FORMER RIVALS to former President Trump will rally with him late Monday in New Hampshire on the eve of the first-in-the-nation primary, as Trump battles his last major GOP competitor, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) will all attend the rally in New Hampshire. It comes one day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis alsosuspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.
The appearance of several former rivals at Trump’s rally illustrates the consolidation of support for Trump and “underscores the former president’s grip on the GOP,” The Hill’s Brett Samuels wrote.
Haley, for her part, hopes a strong performance in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary fortifies her campaign against Trump, who has long held massive leads in national and most state polling.
Haley has narrowed the gap in New Hampshire, but she still trails Trump by about 12 percentage points in the state, according to the latest averages from Decision Desk HQ and The Hill.
Keep in mind: We don’t have any polls conducted since DeSantis’s withdrawal Sunday, but a CNN/University of New Hampshire poll just prior showed DeSantis voters favoring Trump over Haley as their second choice by a 2-to-1 margin.
DeSantis was polling in single digits in New Hampshire, so his exit is unlikely to significantly alter the results, though it could give Trump a slight benefit.
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Dexter Scott King, the youngest child of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died of cancer.
Grassroots organization Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund endorsed former President Trump — see The Hill exclusive here. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) also endorsed Trump over fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley on Monday.
The Supreme Court ruled the federal government can remove razor wire Texas law enforcement erected on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Those leading the campaign for voters to write in PresidentBiden‘s name on New Hampshire’s primary ballot are warning about a robocall featuring a fake of Biden’s voice urging voters not to turn out for Tuesday’s primary.
It’s an example of how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to mislead the public ahead of elections, and highlights the ways so-called deepfakes could become a nightmare for campaigns and elected leaders.
“This is deep fake disinformation designed to harm Joe Biden, suppress votes, and damage our democracy,” write-in campaign spokespersonAaron Jacobs said in a statement.
Four candidates in the March 5 top-two primary for California’s U.S. Senate seat debate tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Three House Democrats will be on stage along with Republican Steve Garvey, a former MLB player.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D) leads in most polls, with Garvey and Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee vying for the second spot on the general election ballot. The Cook Political Report rates the general “solid Democrat.”
Something to watch:The Democrats have taken different stances on the Israel-Hamas conflict, notes host outlet Politico, with Schiff generally supporting Israel’s actions, Porter calling for a conditional ceasefire and Lee calling for an unconditional ceasefire.
Expect to hear more on that at the debate, hosted by Politico, Fox 11 Los Angeles and the University of Southern California Dornsife Center for the Political Future.
monday metrics
Today’s number:
68
Cents the United States Postal Service‘s Forever Stamp now costs, up 2 cents.
A recent Harvard CAPS-Harris poll showed a majority of voters, 59 percent, think President Biden “helped and participated in Hunter Biden’s business,” highlighting challenges for the president amid House GOP probes.
Whether the president was involved in his son’s business dealings while he served as vice president is a key question in the House GOP’s impeachment inquiry. The president has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The poll also showed registered voters split 50-50 on whether former President Trump‘s “legal cases make it impossible for him to be a viable candidate for president.” Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
FEMA expands aid eligibility, citing climate change
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published an interim rule citing climate change as a reason for expanding eligibility for aid in the wake of weather disasters. The rule expands the list of disasters eligible for immediate cash assistance and establishes a program covering short-term housing for disaster survivors.
White House takes steps on abortion access on Roe anniversary
It’s the 51th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which the Supreme Court overturned in 2022. The White House commemorated the day with several actions and events:
The administration unveiled new steps to ensure access to contraception, emergency abortions and abortion medication.
President Biden is meeting with his reproductive rights task force.
Vice President Harris is embarking on a nationwide tour focused on abortion rights.