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, 6:01 PM EDT

Harris races through stump speech in Philly, leaves out riffs of Trump being 'unfit'

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered an unusually short stump speech at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Sunday, leaving out some notable passages, including her riff about former President Donald Trump being "unfit" to serve.

"Philly, we've got nine days, nine days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. And we know this is going to be a tight race until the very end," Harris said to a crowd gathered at The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center. "So, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we like hard work."

In her roughly 15-minute-long remarks, Harris mentioned Trump's name only three times, accusing him of being self-interested and for stoking "divisiveness" in politics.

"When you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for," Harris said. "And this election is about two extremely different visions for our nation: One, Donald Trump's, who has focused on the past and himself. And we are not going back."

During her remarks, Harris was briefly interrupted by protesters in the audience.

"I want to talk about Gaza for a minute. Okay?" Harris said, in the middle of her comments on Trump. "We can, and we must seize this opportunity to end this war and bring the hostages home. And I will do everything in my power to make that end."

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

Oct 27, 2024, 5:57 PM EDT

Giuliani defends Trump’s rhetoric: ‘He’s a New Yorker’

Madison Square Garden erupted in a standing ovation for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani when he took the stage at Trump’s rally on Sunday.

Giuliani, who has been disbarred over his false claims about the 2020 election, appealed to New Yorkers to boost Trump.

“We gather here today in the middle of midtown Manhattan that this is the most iconic venue of venues in the United States. This is where, this is where Republicans are not supposed to come, which is why Donald Trump came here,” Giuliani said, making a nod to the unlikely setting for Trump’s closing argument just days away from Election Day.

Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City, speaks prior to Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump taking the state at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Oct. 27, 2024.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

“There's no place in America the president shouldn't be able to come,” he continued.

Giuliani defended Trump’s personality as a trait of a New Yorker: “Like me, President Trump grew up here. He's a New Yorker. That's why some people get a little annoyed at him. He speaks his mind.”

“But wouldn't you have rather have a president that communicates with you than one who sits in a basement babbling or another one who, when asked, ‘Why do you want to be president?’ she says, ‘My mother was from the middle class,’” he continued.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in New York ruled Giuliani has seven days to turn over luxury items and shares of his New York co-op apartment to cover much of what he owes to two Georgia poll workers he defamed in 2020.

-ABC News' Soorin Kim, Lalee Ibssa and Kelsey Walsh

Oct 27, 2024, 5:30 PM EDT

Comic at Trump’s MSG rally calls Puerto Rico 'a floating island of garbage'

The rally that campaign officials say is about bringing a diverse group of supporters together started with some speakers who made disparaging comments about Hispanic and Black Americans, a voter group the Trump campaign is attempting to court in deep-Blue New York.

It started with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who made explicit jokes about Latinos and turned to Trump’s recent comments calling the United States the “garbage can” of the world, and then made a racist joke at the expense of a Black supporter in the crowd.

Even the lively audience seemed uncomfortable by Hinchcliffe’s remarks, and Hinchcliffe attempted to make jokes about the lack of applause and laughs to his offensive comments.

Tony Hinchcliffe arrives to speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, Oct. 27, 2024.
Evan Vucci/AP

After an off-color joke about how Latinos “love making babies,” Hinchcliffe said, “I don't know if you guys know this, but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah, I think it's called Puerto Rico. Okay, alright, okay, we're getting there again.”

The discriminatory comments kept going when Hinchcliffe pointed to a Black supporter in the crowd, calling his durag a “lampshade,” claiming he was his friend.

“That's one of my buddies. He had a Halloween party last night. We had fun. We carved watermelons together. It was awesome, you guys, this is a groany little morning crowd, huh?” he continued.

ABC News' Soorin Kim, Lalee Ibssa and Kelsey Walsh

Oct 27, 2024, 5:06 PM EDT

Harris introduces 'Opportunity Task Force' for Puerto Rico

In a direct-to-camera video posted on X, Harris announced her intention to create a new "Opportunity Task Force" for Puerto Rico should she win the election. It would involve the federal government working "with the private sector, with nonprofits and community leaders, to foster economic growth and create thousands of new, good paying jobs in Puerto Rico."

Harris also slammed Trump for how he handled Hurricane Maria in 2017. Trump infamously tossed paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Ricans at a relief center in the hurricane-ravaged territory after Maria hit. Harris accused the former president of "abandoning the island."

She promised to "cut red tape" so that the island can "urgently” rebuild and modernize the island's energy grid.

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris campaigns at Freddy & Tony's Restaurant, a Puerto Rican restaurant, in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 27, 2024.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

On Sunday, Harris visited Freddy & Tony's Restaurant, a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia, where she also discussed her new task force.

On Friday, Harris’ campaign released a new ad titled "Recuerdo" (memory) with singer Marc Anthony blasting Trump over how he handled Maria.

In the minute-long spot, Anthony, who is of Puerto Rican descent, says he remembers Trump's actions and the rest of America should as well.

"I remember after Hurricane Maria devastated our island, Trump blocked billions in relief while thousands died,” Martin says in the ad. “I remember when our families lacked clean water and electricity, Trump threw paper towels and called Puerto Rico 'dirty and poor.'”

“Recuerdo” will air nationally on Telemundo and WAPA America TV during Sunday’s coverage of the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and in Pennsylvania on Telemundo and Univision.
-ABC News’ Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie