NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (Nov. 2)

Welcome to NTD Evening News. Our top stories tonight. With only three days to go, Vice President Harris holds a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, after addressing supporters in Atlanta. Our reporters are on the campaign trail. Also in the South, former President Trump makes stops in North Carolina and Virginia, a state that hasn't voted for a Republican nominee for decades. His message to voters there. Last-minute election shake-ups in Pennsylvania and Georgia. We look at what judges there say in response to lawsuits alleging potential voter disenfranchisement. Numbers show that more women are casting early ballots than men. Could a big turnout among women push Harris over the finish line? We speak to an expert. For music lovers, there's one more thing to look forward to on Election Day. Thousands of volunteers will be playing music at polling places across the country. Organizers discuss what inspired the move. This is NTD Evening News. Live from our global headquarters in New York City, here's Tiffany Meyer. Good evening and thank you for joining us tonight. The election is now only three days away. Vice President Kamala Harris finishes up her three-day barnstorm through all seven swing states with a rally and concert in Charlotte, North Carolina. NTD correspondent Jason Blair joins us live from the event, where Harris just finished speaking. Jason, good to see you. What are some takeaways from the rally? Yeah, it is getting very close. Just three days away, as you said, and Harris finished up her seven-day swing state tour just behind me not long ago. She spoke for about 25 minutes. And one of the big messages today and has been lately at her rallies has been getting people out to vote, getting your friends out to vote, getting your family out to vote, getting them out to vote early. And early voting actually just ended today in North Carolina. So that has been one of the big messages coming from the Harris campaign coming into the election day just a few days away. And then some of the other things that she hit on was that it's time for a new generation of leadership. And she says one of her campaign slogans is turn the page on what she calls a decade of former President Trump. And then she also hit on some of her plans, how she wants to reduce costs for Americans. And she also made some pledges on what she would do as president. I have a clip from that from just not that long ago. Have a look. I pledge to you, as president, I pledge to seek common ground and common sense solutions to the challenges you face. I am not looking to score political points. I am looking to make progress. I pledge to you to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make. I pledge to you to listen to experts and to listen to people who disagree with me. And before Harris went on stage, there were a few musical guests. Singer Khalid sung a couple of songs. Singer Jon Bon Jovi did a couple of songs with his band as well. Also North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper did come out and say some remarks saying, quote, Kamala, we'll fight for you. Jason, tell me about North Carolina. How are things looking there for the presidential candidates? Yeah, things are still really tight in North Carolina. Trump is only leading by 1.5% according to poll averages by Real Clear Politics. And to put that into perspective, around this time in 2020, Biden was leading by about 2.3% In 2016, Trump was up by 1.8%. And then Trump did end up winning the state in both of those elections. But with things so tight, both candidates are really focusing a lot of time and effort to win this state. Got it. Thank you so much for that update. NTD's Jason Blair. And just this afternoon, Vice President Harris rallied in Atlanta, Georgia for one last time before Tuesday's election. NTD's David Jang has the story. I met the Vice President Kamala Harris's rally in Atlanta. She has visited the city several times just within the last two weeks. So did the former President Donald Trump. Now, obviously, Georgia is a very important swing state with the 16 electoral votes up for grabs. So far, 3.7 million Georgians have already cast their votes. That number is almost 76% of the total turnout of 2020. That's good news for the Peach State because that means we're likely to find out who wins the state on election night. I've talked to a few folks here asking them about what's most important to them in this election. The future of my children. I have two mixed race children, and I just want to make sure that they have a secure future. And I want to make sure that my daughter has choice in her life. Making history with the first African American woman in an office as president, I think is really crucial as well. I'm a nurse and I work the pandemic, so I'm really interested to see what Kamala Harris does for reproductive health, but also the conditions of health care workers at the bedside and the health care systems in general. I feel like inflation was a bit of an issue, but overall, it's going in the right direction. And Kamala Harris is just going to carry it even further in the right direction. Economy is trash right now, so, you know, one can be hopeful that with Harris being in office that she would, she promises, obviously, that she would help, especially for working class. But, you know, we'll see. Time will tell. In her speech, Vice President Kamala Harris has been focusing on two key issues. One is the reproductive rights for women and democracy, hoping to garner more women votes. This is likely to be Harris's last rally in the city before the general election on Tuesday. Now, tomorrow, former President Donald Trump will have a rally in Macon, Georgia. Former President Trump and Vice President Harris are campaigning in battleground states in the final moments of their campaigns. Trump is holding a rally in Virginia today, which is not considered a swing state. And today's Washington correspondent, Jack Bradley, has more from Salem, Virginia. We're just three days out from Election Day, and former President Trump is rallying up and down the Southeast. He held a midday rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, the crucial swing state with 16 electoral college votes. He started off his rally talking about how if you were better off four years ago than today. Then he went into the latest jobs report numbers, which show that the economy only added 12,000 new jobs in October, the worst since December 2020. The worst numbers I've ever seen. How good was that? To get those numbers four days before the vote is, was, thank you very much, sir. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Now, you would have liked that in one of your races, wouldn't you? But no, to get those numbers, we had the worst numbers, I think, maybe like sort of ever. Then flying up here to Salem, Virginia, where he's seeking to energize supporters in this state that voted 10 points more for President Biden back in 2020 and five points more for Hillary Clinton in 2016. I spoke to several House Republicans where they told me that Virginia is still in play in this election. Virginia is strongly in play. You know, he won statewide just a few years ago by turning out rural parts of Virginia. And we've seen in the early votes that they are overwhelmingly turning out in big numbers for Donald Trump. So we're optimistic on election night that we're going to deliver a Trump victory, just like we delivered a Glenn Youngkin victory a few years back. They're standing up in record numbers. They're coming back to the polls, not having voted for years or ever, and they're ready to have their voice heard. He can win Virginia, but it depends on who gets out to vote. If we get out to vote in the 5th, the 6th, and the 9th, in Southwest, Southside, Central Virginia and Western Virginia, we win this race. If people stay at home and sit on their couch, we lose. So we need everybody to get out to vote, and we need people to realize you can register same day. Get out there, register, vote for Donald Trump. Now, thousands of supporters are here, and many of the supporters were taking pictures next to a garbage truck with a sign that said, Trump garbage deplorables. It's a reference to President Biden's recent comment that seemed to cast Trump supporters as garbage and Hillary Clinton's comment in 2016 that Trump supporters are deplorables. Biden later clarified his remarks, saying that he was referring to a comedian making a joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally, not Trump supporters. Earlier this week, the former president was seen driving a garbage truck in Wisconsin at a rally. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled that last week Virginia was allowed to purge 1,600 suspected non-citizens from voter rolls, as it's illegal for non-citizens to vote. Trump is then holding a rally down in the swing state of North Carolina again in Greensboro, where Vice President Kamala Harris is also holding a rally there, as well as in Georgia, those critical swing states in this election. Reporting from Salem, Virginia, Jack Bradley, NTD News. President Biden made his final campaign stop of the year on Saturday at his childhood hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He spoke to union workers as he aimed to sway voters toward Team Blue. I'm proud to have been the first president to walk the picket line. I've walked many picket lines, but I didn't realize when I walked as president, they said, you're doing that? I said, yeah, damn right I am. Well, Kamala walked as well. But the other guy, every picket line he sees, he wants to cross. The president spoke to members of Carpenter's local union, 445, at a small venue in the town where he grew up. Unions have traditionally endorsed Democratic candidates for president. This year, however, the Teamsters union chose not to endorse either candidate, a first since 1996. During his remarks in Scranton, Biden said Vice President Harris will build on what he did as president. The commander-in-chief has not been a major figure in Harris's campaign after he dropped out of the race. More than 70 million Americans have already cast their ballots. That's according to data gathered from 47 states and the District of Columbia. That figure is nearly 45 percent of the roughly 158 million votes cast for president in 2020. Nearly 70 percent of votes were cast ahead of Election Day that year, which took place during the pandemic. During the 2022 midterms, roughly half of the votes were cast before Election Day. Now turning to Georgia, last-minute election shake-ups. A county judge extended the deadline for counting absentee ballots. Civil rights groups said Cobb County violated the law by failing to send absentee ballots to voters in due time. The Board of Elections chairwoman said they weren't prepared for a surge in absentee ballot requests prior to the October 25 deadline. She said they didn't have the equipment necessary to process the 750 ballots per day requested in the last week. Now ballots mailed after October 30 and received by 5 p.m. on November 8 will be counted as long as they were postmarked by 7 p.m. on November 5. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed the lawsuit, which could affect about 3,000 ballots. In Pennsylvania, a judge on Friday ordered Erie County to issue up to 17,000 mail-in ballots to voters who had not received them. The Democratic Party sued the Board of Elections there, saying failure to send the ballots potentially violated people's right to vote. Erie County is seen as one of Pennsylvania's most contested counties. Both Pennsylvania and Georgia are one of seven swing states that could determine the outcome of the presidential race. The Justice Department is sending election monitors to 86 counties in 27 states on Tuesday. Their goal is to ensure the integrity of the general election. That's 49 percent more monitors since 2020 and the most in two decades. The announcement comes amid growing concerns of improper partisan influence and potential voter suppression at election sites. All seven of the contested swing states are on the Justice Department's list, along with a mix of dominantly red and blue states. Officials in some red states are pushing back. The secretaries of state in Florida and Missouri said federal monitors will not be allowed access to voting locations in their state. For some first-time voters in another swing state, Arizona, the upcoming presidential election is not about party affiliation, but about the issues they believe will define their future. Some Gen Z students said economy is top of mind this election cycle. Take a look. So, I mean, for me personally, I'm a lot more concerned about our economy than anything. So that's like the main, like, if I'm hearing someone talk about, like, at least some sort of economic plan, that's what I'm looking for, because I'm concerned about the future of our economy. Just better living. Just, like, gas going down, or groceries going down, and rent going down, because rent is killing me. If you separate whatever your opinion might be about him, I think that his economic policy is very sound. I think that putting tariffs on nations that try to push their products into our country, it's a smart thing, because ultimately what it does is it promotes businesses to do business in America. As young people, we actually just want to see what the ideas are. There's no reason for two Americans to be, like, disagreeing about something so much that they, like, hate each other just because they have different, differing opinions on, like, an issue. I think that's dumb. Like, I think it should be more focused on issues than, like, fighting an enemy, you know, an enemy that doesn't really exist. It's just other people with other opinions. Most people have already been bombarded with spam texts. You know, they've got clipboard people coming after them. So a lot of people just want to be left alone. As young people, we actually just want to see what the ideas are. And I think podcasts, long-form podcasts with candidates, it's been really helpful to actually learn who that person is. And it also allows them to clarify the record. Everything gets taken out of context when it's just this little tiny soundbite. But long-form conversation is OK. Up next, a possibly worrying trend for Trump. Women are outpacing men in early turnout. We speak to an expert about the significance for either ticket. For music lovers, there's one more thing to look forward to on Election Day. Thousands of volunteers will be playing music at polling places across the country. Organizers discuss what inspired the move after the break. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. They're just kids. Hungry, homeless, and vulnerable. Abused kids often feel safer on the street. Now, more than ever, that's the most dangerous place of all. Covenant House is rescuing and protecting kids during this COVID-19 crisis. We're providing safe shelter to thousands. But the need is overwhelming, and no child is ever turned away. Please call or go online now with your gift of $19 a month to help a homeless child. You'll provide safe shelter, hot meals, and medical care. 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In key battleground state Pennsylvania, more women than men are turning out for early voting. Across the seven battleground states, women have cast 55% of the ballot so far, while men lag behind by 10 points. What does this mean? And could this be a worrying sign for former President Trump? Let's chat with Democratic strategist Theron Bond about this. Theron, welcome. Good to see you. What do you think is behind this trend? So, you know, I talk with some folks that I know who organize heavily in the state of Pennsylvania, and what they tell me about women in Pennsylvania is that they care about health care significantly, and they also carry more student loan debt in comparison to men. So they have huge stakes in this year's election cycle, and they want a president who is going to best represent them and help them improve their quality of life. And so if we continue to see that trend, it could mean that Vice President Harris now gets promoted to president and that former President Donald Trump does not see a second term. So those are the issues you say are pushing those women out to vote. So do you think right now already that is a good sign for Harris? Or does this just simply mean that, you know, come election day, other voter groups such as men could come out and make up for that gap? What do you read into this as of now? I think it's, of course, possible that we could see more men come out to vote on election day. But if women are outpacing men in Pennsylvania, and this is a trend that we can measure across several other states, whether it's another five, another 10, another 20, 30, or even all 50 plus the District of Columbia, then by and large, we could see it become an easier win for Vice President Harris. You know, former President Donald Trump has made a number of disparaging remarks against and towards women, and we don't take too kind to some of those remarks. And so, you know, in addition to him recently saying, you know, he wants to take men out of women's sports, but he seems to be okay with allowing men in the doctor's room with women when they make their decisions. And that's something that women also don't take too kind to. So he doesn't speak too well to women in their issues. And it's likely leading to them casting ballots, not necessarily against him, but in tune, in favor for Vice President Harris. So does this give her a significant advantage, that her popularity with women versus maybe Trump's impopularity with women? Because on the other hand, the Harris campaign has been making efforts to close the deficit she faced with male voters during the last few days. We know that women historically outvote men, not just this year, not just last year, not just four years ago, eight or even 20 years ago. Women, since we have had the right to vote, have significantly outpaced men in the numbers when it comes to casting ballots. And so if we continue along those lines, it would by default favor Vice President Harris, but it's not an end all be all. I think we're going to see a lot of quiet voting when it comes to Vice President Harris as well. Historically, white women specifically tend to vote if they are Republican along with their husbands. However, I think we're going to see a lot of those women go into the ballot box and cast quietly their vote for Vice President Harris to become the next president of the United States. That's quite interesting. But what do you see right now in terms of campaigns or specifically also the Republican campaign doing right now to increase the male voter turnout in general? Because could that be a worry then? I don't know that either candidate, to be honest, is doing the work to energize their base. I think now it's by and large a turnout game. Whoever currently exists in their base and potentially some apathetic and undecided voters, it's saying, hey, you know, regardless of who you're going to vote for, please get off the couch, walk into a polling center and cast your ballot. Of course, each respective candidate wants those ballots cast for themselves. But ultimately, if we can increase the numbers, then that's the likelihood of either of them getting elected. But I think it's, you know, people don't have the most excitement that they've had about this election. Neither of the top two candidates have been the favorite, so to speak. And so if they get off the couch and go cast a ballot for, say, their choice for U.S. Senate or a state rep or if there are gubernatorial races or mayoral races across this nation, if they get off the couch to cast a ballot for someone else, they will see a candidate for president at the top of their ticket. And so the likelihood of them saying, you know, I'm already here, I'll cast a ballot for them, too, is highly likely. And that can increase the numbers as well. Got it. Thank you so much, Theron Bond, for your insights this evening. I appreciate it. Thank you. Now, the New York Times Tech Guild announced plans to strike. The contract agreement isn't reached before Election Day. The Guild has about 700 workers. The Guild has been in negotiations for three years. They seek better wages, benefits and job security. In a letter published on X, they accuse management of failing to negotiate in good faith and delaying discussions. The strike could impact the Times' website during election night. The site features important visual components, including the well-known election needle that provides data forecasts. Thousands of volunteers will play music at polling stations across the country on Election Day. The non-profit behind the idea encourages voters to keep participating in the democratic process. And today's Andrew Thomas has more on the upcoming performances. On Tuesday, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violinist Sarah von Sattel will be playing at a very different venue. Instead of her usual gig at the Met, she'll be performing at a polling place in New York City. The musician is one of the thousands of volunteers who are part of Play for the Vote. It's something very unifying about voting. Music is universal. We all listen to music. Many children sing before they speak. It's an important part of human experience. So it's something that we share. Play for the Vote places local musicians at polling stations across the country. Boston-based cellist Mike Block started the non-profit in 2020 to enhance people's voting experience. The organization aims to have performers near polling stations across all 50 states. Von Sattel and her election ensemble will play for an hour Tuesday morning in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. It's whatever we want. So what I think we're going to play this year, and some of the same things as 2020, is a string quartet by Dvorak. It's called the American String Quartet because he wrote it after coming to the U.S. and being inspired by things he heard here. I think we might play some patriotic stuff, too. Von Sattel also said as a musician, she felt lucky to perform on Election Day. To volunteer my time this way is a privilege, just as voting is a privilege. And it's something positive that I can do and think about on a very important day. Play for the Vote hopes to have musicians at thousands of polling locations. The non-profit hopes to uplift voters and add a little bit of fun to the electoral process. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th. Andrew Thomas, NTT News. And that wraps up our news tonight. Thank you so much for tuning in. I'm Evelyn Lee. Good night.