Speaker Johnson, Mitch McConnell Release Rare Joint Statement

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a rare joint statement less than two weeks before the November 5th presidential election, urging Vice President Kamala Harris to temper her rhetoric against former President Donald Trump.

In their statement, the top Republicans requested Harris to “take these threats seriously, stop escalating the threat environment, and help ensure President Trump has the necessary resources to be protected from those threats. Labeling a political opponent as a ‘fascist’ risks inviting yet another would-be assassin to try robbing voters of their choice before Election Day.”

The upcoming election will likely hinge on the outcomes in key “blue wall” states—Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. With only 14 days until November 5, concerns within the Harris campaign are growing over their ability to win all three. There are additional worries about North Carolina, which Harris’s team fears may have “slipped away.”

According to sources with campaign knowledge, discussions have intensified around the possibility of only part of the blue wall holding. Some strategists worry that Michigan or Wisconsin might shift to Trump while Pennsylvania stays Democratic, according to NBC News. “Losing Wisconsin or Michigan would mean that even if Harris secures Pennsylvania… she would not reach the necessary 270 electoral votes to win the White House without winning another battleground state or possibly two,” the report noted.

“There has been a thought that maybe Michigan or Wisconsin will fall off,” said a senior campaign official. However, the greater concern remains with Michigan. Other strategists expressed ongoing belief in alternative paths to victory but acknowledged Michigan’s importance to the campaign.

NBC News also reported that a previously strong alternative path—combining electoral votes from North Carolina and Nevada—now appears less reliable. While North Carolina remains in focus, Democrats are reportedly less optimistic, with several insiders indicating that victory seems increasingly uncertain.

The shifting landscape in North Carolina may be partially due to Hurricane Helene’s aftermath, which has impacted the state. Additionally, the gubernatorial race in North Carolina has seen less local engagement, as Republican nominee Mark Robinson’s campaign struggles amid scandals, trailing behind Democrat Josh Stein.

The latest election model from pollster Nate Silver has shown significant shifts in support. Silver’s model now indicates growth for Trump, who trails Harris by a mere 0.4%, with Harris at 50.1% (down 4.8%) and Trump at 49.7% (up 4.8%). Crucial swing states, particularly in the Midwest and Sun Belt, are trending toward Trump, who now has significant leads in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. However, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania remain closely contested.

Silver, a respected pollster, observed, “We’re just not seeing as many Harris +3 type numbers in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania as we did immediately after the debate.” He attributed the shift to Harris’s support stabilizing post-debate but noted her initial gains had not held.

Harry Enten, CNN’s senior data analyst, also noted the changing momentum, suggesting that while Harris remains somewhat more popular than Trump, that popularity may not suffice. He pointed out that in 2016, Hillary Clinton’s greater popularity didn’t secure her the presidency, and similarly, Joe Biden’s slim margin in 2020 showed that popularity alone might not determine the outcome.