Trump concludes MSG rally with anti-immigrant rhetoric

Trump was introduced to the stage by Melania in an unannounced appearance.

The race for the White House remained essentially a dead heat on Sunday -- with nine days to go until Election Day.

Former President Donald Trump delivered a speech Sunday afternoon at New York's Madison Square Garden. After making several stops in Philadelphia on Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally there Sunday afternoon.

Oct 28, 6:03 am

Almost 42 million voters have cast a vote

Almost 42 million Americans have cast a vote through early voting methods, as of Sunday afternoon, according to data from the University of Florida's Election Lab.

The about 41.9 million recorded mail and early in-person votes were evenly split with about 21 million mail ballots returned nationally and about the same cast at in-person early voting polling sites across the country, the data showed.

Early voting options are now open to voters in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Many early voting periods will last until the weekend before Election Day.

Oct 27, 2024, 1:50 PM EDT

Harris asks, 'What kind of country do we want to live in?' at Philadelphia church service

Speaking at a Philadelphia church Sunday morning, Harris sought, without naming her opponent, to describe the contrast voters face.

“What kind of country do we want to live in?” she asked congregants. “What kind of country do we want for our children and our grandchildren -- a country of chaos, faith, fear and hate, or a country of freedom, justice and compassion?”

Harris cited Scripture to discuss the “heavy” work required over the next nine days, and the “joy” that will follow.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign event at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Mich., Oct. 26, 2024.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

“These next nine days will test us. They will demand everything we've got. But when I think about the days ahead and the God we serve, I am confident that his power will work through us because church, I know we were born for a time such as this, and I have faith he is going to carry us forward.

“And the road ahead won't be easy. It will require perseverance and hard work. But in times of uncertainty, Scripture reminds us, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. The path may seem hard, the work may seem heavy, but joy cometh in the morning, and church morning is on its way,” she said.

The vice president delivered a unifying message, saying, “This moment in our nation has to be about so much more than partisan politics. It must be about the good work we can do together, about our fundamental values and about who we are as Americans and as people of faith here in Pennsylvania right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference.”

“In just nine days, we have the power to decide the fate of our nation for generations to come. And on this day, then on this beautiful Sunday morning, I am reminded that God expects us to help him. We got work to do,” Harris said.

-ABC News’ Will McDuffie, Fritz Farrow and Gabriella Abdul-Hakim

Oct 27, 2024, 12:27 PM EDT

Vance argues over Trump’s ‘enemy from within’ comments

Trump's vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance was pressed on Sunday on Trump calling his domestic political opponents "the enemy from within."

In a recent Fox News interview, Trump referred to California Rep. Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as "an enemy from within." Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" if he believes Schiff and Pelosi are more dangerous than Russia and China, Vance tried to clarify what Trump said, telling Kristen Welker, "Those folks pose a greater threat to United States's peace and security.

"America is strong enough to stand up to any foreign adversary," Vance said.

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance, speaks at a campaign rally in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 26, 2024.
Ben Gray/AP

Pressed if he agrees with Trump's comments, Vance said "that the biggest threat we have in our country, it's not a foreign adversary."

On CNN's "State of the Union," Vance insisted that Trump's "enemy from within" comments were not directed at political opponents.

CNN's Jake Tapper quoted Trump's previous statements to Vance, saying, "I'm talking about what he said publicly, he wants to use the military to go after the enemy within, which is the American people," Tapper said.

Vance fired back with, "He did not say that, Jake. He said 'far-left lunatics.' He's talking about people rioting after the election."

"He said about using the military that far-left lunatics, people who riot in the wake of an election, people who burned down American cities in the summer of 2020," Vance said. "Yes, we should have a federal law enforcement response."

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Oct 27, 2024, 12:06 PM EDT

Harris dodges question on abortion restrictions

Asked by “CBS Sunday Morning” host Norah O’Donnell to define which abortion restrictions she supported, Harris dodged the question, saying she supports restoring Roe v. Wade, which would protect abortion access until fetal viability, which is around the 22nd week of pregnancy.

“Let's put back in place Roe versus Wade. This was not an issue in Roe, when Roe versus Wade was intact for 50 years, half a century,” Harris said. “I support Roe versus Wade being put back into law by Congress and to restore the fundamental right of women to make decisions about their own body. It is that basic.”

Harris was interviewed by O’Donnell in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Houston in the days before the interview aired.

Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Mich., Oct. 26, 2024.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Harris plans to make a closing argument for her election on Tuesday at The Ellipse on the National Mall in Washington with the White House in the background. In an excerpt from the CBS interview released Sunday morning, she said the reason she chose the same spot where Trump spoke to supporters before the Jan.6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol was to remind Americans of their choice between herself and Trump.

“I would and do think about that place more in the context of what will be behind me, which is the White House. And I'm doing it there, because I think it is very important for the American people to see and think about who will be occupying that space on Jan. 20,” she said. “And the reality of it is that most Americans can visualize the Oval Office. We've seen it on television, and this is a real scenario. It's either going to be Donald Trump or it's going to be me sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.”

-ABC News’ Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie

Oct 27, 2024, 7:20 AM EDT

Harris regains slight lead among likely voters nationally

Vice President Kamala Harris has regained a slight lead among likely voters nationally in the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll, albeit with the race close enough to leave the outcome of the 2024 presidential election to the uncertainties of the Electoral College.

Just 2 percentage points divide Harris and former President Donald Trump among all registered voters, 49-47%.

PHOTO: This combination of file photos shows former President Donald Trump speaking on Oct. 20, 2024, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Vice President Kamala Harris speaking on Oct. 14, 2024, in Erie, Pennsylvania.
This combination of file photos shows Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaking on Oct. 20, 2024, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaking on Oct. 14, 2024, in Erie, Pennsylvania.
AP

This goes to a slight Harris advantage among likely voters, 51-47%, with some pro-Harris groups showing a bit more propensity to vote.

Compared with earlier this month, Harris has regained a more customary Democratic advantage among Hispanic people and widened her advantage among suburban women, while remaining strong in core groups including Black people.

Trump pushes back in rural areas and among non-college white men, and runs competitively among younger men.

-ABC News' Gary Langer