Usually, Labor Day marks the start of the home stretch of a presidential campaign. By this time, candidates have been campaigning for more than a year, gone through the bruising primary season, had their conventions and we're down to the final two months.
But it’s hard to call this the home stretch, because this campaign only began six weeks ago. That’s when President Joe Biden withdrew and Vice President Kamala Harris took over as the Democratic candidate.
With nine weeks to go before Election Day, we haven’t even reached the midpoint yet. Regardless of the campaign’s length, it’s game on for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Their first debate is scheduled for Tuesday and early voting in many states begins in a month.
Ohio State political science professor Wendy Smooth joins the show to discuss this unusual campaign.
Snollygoster of the week
At least one Republican wants to tighten Ohio’s election laws even further, and he’s using the situation of disabled and homebound voters to make his case.
Here’s the story: a federal judge ordered Ohio to allow grandchildren and caregivers to drop off absentee ballots for disabled voters at county board of election offices. Under Ohio law, grandchildren and caregivers aren’t considered close enough relatives to do so.
Instead of accepting the ruling, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose directed local board of election offices to only accept those ballots inside their offices, and not in drop boxes outside. Additionally, LaRose asked lawmakers to consider banning drop boxes altogether.
It’s worth noting that there have been no reports of issues with drop boxes, and any reports of improper or illegal voting in Ohio are a minuscule fraction of a percentage point.
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