NEWS AND OPINION:
The seemingly indefatigable Vivek Ramaswamy heads for New Hampshire to begin a “multi-day swing through the Granite State,” according to his campaign. The ambitious visit begins Friday and will include five town-hall meetings, two public breakfasts and the Reagan Coolidge Dinner, hosted by the Cheshire County GOP in the town of Keene.
Mr. Ramaswamy also will call on the town of Dixville Notch, the spot where the state’s very first voters traditionally appear to cast their ballots at the stroke of midnight.
The candidate will travel north on Saturday in the company of Coos County High Sheriff Brian Valerian. They will journey to the mountainous region, which has increasingly been the entry point for illegal immigrants. Coos County is the northernmost county in New Hampshire, encompassing 1,800 square miles and reaching the Canadian border.
Mr. Ramaswamy has already made a vigorous impression in the region, meanwhile.
“The 38-year-old tech entrepreneur has 91% name ID among New Hampshire Republicans, 52% of whom view him favorably, according to a new poll released Tuesday. The poll from the Competitiveness Coalition, in coordination with The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, found just 26% have a negative view of the anti-‘woke’ entrepreneur,” notes the New Hampshire Journal in a summary of the candidate’s activities.
“Ramaswamy’s campaign also recently released its list of more than 200 endorsements from Granite State supporters, including 14 county chairs and 47 town chairs,” wrote analyst Michael Graham in the review.
CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM
There could be a very sizable audience for a certain event five months from now.
“C-SPAN has joined other media organizations in urging greater media access to former President Donald Trump’s historic upcoming trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for alleged election interference,” the network stated in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has set a March 4 trial date.
A national coalition of media companies filed a motion Thursday for trial access in this case and court. Besides C-SPAN, the companies also include ABC, CBS, CNN, Associated Press and The New York Times.
“The motion is a request to record and telecast the trial by the media, or by the Court publishing its own livestream on YouTube or releasing video/audio at the end of each trial day,” according to the C-SPAN statement.
“The coalition also sent a letter requesting that the Federal Judicial Conference grant an exception to its ban on cameras in federal criminal cases. The Coalition is asking for this exception due to the uniquely high public interest in this case and the unprecedented nature of a trial of a former president,” C-SPAN noted.
“The Coalition advocates this exception as an opportunity for the American public to assess the process and results for themselves in real time, which C-SPAN has long advocated as part of its mission,” the network said.
BIDEN’S REDISCOVERED WALL
President Biden’s abrupt decision to build a new portion of the southern U.S. border wall inspired notable press coverage in the last 24 hours. A few sample headlines:
“Biden says he had to use Trump-era funds for the border wall. Asked if barriers work, he says ‘No’” (Associated Press); “Joe Biden quietly builds the wall” (National Review); “Biden reverses course and plans new border wall construction — Trump demands apology” (Forbes); “Trump taunts Biden on border wall reversal amid immigration surge” (Axios); “Biden administration waiving 26 federal laws to allow border wall construction in Texas” (The Hill); and “Biden says border walls don’t work as administration bypasses laws to build more barriers in South Texas” (CNN).
VANCE ON THE MARCH
Sen. J.D. Vance, Ohio Republican and bestselling author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” will address the Ohio March for Life at the State Capitol building in Columbus on Friday. His appearance is very timely.
“This year’s Ohio March for Life is the most significant the state has seen yet. Just one month after this march, Ohioans will be voting on an abortion-lobby led constitutional amendment which, if approved, would open the door to abortion up until the moment of birth in Ohio,” said Jeanne Mancini, president of the national March for Life Defense and Education Fund, in a written statement shared with the Beltway.
“Together with the Center for Christian Virtue, we are ready to welcome thousands of Ohioans to the state capitol in this critical moment to peacefully advocate both against this extreme measure and for state laws that respect the human dignity of every person, born and unborn.” Ms. Mancini noted.
Aaron Baer, president of the aforementioned Center, added that “on November 7, roughly one month after the march, citizens will vote on an extreme ballot proposal that would lock abortion up to birth without parental consent into the Ohio Constitution.”
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
For sale: Historic log cabin, originally built in 1734 on 11 acres with creek and spring-fed pond in Quakerstown, Pennsylvania. A stone addition was added in 1838; a second historic log cabin was transported to the site and added in 1988 to create a “luxury” 3,433 square-foot home with “picture perfect views.” Three bedrooms, two baths, family room, breakfast room, loft, custom chef’s kitchen, original ceiling beams, custom staircase and exterior wrap-around deck. Outbuildings include a two-stall barn, a workshop and a traditional “bake house.” Priced at $795,000 through Doreyrealestate.com; enter PABU2057204 in the search function, found under the “View Listings” drop-down menu.
POLL DU JOUR
• 36% of U.S. adults agree that political division in the U.S. will “increase a lot” in the next few years.
• 27% overall say that political division will “increase a little.”
• 15% say it will “stay the same.”
• 5% say the division will “decrease a little.”
• 2% say it will “decrease a lot.”
• 15% are “not sure” what will happen.
SOURCE: A YouGov poll of 5,167 U.S. adults conducted online on Oct. 5.
• Follow Jennifer Harper in X @HarperBulletin.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.