Harris and Trump focus on Arizona as early voting starts there

As another hurricane barrels towards Florida, Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump for spreading disinformation about Hurricane Helene. But in Pennsylvania, the former president continued to spread false information about the federal response. It comes as early voting started in Arizona and both campaigns held events to persuade voters there. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Read the Full Transcript

Geoff Bennett: Early voting started in Arizona today and both campaigns held events to persuade voters there.

Laura Barron-Lopez has this report.

Laura Barron-Lopez: As another hurricane barrels towards Florida, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump for spreading disinformation about Hurricane Helene during a phone interview on CNN.

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: It is dangerous. It is unconscionable, frankly, that anyone who would consider themselves a leader would mislead desperate people to the point that those desperate people would not receive the aid to which they are entitled.

Laura Barron-Lopez: But in Pennsylvania, former President Trump continued to spread false information about the federal response to Hurricane Helene.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: And we have another big one coming in, but the worst, the one in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia. That was — pieces of Florida got hit. It was incredible, the worst ever, they say.

They had no money. You know where they gave the money? To illegal immigrants coming in, many of whom are killers.

(Booing)

Laura Barron-Lopez: Harris left New York today to campaign in Las Vegas after a series of media appearances.

On “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” last night, Harris took aim at Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kamala Harris: He gets played by these guys. He admires so-called strongmen, and he gets played because they flatter him or offer him favor.

Laura Barron-Lopez: In an upcoming book, Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward reports that Trump sent COVID-19 test machines to Putin during a shortage in the U.S. and has had up to seven private phone calls with Putin since leaving the White House.

Kamala Harris: He thinks Vladimir Putin is his friend. What about the American people? They should be your first friends.

(Cheering)

Laura Barron-Lopez: The Kremlin confirmed that Trump sent them COVID-19 tests, but denied that multiple calls between Trump and Putin had taken place.

On the other side of the country, the vice presidential candidates made their cases in Arizona. Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, held a rally in Tucson.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Vice Presidential Candidate: If you want a government that puts the interests of American citizens first, the only person to vote for is Donald J. Trump.

Laura Barron-Lopez: Just two hours north in Phoenix, his opponent, Governor Tim Walz, campaigned with Jim McCain, son of the late Republican senator John McCain.

Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Vice Presidential Candidate: It’s not about politics. It’s about basic human decency. It’s about leadership and character.

Laura Barron-Lopez: Yesterday, in Arizona’s most populous county, election officials ran accuracy tests on voting equipment.

Jennifer Liewer, Deputy Elections Director, Maricopa County, Arizona: There is so much attention to elections these days, and Maricopa County has really sort of been the center of a lot of exposure.

Laura Barron-Lopez: Early voting in Arizona started today, and all eyes will be on bellwether Maricopa County.

For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Laura Barron-Lopez.