Ahead of Tuesday night’s debate, most commentators and voters alike anticipated that former President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ performances would do little to sway voters one way or the other, but a series of recent polls suggests otherwise. On Thursday, Trump released internal polling data targeting seven battleground states, showing an increase in support for the man vowing to “Make America Great Again.” Conducted by veteran Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, the survey found a two-point increase in support for Trump following the debate, and no increase for Harris. In a six-way contest featuring Trump, Harris, and a handful of independent and third-party candidates, the poll found that Trump and Harris were tied at 46% support each prior to the debate, but Trump pulled ahead to 48% support following the debate. Likewise, while Trump and Harris were tied at 48% each in a one-on-one contest ahead of the debate, Trump’s support increased to 50% following the debate, while Harris’ support dropped to 47%. “These are largely Independent Voters, who are tired of watching our Country go down, and want to, [Make America Great Again]!” Trump observed in his social media post publicizing the polling information. In a memo accompanying the polling results, Fabrizio wrote, “We found that despite the best efforts of Kamala Harris and media to portray the debate as some kind of overwhelming win for her, voters did not see it this way as support for her remained flat. The only change we saw was a 2-point bump for President Trump in both ballot configurations.” The pollster added, “Clearly, target state voters were not impressed by Kamala Harris’s empty platitudes and while the media would have people believe she is cruising to victory, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.” Another postdebate poll, this one from Insider Advantage, shows Trump leading Harris in hotly contested Michigan, where the 45th president leads the incumbent vice president by one point (49% to 48%). Insider Advantage pollster Matt Towery explained, “While there remains some enthusiasm gap in many of these states, with an advantage to Democrats, Michigan has no gap whatsoever. The candidates are basically tied in every age demographic, with Trump slightly ahead among independents.” An Insider Advantage survey prior to the debate found Harris leading in Michigan by two points (49% to 47%), so that the postdebate polling represents a three-point swing away from Harris. A series of focus group interviews in the immediate aftermath of the debate also indicated burgeoning support for Trump, especially among independent and undecided voters. Reuters surveyed 10 undecided voters after the debate and found that 6 of the 10 had decided to back Trump, while only three supported Harris; one remained undecided. Referring to the newly-minted Trump supporters, Reuters explained, “Four of those six also said Harris did not convince them she would pursue different economic policies than Democratic President Joe Biden, a Democrat they largely blame for the high cost of living.” The New York Times also reported that undecided voters were unimpressed with Harris’ debate performance, with many siding with Trump throughout the debate. Fox News found that independent voters tracked almost entirely with Republicans during the debate, aligning with Trump’s positions on inflation, immigration, and other issues. A CNN survey found that Trump had a 20-point postdebate lead over Harris on economic issues and a 23-point lead on immigration issues. Numerous other polls have found that a majority of Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the state of the nation under the Biden-Harris administration. A Napolitan News Service survey found that nearly 60% of Americans believe that they were better off four years ago, under Trump’s presidency, than they are today. Two-thirds of respondents also said that their income “has been falling behind” and not keeping up with inflation. A Pew Research poll discovered that 74% of Americans are “very concerned about the price of food and consumer goods,” while concerns over the cost of housing have increased nearly 10 points just over the past year. A New York Times/Siena College poll reported that nearly two-thirds (63%) of likely voters directly fault Harris for the ongoing illegal immigration crisis. Originally published by The Washington Stand The post Trump Takes the Lead in Postdebate Battleground Polling appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Kind people went to help a cat but couldn't leave his feline buddy who supported him every step of the way. Muffy and ArthurFostertheFurbabiesGianna Cirucci, the cofounder of Foster the Furbabies, came across a rescue request seeking placement for a cat who needed specialized care beyond the shelter's capabilities."His back leg was missing its foot. They weren't sure exactly what happened to him. We've helped a lot of special needs kitties in the past, so I felt I needed to help him," Gianna shared with Love Meow.When she contacted the shelter and offered to take the cat named Arthur, she quickly learned he had come in with a feline buddy. FostertheFurbabies"They wanted to see if we would take her too. I couldn't say no, especially after I was sent a video of them cleaning each other."Arthur and his sister, Muffy, arrived with more issues than anticipated. The initial plan was to give Arthur the surgery he needed on his hind leg to improve his quality of life, but after being seen by a vet, both cats started treatment for pneumonia. FostertheFurbabiesArthur was put in a cast until he was well enough for surgery. Meanwhile, they discovered an injury in one of his front legs that had started to heal itself. Despite what he'd endured, Arthur never ceased to love life, mustering his strength to fuel his body.His best friend, Muffy, was never more than a step away from his side, snuggling and grooming him like a protective guardian. FostertheFurbabies"These two are extremely sweet. Muffy was a little shy at first, but Arthur helped her come out of her shell so much and showed her that humans aren't so scary. He was so trusting of me as soon as I got him."Arthur is brave and adventurous; despite having a cast on his leg, he doesn't let it faze him. FostertheFurbabiesSticking close to Arthur, Muffy has helped him through many challenges, offering love and comfort at every turn. "Muffy is a huge support system for her brother, and I can't imagine how sad Arthur would be if we didn't pull his sister from the shelter that day."They spend their day cuddling with each other, their legs gently intertwined. FostertheFurbabies"I've fostered hundreds of kitties and have never seen two cats so bonded. They love to be pet, and they especially love belly rubs."Arthur gets up and tries to circle around Gianna's legs the moment she enters the room, demanding immediate attention. Muffy follows suit by hopping up on her back legs and rubbing her face against her foster mom. Arthur and Muffy are completely inseparableFostertheFurbabies"Despite all that they've been through, they are just so sweet and loving."With excellent care, good food, and comfort from each other, Arthur and Muffy are on the mend. They will never have to worry about tomorrow, with kind humans ensuring their future is bright and filled with love. FostertheFurbabiesGianna is constantly awestruck by their unshakable bond. Arthur and Muffy are kindred spirits as if they instinctively know each other's thoughts and needs.After having gone through so much together, they can now focus on healing in a caring foster home. FostertheFurbabiesA few weeks ago, Gianna thought she was going to rescue one cat but ended up with two instead. They're inseparable and helping each other thrive - the most beautiful outcome imaginable. FostertheFurbabiesShare this story with your friends. More on Arthur and Muffy and Foster the Furbabies on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Stray Cat Comes Up to People Asking for Attention, Now He's a 'Giant Bear' Obsessed with Face Rubs

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Singer-songwriter John Legend posted a video calling on the residents of Springfield, Ohio, to accept the Haitian newcomers and reject negative stereotypes about them. Legend was born and raised in Springfield and used his platform to talk directly to his 15.8 million followers on Instagram. He said he was spurred to action over accusations made by former President Donald Trump about the immigrants during a debate Tuesday. 'So I think all of us need to have the same kind of grace that we would want our ancestors to have when they moved here.'"Springfield has had a large influx of Haitian immigrants who come to our city," said the singer. "Now, our city had been shrinking for decades. We didn't have enough jobs. We didn't have enough opportunity, so people left and went somewhere else."He went on to say that the local economy had grown and there was a dearth of workers fulfilling the demand. "And during the same time, there has been upheaval and turmoil in Haiti. The federal government granted visas and immigration status to a certain number of Haitian immigrants so they could come to our country legally," he continued. "There are plenty of reasons why this might be a challenge for my hometown," the singer said. "But the bottom line is these people came to Springfield because there were jobs for them and they were willing to work."He went on to compare the immigrants to others in U.S. history from Poland, Italy, Ireland, and Germany. "They commit less crime than native-born Americans, and they will assimilate and integrate in time, but it takes time. So I think all of us need to have the same kind of grace that we would want our ancestors to have when they moved here with our Haitian brothers and sisters," he continued. "Nobody's eating cats," he added. "Nobody's eating dogs."He concluded by appealing to the Christian tradition to "love our neighbor as we love ourselves and treat strangers as though they might be Christ."Local officials have denied the reports of Haitian immigrants eating pets and killing animals in broad daylight, but the claims have gone viral on social media and inspired countless memes and jokes. Others argue that regardless of the validity of the claims, the large, sudden influx of immigrants has strained social services and put a burden on residents. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

California police say that a homeless home intruder exposed himself and fondled a woman as she was sleeping in her home in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Police Department said that 34-year-old Anthony Townson broke into the woman's home on 7th street at about 4 a.m. on Saturday. 'We're not getting the help we need, we're severely impacted.' The woman told police that she awakened to find that Townson was rubbing her leg while exposing himself to her. She was was able to get away and call for police while the man fled from the scene. Police said they were able to capture him nearby and determined that he had gotten into the woman's home through a patio sliding door that had been left unlocked on the second floor. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges of residential burglary and indecent exposure during unlawful entry against the man. The man also had a criminal history that included trespassing, battery on a police officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, loitering on private property, and possession of a controlled substance. City officials have been pressured by residents to do something about crime by homeless people after several recent horrendous incidents. In one terrifying case from May, a homeless man allegedly grabbed a jogger on the beach by her ponytail and tried to drag her into public bathrooms before bystanders intervened. In another incident in August, a man allegedly climbed on top of a female sunbather and sexually assaulted her. The city's mayor told KTLA-TV that they needed help from state and even federal officials. "We're not getting the help we need, we're severely impacted in an 8.3 square mile city with almost a thousand homeless people on our streets. I need help!" said Phil Brock. Santa Monica is an affluent beach city where the median home price is $1.7 million. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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University of Southern California athletics has entered into a landmark partnership deal with Cookies, one of the most globally recognized brands of cannabis products.