Trump juggles legal problems and election campaign in a virtually undecided race

WASHINGTON (TN) — Donald Trump is trying to juggle legal problems and the election campaign in what is shaping up to be a more exciting campaign year than ever before.

On Friday, his legal team appealed a $5 million civil judgment in one of his New York cases, involving writer E. Jean Carroll and allegations of sexual assault and defamation. A jury found him guilty in May 2023, with his lawyers saying some of the evidence used should not have been admitted.

“It was election interference, that's all. It's all made up,” Trump said at a press conference afterwards.

Regardless, Trump's sentencing in his hush money trial was postponed until November 26, after the election. It was supposed to be September 18, and the postponement represents a victory for Trump's team.

The former president is battling legal and campaign issues before participating in a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia next week.

“Nate Silver, a very respected man. I don't know him, but he's way ahead of me. So let's assume we're leading, let's assume we're tied,” Trump said of the latest poll numbers.

These numbers come from pollster Nate Silver this week. He gives Trump a 58 percent chance of defeating Harris. A whole host of other polls show a virtual tie in the most crucial states.

Most experts believe the election will come down to just a handful of states where Trump and Harris are neck and neck. A CNN poll this week puts Harris ahead in four of the swing states, and all of them were within or just outside the margin of error. Other national polls, including Real Clear Politics and Five Thirty Eight, have Harris two to three points ahead of Trump.

Both campaigns sent their vice presidential candidates to some of the swing states. Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) stopped in Arizona this week, while Governor Tim Walz (D-Minnesota) campaigned in Pennsylvania.

Trump will also visit North Carolina and Wisconsin before Tuesday's debate in Pennsylvania. Harris prepared for the election in Pittsburgh and emphasized how important the state and its 19 electoral votes are for the election campaign.