If you only read one thing: Donald Trump’s candidacy is getting a $3o million injection of cash in the final days of the campaign backing a digital and television push to swing the election at the last minute. Future45 and its associated nonprofit arm, 45 Committee, are both funded largely by Sheldon Adelson and are behind the late effort. You may have already seen some of the ads, which have attacked Hillary Clinton on her email server, family foundation and the Iran nuclear deal. A new spot includes a Clinton impersonator destroying various electronic devices. The group is also funding Spanish-language ads to resurrect decade-old comments by Clinton forcefully opposing illegal immigrants. (Her tone is now far more welcoming as the politics on the issue have shifted.) The $5 million digital buy includes a rap video called “pay my foundation” and a remix of TV pundits talking about the charity. The spending extends to Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat in an effort to reach out to millennial voters who aren’t enthused about Clinton. But the injection of cash comes as more than 30 million people have already voted, putting the efficacy of the push into doubt.
We’re getting a clearer picture of the two candidates’ schedules for the final stretch, as Clinton plays a more defensive strategy focused on North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. If she holds any two of them—and she is favored to—she will all-but-be-assured of winning the White House. She’ll hold a final rally Monday night with President Obama, Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton in Philadelphia. Trump will be doing a last-minute fly around to those states, where he must make significant in-roads against Clinton, as well as trying to drive up Election Day turnout in Iowa and Nevada. His final rally will be in Manchester, N.H., on Monday night.
Clinton steps up efforts down-ballot. How North Carolina is handling the “rigged” rhetoric. And when is a vote not an endorsement?
Here are your must reads:
Must Reads
How One Swing State Is Responding to ‘Rigged Election’ Talk
Drama in North Carolina [TIME]
Clinton Campaign Offers Endorsements, Organizing Help To Dozens Of Down-Ballot Dems
The Clinton campaign has offered Democratic candidates — especially House candidates — endorsements and digital get-out-the-vote organizing firepower [BuzzFeed]
That Supreme Court Stonewall May Not Crumble Anytime Soon
Senate Republicans talk blocking nominee for years [New York Times]
‘He’s Got to Get Control of the Ship Again’
How tensions at the FBI will persist after the election [Washington Post]
White House Readies to Fight Election Day Cyber Mayhem
Fears of foreign effort to sow instability and mistrust [NBC]
Sound Off
“They’re so much braver than me. I wouldn’t have done what they did. I’m brave in other ways. I’m financially brave.” — Donald Trump off-script on veterans
“I think the endorsement is far different than who you actually vote for.” — Rep. Jason Chaffetz to CNN after reversing himself for at least the third time publicly on the question of whether he’d vote for Donald Trump
Bits and Bites
Watch the 10 Most Notable Campaign Ads of 2016 [TIME]
Two Stops, Same Message: Obama Urges Young Floridians to Vote [TIME]
Donald Trump leaves the press behind, again [Politico]
New Donald Trump Campaign Ad Calls Anthony Weiner a ‘Pervert’ [TIME]
Mike Pence won’t say whether Ryan should be House speaker [Associated Press]
Conway: I’ve talked to NBC about Trump singling out Katy Tur [Politico]
Eric Trump Says White Supremacist David Duke Deserves a Bullet [TIME]
Chaffetz: Voting for Trump doesn’t mean I’m endorsing him [CNN]
Donald Trump Tells Veterans He’s ‘Financially Brave’ [TIME]
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Contact us at letters@time.com