MORNING HEADLINES | A New York City rally on Sunday by former GOP President Donald Trump found speakers on the attack with wild racist, off-color and menacing vitriol that is drawing criticism and backlash from other Republican candidates in close races. In what was called an extremist closing argument by CNN, Trump took the stage with “an escalating series of inflammatory remarks” including repeating that one of the country’s greatest threats is “the enemy within.”
Meanwhile, the rhetoric is motivating influencers with millions of followers to back Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who is pushing to get support of the very Black and Latino voters being targeted by the Trump campaign.
Other stories in weekend headlines highlight how more than a half million South Carolina voters have already voted in the Nov. 5 general election. State officials also provided a guide for what voters can expect on Election Day – during voting and as results roll in. The Post and Courier offered this story on safeguards, firewalls and paper trails that are part of the voting security process.
In recent weekend headlines:
CP OPINION, Brack: A guy standing up to pressure to keep elections honest. “It’s the second day of a new year just after a presidential election and you pick up the phone. At one point, the guy on the other end of the line says, ‘All I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more that we have because we won the state.’ The guy on that Jan. 2, 2021, call was the president of the United States, Donald Trump. He was putting pressure on Georgia’s top election official, Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, to “find” enough votes to prevail in the Peach State over Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Trump even threatened a criminal prosecution.”
NYT OPINION: Believe what Donald Trump says he will do. “Donald Trump has described at length the dangerous and disturbing actions he says he will take if he wins the presidency. His rallies offer a steady stream of such promises and threats — things like prosecuting political opponents and using the military against U.S. citizens. These statements are so outrageous and outlandish, so openly in conflict with the norms and values of American democracy that many find them hard to regard as anything but empty bluster. We have two words for American voters: Believe him.”
CP WEEK IN REVIEW: Early voting setting records in S.C. By early Friday, more than 500,000 Palmetto State residents had heeded a call to vote early, reportedly braving parking problems and long lines at many early voting sites to cast their ballots for president, state legislature and county offices.
GUN VIOLENCE: 15 shot over weekend in South Carolina. At least 15 people were hurt or died in shootings across the state over the weekend, including a 13-year-old arrested in Greenville for shooting a 7-year-old; two dead and one hurt in a Beaufort County shooting; one dead and another arrested in Andrews in a Sunday shooting; and two hospitalized after a North Charleston shooting on Saturday.
Berkeley Co. magistrate under investigation. A Berkeley County magistrate is a suspect in a reported assault on an Uber driver after a family dispute, according to this story.
S.C. House Freedom Caucus founder may face federal charges. A federal court filing confirms that federal authorities seized several electronic devices from S.C. Rep. R.J. May, R-Lexington. And they could be used for federal charges, the story says.
State education board to look at two classics. The state’s education board reportedly is looking at three classics, including “To Kill a Mockingbird,” among 11 books that have been challenged. A book-ban policy was enacted three months ago.
USC plans to build Southeast’s first neurological hospital. The $350 million facility would specialize in world-class treatment and rehabilitation for strokes, dementia and more.
Maurice’s Piggy Park complex goes up in flames. The West Columbia barbecue joint’s distribution center, food prep area and offices were ravaged by fire Saturday night. But the fire didn’t involve the restaurant.
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