| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | Presented by |  | | | |  | THE CATCH-UP | | | 
Kamala Harris' ability to sell voters on the economy could prove critical in the final stretch of the campaign. | Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITICO | The economy is delivering VP KAMALA HARRIS a strong hand as the presidential election enters the most frenzied stretch with Election Day nearly a month out. But whether she can play her cards right could prove to be the question that dominates the final days of the race. This morning, the Labor Department turned in a surging jobs report, showing that employers added 254,000 jobs in September, more than 100,000 above forecasts, offering the latest signal that the economy is powering ahead despite fears of a slowdown, Katy O’Donnell and Sam Sutton write. More details: The report showed that the jobless rate fell to 4.1%, while hourly wages grew at an annual pace of 4%. While the report far exceeded expectations, it’s in keeping with a so-called soft landing, where the economy avoids a recession, which everyone had hoped the Federal Reserve could achieve after it undertook one of the most aggressive series of rate hikes in its history in 2022 and 2023. “The surprisingly solid jobs number puts Fed Chair JEROME POWELL on course to cut interest rates by a modest quarter of a point when the central bank holds its next meeting on Nov. 6-7.” Now, pair this morning’s rosy numbers with the unexpectedly quick resolution to the dockworkers’ strike — which reopened ports and avoided a potentially catastrophic pre-holiday supply chain snarl — and Harris has real winds in her sails. The table is set for Harris to grab voters by the lapels and show them hard evidence that the economy is in pretty good shape under an administration with her name on it. But selling it will be the challenge. While the economy has been one of Trump’s strongest issues, there are signs that he is losing ground. As of publication, the only engagement with this morning’s report came from the KamalaHQ account on X. Harris will get a chance later this evening to make the case at an event in Michigan. HEADS UP — ELON MUSK is among the long list of attendees slated to appear with Trump tomorrow at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he is returning for the first time since the attempted assassination at his July rally that resulted in the death of one rally-goer. More from Andrew Howard Related read: “‘It didn’t have to happen’: Wife of man killed at Trump rally struggles with loss,” by BBC’s Gary O’Donoghue: “‘I see it every time I close my eyes, and probably will for a long time’ [HELEN COMPERATORE] said.” Helen and her two daughters are also set to attend tomorrow’s rally. Speaking of Trump rallies: WaPo’s Marianne LeVine, Sabrina Rodriguez, Josh Dawsey and Abbie Cheeseman asked Trump event attendees across dozens of events why they leave early, with a range of answers such as “other responsibilities, priorities or, sometimes, waning patience and interest.” HELENE LATEST — Speaking of Musk, he is one of many luminaries in the MAGA orbit who have spread messages in the past day accusing the Biden administration of botching the federal response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and other locales. “FEMA is not merely failing to adequately help people in trouble, but is actively blocking citizens who try to help!” he wrote on X just moments ago. Contrast that with the message coming from the mainly Republican elected officials on the ground, such as this comment from Sen. THOM TILLIS (R-N.C.), courtesy of CBS’ Alan He: “They’re doing a great job. They can always work harder. There’s always kinks in the slinky. We’re working them out behind the scenes, but I think we’re all here to send a message that we’re working together, and I’m pretty proud of the effort that’s been done.” Read FEMA’s fact-check Remarkable read: “Inside a helicopter bringing life-saving relief to North Carolina’s storm-ravaged counties,” by WaPo’s Gerrit De Vynck above Ashe County, North Carolina Happy Friday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from USAFacts: Want to know the facts on immigration, taxes and spending? Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO and owner of the LA Clippers, shares facts and data, you make up your mind! | | | TALK OF THIS TOWN — Michael Schaffer pens his latest Capital City column: “What Dictators, Corruption and Threesomes Have to Do With a Lawsuit That Could Kneecap Fox News” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The Black Economic Alliance is launching a mobilization program in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania that will target more than 700,000 infrequent Black voters with text messages and digital advertising about the importance of voting for candidates who will prioritize Black work, wages, and wealth and advance an opportunity economy.
| | 7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW | | |  Kamala Harris' brother-in-law Tony West is forging ties with business, causing some concern on the left. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | 1. ALL IN THE FAMILY: This morning, Michael Kruse had an excellent and insightful read on Harris’ mother, SHYAMALA GOPALAN, and the influence that she has had on the presidential hopeful’s career. And there’s a pair of interesting stories on Harris’ family that peel back the curtain even further on her upbringing and orbit. First, Harris’ relationship with her father, DONALD HARRIS, goes under the microscope of NYT’s Robert Draper, who writes that despite their estrangement, Donald Harris is not an “irrelevant” figure in Harris’ rise. “Friends of both say the estrangement, set in motion by her parents’ split when Ms. Harris was a child, may have as much to do with traits father and daughter share as it does their decades of differences. Both are focused, demanding much of themselves and of others. Both can be generous mentors and devoted friends while warily maintaining a zone of privacy from everyone else. Both place a high premium on loyalty. Both can be stubborn.” And WSJ’s Catherine Lucey, Ken Thomas and Emily Glazer examine Harris’ brother-in-law TONY WEST, who is forging ties in business, while worrying some on the left. “West, who has known the vice president since the 1990s through his marriage to her sister, MAYA HARRIS, has emerged as a powerful adviser to the Democratic nominee’s campaign and a regular passenger on Air Force Two. He has wooed executives and donors, cultivating her blossoming relationship with the business community. He is also, critics say, a source of potential conflicts of interest should Harris win the presidency.” 2. HOW TRUMP WINS MICHIGAN: “Electric vehicle backlash has Michigan Dems on defensive,” by Gavin Bade: “The Trump campaign’s decision to invest nearly $1 million to air his auto ad across Michigan is just one indicator that Republicans are trying to capitalize on a backlash against electric vehicles in a bid to win the Great Lakes state. “Statewide polling this summer showed that Michigan voters disapprove of Biden-Harris administration efforts to push consumers toward electric vehicles by 55 percent to 40 percent — even without any mention of a “mandate.” And there are signs that it’s become a topic of conversation among voters in Macomb County, a swing region in this Rust Belt state that includes many of Detroit’s northern suburbs.” How Trump keeps the margin game alive: “Trump Allies Worked To Keep Jill Stein, Cornel West on Swing State Ballots,” by RealClearPolitics’ Philip Wegmann 3. MAN IN THE MIRROR: Fresh off admitting to donning blackface while dressing up as MICHAEL JACKSON in college, Rep. MIKE LAWLER (R-N.Y.) on at least two occasions in the past month has missed or sidestepped opportunities to condemn racist language in public settings, Emily Ngo reports. “Three weeks ago, at a forum on combating antisemitism held north of New York City, Lawler spoke almost immediately after a participant used a racial slur for Black people, but he did not address the man’s use of the epithet, according to audio reviewed by POLITICO. “Last week, the freshman Republican pivoted to a different topic when far-right talk radio host SID ROSENBERG told him in an interview that Islamophobia and white supremacy do not exist, but Black supremacy does. While neither episode is an example of Lawler himself using racist rhetoric, each may shed light on how he reacts in environments where such language or sentiment may go unchallenged.”
| | | | A message from USAFacts: All Americans are shareholders in this democracy: we contribute to the nation's coffers through tax dollars and elect representatives to write its laws. Like any shareholders, we deserve to know where the money goes and how lawmakers' policies affect society. Government data has those answers.
Founded by Steve Ballmer, USAFacts guides you through the maze that is government data. We’re a team of career researchers, data analysts, statisticians, and communication professionals. We track down government metrics in digital reports or the occasional Freedom of Information Act request. We standardize the numbers, consult designers to make clear visuals, and we refine our reports so that we share just the facts. | | | 4. BEHIND THE SCENES AT STATE: New cables, emails, meeting minutes and other State Department records uncovered by ProPublica’s Brett Murphy “offer an inside look at how and why the highest ranking policymakers in the U.S. government have continued to approve sales of American weapons to Israel in the face of a mounting civilian death toll and evidence of almost daily human rights abuses. … The records and interviews also show that the pressure to keep the arms pipeline moving also comes from the U.S. military contractors who make the weapons. Lobbyists for those companies have routinely pressed lawmakers and State Department officials behind the scenes to approve shipments both to Israel and other controversial allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia.” A snapshot: “In late January, as the death toll in Gaza climbed to 25,000 and droves of Palestinians fled their razed cities in search of safety, Israel’s military asked for 3,000 more bombs from the American government. U.S. Ambassador to Israel JACK LEW, along with other top diplomats in the Jerusalem embassy, sent a cable to Washington urging State Department leaders to approve the sale, saying there was no potential the Israel Defense Forces would misuse the weapons.” Related reads: “Emails show early US concerns over Gaza offensive, risk of Israeli war crimes,” by Reuters’ Humeyra Pamuk … “Iranian missiles hit Israeli military sites, visuals show,” by WaPo’s Meg Kelly, Imogen Piper and Evan Hill 5. ADAMS’ SURVIVAL PLAN: Since his historic federal indictment was handed down last week, NYC Mayor ERIC ADAMS has tried his best to stay in the good graces of Gov. KATHY HOCHUL, who could remove him from office if she so desires. The effort is “part of a larger campaign to stay in power despite calls from some in his party that he resign,” WSJ’s Jimmy Vielkind reports. “As a result of Adams’s moves, calls for his resignation have slowed and remain limited to left-leaning groups and officials.” However, that reality could change as the public weighs in. In a damning new Marist poll out today, “seven out of ten New York City adults think Adams should resign, and just 26 percent approve of the job he’s doing” and two-thirds believe he has done something illegal, Jeff Coltin reports. “There are no silver linings for the mayor. Democrats disapprove of him just as much as Republicans and independent voters. While Black New Yorkers were key to electing Adams as the city’s second-ever Black mayor in 2021, now just 38 percent approve of the job he’s doing.” See the full poll 6. WALZ TO WALZ: Under TIM WALZ’s administration in Minnesota, there has been a series of “troubling examples of waste, fraud and abuse,” CNN’s Rob Kuznia, Nelli Black and Kyung Lah report. But some state agencies “repeatedly minimized or dismissed the allegations,” according to JUDY RANDALL, the state’s nonpartisan auditor. “A CNN review of audits — and the responses they prompted — as well as interviews with statewide politicians and pundits, found that Walz has been a hands-off leader when it comes to seeking accountability for episodes of fraud and mismanagement on his watch. What’s more, some state agencies headed by his appointees have responded defensively in recent months to the audits — a dynamic that Randall, who has worked in the department for 26 years, has found surprising.” 7. CHAGOS RAGE: Senior Republicans attacked the British government’s decision to cede control of the Chagos Islands, warning the move is a coup for Chinese interests. Sen. JIM RISCH (R-Idaho) told our colleague Emilio Casalicchio the decision “gives in to Chinese lawfare” while Rep. MICHAEL McCAUL (R-Texas) said the Diego Garcia base was “essential” to countering China and urged the government to ensure the agreement protects U.S. and U.K. interests. And there’s more: The British government was forced to insist the U.S. was foursquare behind the move, after a report in the Times claimed Washington voiced concerns in private, despite the public support from President JOE BIDEN.
| | PLAYBOOKERS | | Martha MacCallum received the John R. “Tex” McCray Award for Excellence in Journalism at The Patriot Awards Gala. IN MEMORIAM — “Matthew Lewis, Pulitzer-winning Washington Post photographer, dies at 94,” by WaPo’s Adam Bernstein: “Matthew Lewis, a Washington Post photographer who won the Pulitzer Prize for his portfolio of Washington-area personalities and ways of life and who became the newspaper’s first Black assistant managing editor, died Oct. 2 at his home in Thomasville, N.C. He was 94. The cause was complications from a fall, said his son Kevin Lewis, the fourth generation of his family to work in photography.” TRANSITION — Edward Ajaeb will be president of the National Council of Investigation and Security Services. He is the founder and CEO of Nighthawk Strategies. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton and Playbook Daily Briefing producer Callan Tansill-Suddath. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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