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2024 election updates: Trump, Harris hit more battlegrounds

The candidates continue to rally supporters in key swing states.

Last Updated: September 29, 2024, 5:19 PM EDT

With just over five weeks to go until Election Day, the candidates are campaigning in battleground states and making their case for why they should lead the country.

Former President Donald Trump spoke to a crowd in Erie, Pa., on Sunday after an event on Saturday in Wisconsin.

Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, was scheduled to speak in Las Vegas on Sunday night after fundraisers in San Francisco on Saturday and in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Sep 23, 2024, 3:38 PM EDT

Harris won't attend the Al Smith dinner, a presidential campaign staple

Vice President Harris will not attend the Al Smith dinner next month in New York, breaking with tradition of major party nominees sharing laughs at the benefit dinner, and will instead be on the campaign trail, a campaign official confirmed to ABC News.

"She is going to be campaigning in a battleground state that day, and the campaign wants to maximize her time in the battlegrounds this close to the election," the official said.

Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign event in Madison, Wisc., Sept. 20, 2024.
Brett Johnsen/NurPhoto via Shutterstock

The dinner, which benefits Catholic Charities, is scheduled for Oct. 17. It has become a traditional stop on the presidential campaign trail, with both the Republican and Democratic nominees attending and delivering remarks full of roasts. In recent years, both nominees attended the gala, including in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. (The latter was virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic.)

The official also added that Harris' team informed the dinner's organizers she would be absent, but was willing to attend in a later year as president.

ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Gabrielle Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie

Sep 23, 2024, 11:52 AM EDT

Melania Trump to sit for her 1st interview of 2024 election cycle

Former first lady Melania Trump will sit down for her first interview of the 2024 election cycle with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt as she continues to promote her new book.

The interview is set to air on Thursday, Fox announced on Monday.

Former first lady Melania Trump arrives on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Leon Neal/Getty Images

While Melania Trump has remained relatively quiet this campaign cycle, mainly appearing with the former president at closed-door events, she has been more active online recently as she launches her forthcoming memoir, "Melania."

Her book is scheduled to be released on Oct. 8. Her website describes it in part as "the powerful and inspiring story of a woman who has defined personal excellence, overcome adversity, and carved her own path."

ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kelsey Walsh

Sep 23, 2024, 11:40 AM EDT

Trump again says it's too late for another debate amid challenges from Harris

Trump is again ruling out another debate against Harris, arguing it would be "a very bad thing" for the country.

"Well, I've already done two debates, and they, you know, we're good, but to do a third one, everybody's voting now, and it's very late to be doing a third debate," Trump told Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin in a phone conversation that aired Monday morning.

Harris said over the weekend she accepted an offer from CNN for a debate on Oct. 23.

Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign event in Madison, Wisc., Sept. 20, 2024.
Brett Johnsen/NurPhoto via Shutterstock

Her team has also noted that there have been presidential debates in years past in the final weeks before Election Day.

“The final 2020 debate was October 22," the Harris campaign wrote on X. "The proposed CNN debate is October 23."

Trump also debated Hillary Clinton for a third time around the same timeframe: Oct. 19, 2016.

Sep 23, 2024, 10:11 AM EDT

Trump slightly leads in Arizona, about even in North Carolina: Polls

A set of New York Times/Siena College polls found Trump slightly leads Harris in Arizona and they are about evenly matched in North Carolina.

Among likely voters in Arizona, Trump leads Harris 50% to 45% in a head-to-head matchup. In a six-way matchup with other candidates, Trump still leads Harris 48% to 43%.

In North Carolina, Trump also leads Harris among likely voters 49% to 47%. He also leads by 2 percentage points in a six-way matchup. The lead, however, is within the poll's margin of error.

Arizona and North Carolina are considered crucial battlegrounds this election, along with Georgia. According to 538’s polling average, Trump is ahead slightly in each of the three Sun Belt states.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at the Aero Center Wilmington on Sept. 21, 2024 in Wilmington, N.C.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images