in Michigan…
Trump Repeats Tactic Of Inciting ‘Lock Her Up’ Chants In MI
The President continued his attacks against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) — who was targeted in an alleged militia plot to kidnap and possibly kill her, before the plot was foiled by the FBI — by telling rally-goers in Grand Rapids that “it would be nice if your governor would open up your state.”
Predictably, Trump’s latest attack against Whitmer incited “lock her up” chants.
Trump fans in Michigan are now conditioned to chant "lock her up!" when Trump so much as alludes to Gretchen Whitmer pic.twitter.com/zsZU2OK8lB
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 3, 2020
Trump Is Going To Go Very Late, Like 4 Years Ago
Last time, in 2016, Trump’s pre-Election Day remarks ran well past midnight in Michigan.
POTUS has started speaking, more than 90 minutes behind schedule, and we’re experiencing some déjà vu,.
A Preview Of Election Day Front Pages
ELECTION DAY A1s from @nytimes, @USATODAY, @washingtonpost. pic.twitter.com/OaLVv3Xknm
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 3, 2020
As GOP Asks Appellate Court To Toss Drive-Thru Votes In TX, County Closes Most Drive-Thru Locations
A conservative U.S. district court judge earlier today rejected last-minute Republican litigation asserting that more than one hundred thousand votes shouldn’t be counted in Harris County, Texas, because they were cast at drive-thru polling places.
But Republicans are appealing the decision, and as a precaution, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollis is closing all but one of the drive-thru voting locations, presumably in case Republicans ultimately convince a court that ballots that might have been cast Tuesday can be legally discarded.
Vice News, which first reported the development, noted that all shut-down drive-thru voting centers have corresponding in-person polling places that remain open.
This evening, Judge Hanen issued his order upholding drive-thru voting during the Early Voting period. He also stated his view that the tents that house most of the drive-thru voting centers would not qualify as "buildings," which are required for Election Day polling places. 2/
— Chris Hollins (@CGHollins) November 3, 2020
In order to allow for drive-thru voting on Election Day while ensuring that all votes will be counted, the only drive-thru voting center on Election Day will be at Toyota Center. 4/
— Chris Hollins (@CGHollins) November 3, 2020
Every vote lights the way for democracy.
Count every vote. Every vote counts.
We need a president who actually listens to experts like Dr. Fauci.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 2, 2020
We need a president that doesn’t listen to the demons in his head.
I was in the car coming back from (radiation- one more day!), and a Trump ad came on. It featured people who were giving reasons for supporting him, like he’s a businessman and he’ll know how to handle the economy. At the end Trump said, “I’m Donald J Trump, candidate for President, and I approve this message.”
I laughed. I’m pretty sure they’re recycling ads from the 2016 campaign. Hahahahaha!
My husband asked why they didn’t make new ones. No money and nothing to brag about that most of us can support.
LOSER.
That’s so unusual for him.
I was expecting a new Sermon on the Mount.
A bracketed post of mine from another thread:
Let’s Wrap This Up…get out and vote and end this nightmare. All it takes is for everyone, who possibly can, vote today, :“Leave it all on the Field” and make Trump an irrelevant Lame Duck First Term POTUS. He has few options, as such, without there being serious repercussions against him
[When Trump loses, people will be surprised at the difference in his behavior.
Biden’s Team will descend on the WH and Government in General. A new President doesn’t just swear the oath and start to work. There is background activity and no POTUS has left a bigger mess than Trump.
In addition, the types and numbers of competent people replacing sycophants and babysitters will be mind-blowing.
By necessity, there will be actual News for the American Public to receive and absorb and whatever the Orange Menace will try to do will, by necessity, reveal even more of his infantile and near-psychotic character and its contrast between an adult POTUS and Trump.
In full view of the American People.]