A fight broke out between an activist and a lawmaker at the launch of Donald Trump’s campaign office in Georgia. A police report notes that State Representative John LaHood told officers that Republican activist Sam Carnline confronted him over a difference of agreement about using paper ballots in the Peach State in November.
Mr. Lahood described a “heated discussion,” although witnesses said it almost came to blows. GOP operative Brandon Phillips reportedly became involved in the row and spit at Carnline. “Words were exchanged between him and Brandon because he was upset that Brandon spit in his face,” witnesses said.
Police later told reporters that they had diffused the situation and let the parties walk away and cool down, with no further action needed. Phillips denied spitting at anyone, but Carnline insisted he had, saying that was when he lost his temper and shoved his adversary. Some of those present also stated that Carnline punched Phillips two or three times.
The incident has generated more negative headlines for Donald Trump’s campaign, which is under pressure amid a Kamala Harris poll rise. Surveys in July and into August showed the Vice President climbing to higher positions than Joe Biden and, on some occasions, overtaking Donald Trump.
Harris has shot ahead in national polls taken after the Vice President named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. SurveyUSA, for instance, places her at 48% and Donald Trump trailing at 45%. Morning Consult polls see the Vice President ahead by 48% to 44%, YouGov places her one point ahead at 50%, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst survey saw Harris up three at 46% to 43%.
There are mixed results in battleground states. Trump is ahead in Arizona and Georgia, but Harris is leading in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Perhaps unsurprisingly, in New York, where Trump hoped to make headway, the Vice President has a substantial lead, 53% to 39%. In North Carolina, Trump has shortened his lead and is now ahead of Harris by 2%.
Vice President Harris is furthermore showing majority favorability rankings in some political publications for the first time.