U.S. Presidential Election News Updates -- October 4, 2016

Washington Post: Tim Kaine and Mike Pence, perfect strangers meeting on largest stage either has seen

One phone call really stood out to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) after Hillary Clinton selected him as her running mate.

“Hey, welcome aboard,” Indiana Gov. Mike Pence told Kaine in late July.

The Republican vice-presidential nominee’s greeting to the Democratic vice-presidential nominee is the only conversation the two men have ever had, according to Kaine. On Tuesday, the Indiana governor and Virginia senator meet for the first time face to face, sharing a stage in Farmville, Va., during a 90-minute debate that will be watched by millions and could help define their respective careers.

Their mutually friendly style could make for a less cutthroat environment than last week’s presidential debate. Their lack of common knowledge of each other adds to the expectation they will spend more time attacking the presidential nominees, Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, than each other.

“We talked by phone once, but I never met him,” Kaine explained in a brief interview last week during a quick trip to the Capitol.

Read more ....

The U.S. Vice-Presidential Debate

VP candidates to debate in Virginia town as campaigns court rural vote -- Reuters
Veep debate: Pence, Kaine making the case for top candidates -- AP
Campaigns preview VP debate -- The Hill
5 things to watch in the vice presidential debate -- Politico
Pence v. Kaine: Battle of the Normals -- Politico
Five things to watch for in the vice presidential debate -- The Hill
How Tim Kaine can win the VP debate -- Brent Budowsky, columnist, The Hill
Why Tim Kaine, Mike Pence may be the most important VP candidates in years -- Matthew Carey, Daily News

The Democrat Campaign

Bill Clinton slams ObamaCare: 'It’s the craziest thing in the world' -- The Hill
Bill Clinton on Trump's threats of personal attacks: 'She'll be fine' -- The Hill
Bill Clinton threw Bernie Sanders under the bus -- New York Post
Clinton seeks support from women in suburban Philadelphia -- AP
US election 2016: Clinton rips into Trump over taxes -- BBC
Democrats rip Ayotte's Trump stumble -- The Hill
In Clinton's path to the White House, Ohio isn't a must-win -- AP
Clinton expected to hit Wells Fargo in speech on 'bad corporate actors' -- Reuters
Clinton Foundation refutes new claim that hacker stole files -- Politico
Clinton military advisor outlines 4-step plan for defeating ISIS -- CNBC
Clinton swamping Trump with ads in battleground states -- The Hill

The Republican Campaign

Trump to live-tweet VP debate -- The Hill
Trump camp jumps on Bill Clinton's ObamaCare remarks -- The Hill
Donald Trump paints a dismal picture of today's military -- Military Times
Trump vows 'cyber review team' in new policy proposal -- The Hill
Trump calls for ‘crippling cyberattacks’ on US enemies -- Federal Times
Trump campaign faces biggest crisis yet after tax documents published -- The Guardian
Trump's tax writeoff shows his 'genius' at business, advisers say -- Reuters
Ex-Apprentice insiders blast Trump's 'sexist' remarks -- BBC
Trump speaks out against transgender and female soldiers in 'PC military' -- LGBTQ Nation
Trump suggests military members with mental health issues aren’t ‘strong’ and ‘can’t handle it’ -- Washington Post
Vet who asked about suicide defends Trump's 'thoughtful' answer -- Washington Examiner
GOP distances itself from Trump -- again -- CNN

General Election Coverage

'No doubt' Russia behind hacks on U.S. election system: senior Democrat -- Reuters
Trump's down-ballot impact? Dems, GOP disagree -- AP
Gary Johnson: I can't start wars with places if I can't find them on a map -- Politico
International observers will watch U.S. vote closely -- Reuters
'Study, pray, vote,' Pope tells Americans ahead of elections -- Reuters
Man claiming to be Bill Clinton's illegitimate son via a prostitute continues campaign to have the former president recognize him -- Daily Mail
Trump snares more Twitter attention than Clinton: study -- Al Jazeera

Polls

Presidential race tightens in Florida, Ohio, Arizona -- Reuters
Poll: Clinton tops Trump by 6 points -- The Hill
Poll: Clinton leads Trump by 10 points in battleground Pa. -- The Hill
Poll: Clinton up 10 points in Pennsylvania -- Politico
NC Poll: Clinton holds 6-point lead over Trump -- The Hill
Poll: Clinton up 9 on Trump in Pennsylvania -- The Hill
Election Update: How Big Is Hillary Clinton’s Lead? -- 538

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials

Trump running out of time -- Niall Stanage, The Hill
Trump’s risky early-voting strategy -- Politico
Trump walks dangerous line with Clinton marriage attacks -- Jonathan Easley, The Hill
The Horsewhipping of Donald Trump -- William Murchison, RCP
Has 2016 turned into most trivial US election ever? -- Richard Wolffe, The Guardian
Trump tax fallout: Why the media's 'bombshell' may not explode -- Howard Kurtz, FOX News