Election 2024 live: Kamala Harris endorsed by former DOJ officials who warn Donald Trump is a ‘grave risk’

Vice President Kamala Harris has received the endorsement of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, with the former president and first lady declaring in a new video: “She’ll make a fantastic President of the United States.”

Meanwhile, a New York Times/Siena College poll has found Harris just one percentage point behind Donald Trump, narrowing the six-point gap between Joe Biden and his predecessor.

Another survey indicates she has put her party back into contention in the key battleground states since taking the reins.

Elsewhere, Harris trolled her Republican rival after he backed out of a proposed television debate with her, asking on social media: “What happened to any time, any place?”

Trump had previously used those words to lay down the gauntlet toBiden but now appears to have cold feet about taking on Harris, who accused him of “backpedaling” on his commitment to a debate provisionally scheduled for September 10 to be broadcast on ABC.

Trump’s campaign team subsequently confirmed that he would not face her – at least not yet – blaming Democratic instability for the U-turn.

The Harris team has a weekend campaign blitz planned with surrogates and potential running mates fanning out across swing states.

Donald Trump said he plans to hold another rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, after a gunman fired an AR-15-style rifle at the former president moments after he stepped on stage in the town on July 13.

In an all-caps message on his Truth Social on Friday, Trump said he will be “going back” for “a big and beautiful rally” to honor a rally attendee who was fatally shot and two others who were critically injured during the assassination attempt.

Alex Woodward has the details.

The former president plans to ‘honor’ rally attendee