WHERE WE STAND TO DATE 08/28/2020

August 28, 2020

Game on. Both parties have now held their quadrennial conventions and it really is Donald Trump versus Joe Biden. The president delivered a stemwinder from the lawn of the White House, saying this election is the "most important in the history of our country." Vice President Mike Pence also delivered a powerful speech, saying that at the DNC, "Democrats didn’t talk very much about their agenda —and if I were them, I wouldn’t either." While Trump and Biden are set to face off late next month, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she doesn’t "think that there should be any debates." Meanwhile, the two official nominees exchanged barbs from afar, with Biden blaming Trump for the violence exploding in cities across America, while the president pointed out that all that violence is taking place in “Democrat-run cities.” 1. Trump soars in nomination acceptance speech. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images President Trump loves to talk, and he proved that again this week, delivering a 70-minute speech in accepting the Republican Party's official nomination. If you didn't watch, we'll just skip to the conclusion, which was pretty powerful. "From Yorktown to Gettysburg, from Normandy to Iwo Jima, American patriots raced into cannon blasts, bullets and bayonets to rescue American liberty. But America didn't stop there. We looked into the sky and kept pressing onward. We built a 6 million-pound rocket, and launched it thousands of miles into space. We did it so that two brave patriots could stand tall and salute our wondrous American flag planted on the face of the Moon. "For America, nothing is impossible. Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy. We will reach stunning new heights. And we will show the world that, for America, no dream is beyond our reach. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are unbeatable. Because together, we are the proud citizens of the United States of America. And on November 3rd, we will make America safer, we will make America stronger, we will make America prouder, and we will make America greater than ever before!" 2. Pence takes aim at Democrats. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Vice President Mike Pence also delivered an acceptance speech to serve another four years, and he took direct aim at the Democrats. "Last week, Democrats didn’t talk very much about their agenda — and if I were them, I wouldn’t either," Pence said. "[Sen.] Bernie Sanders [I-VT] did tell his followers that Joe Biden would be the most liberal president in modern times. In fact, he said, and I quote, that 'many of the ideas he fought for, that just a few years ago were considered radical, are now mainstream' in the Democratic Party." Speaking from Fort McHenry, which defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy during the War of 1812, Pence said "the heroes who held this fort took their stand for life, liberty, freedom, and the American flag." "Those ideals have defined our nation, but they were hardly ever mentioned at last week’s Democratic National Convention. Instead, Democrats spent four days attacking America. Joe Biden said that we were living through a 'season of darkness.' But as President Trump said, 'Where Joe Biden sees American darkness, we see American greatness.'" 3. Pelosi: Let's not even have debates. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images There's been much speculation as to whether Biden will really leave his basement to debate Trump face to face late next month. With his endless gaffes and verbal blunders, some Democrats are encouraging Biden to bail — but citing other reasons for the exit. Enter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The California Democrat said this week she doesn’t "think that there should be any debates." "I myself — don’t tell anybody I told you this, especially don’t tell Joe Biden — I don’t think that there should be any debates," she told a room packed full of reporters. She said she does "not think that the President of the United States has comported himself in a way that anybody that has any association with truth, evidence, data, and facts.” “I wouldn’t legitimize a conversation with him, nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States,” Pelosi added. “Now I know that the Biden campaign thinks in a different way about this.” Democrats seem to be settling on the "Trump doesn't tell the truth" excuse for Biden to skip the debates. Joe Lockhart, a former press secretary for Bill Clinton, said earlier this month that he shouldn’t show up: "It’s a fool’s errand to enter the ring with someone who can’t follow the rules or the truth." YOU MIGHT LIKE VERDICT WITH TED CRUZ Latest episode: "In Hollywood, the Revolution Will Be Televised ft. Isaiah Washington" Live from the belly of the beast, “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Isaiah Washington joins Senator Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles for an inside conversation on Hollywood’s predilection for cancelling conservatives. In this episode, Washington tells the story of his walk away from the Democratic Party, details his triumphant professional journey from Houston to Hollywood, and spills the tea on Tinseltown’s dirty little (Chinese) secret. Listen on Apple Podcasts. 4. Biden blames Trump for race riots. Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images As racial turmoil explodes in Democrat-controlled cities across the country, Trump and Biden traded barbs about who's to blame. "Remember: every example of violence Donald Trump decries has happened on his watch," Biden wrote on Twitter this week. "Under his leadership. During his presidency." In an interview on MSNBC, Biden said, “The problem we have right now is we’re in Donald Trump’s America. You know, to quote [Trump adviser Kellyanne] Conway, she said, and I’m paraphrasing today, that they’re looking for more violence and more disruption because it helps them politically. He views this as a political benefit to him, you know. He’s rooting for more violence, not less, and is clear about that. And what’s he doing? He’s kept pouring gasoline on the fire. This happens to be Donald Trump’s America.” "When has a president or a spokesperson for a president ever said something like that, ever?” Biden said. 5. Trump blames Democrats for race riots. Chris Carlson/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images Trump fired back at Biden and his party in his RNC speech, noting that Democrats control the cities where the violence is occurring. “In the strongest possible terms, the Republican Party condemns the rioting, looting, arson, and violence we have seen in Democrat run cities all, like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York, and many others Democrat-run. There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America.” Trump also noted that the subject didn't come up in the four days of the DNC and only now is Biden addressing the violence. "It is too late, Joe. In the face of left-wing anarchy and mayhem in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other cities, Joe Biden’s campaign did not condemn it. They donated to it. At least 13 members of Joe Biden’s campaign staff donated to a fund to bailout vandals, arsonists, and anarchists, looters, and rioters from jail," Trump said. "If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters, and flag-burners, that is up to them, but I, as your President, will not be a part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe." 6. By the numbers: Trump vs. Biden. With just more than two months to go until Election Day, the polls continue to tighten. Biden for months had enjoyed a double-digit lead in numerous polls, but the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average of national polls now shows Biden currently leading Trump by 7.1% — down from 9% in early July and 10% in June. Trump currently trails in five of the battleground states he won in 2016, but he's beginning to gain some ground. Here are the latest numbers from RCP, with the numbers from the end of July in parentheses: Arizona — Biden +2.2 (+3.7) Florida — Biden + 3.7 (+5.0) Michigan — Biden +7.0 (+7.5) North Carolina — TIED (Biden +4.6) Pennsylvania — Biden +5.8 (+6.4) Wisconsin — Biden +3.5 (+6.5) 7. Meme of the week: Check out more on Instagram @realdailywire. Election Wire is a weekly email newsletter featuring the latest in election news, polling data, and analysis from The Daily Wire. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Request next week’s Election Wire here and share it with your friends.