I bailed on the veep debate, thinking it was going better for Vance than for Walz. Today the general consensus appears to be that the debate was either a Vance win or a draw, but I take it Walz did land a few punches. See Josh Marshall’s debate wrap-up for an “it was a draw” argument.

If we still have a country when this election is over, somebody needs to sit down with the networks and permanently nix the “no fact checking” provision. If a candidate refuses to participate if there will be fact checking, turn the debate into a prime time interview with the other candidate. And the candidate who refused to debate gets no equal time. Or maybe Democrats should refuse to paraticipate if there will be no fact checking. This is ridiculous. “No fact checking” gives too much of an advantage to liars.

Here’s some better news: “The Cook Political Report on Tuesday shifted Texas’s Senate race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican,” signaling momentum for Rep. Colin Allred’s (D) challenge against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R) in the red state.” Fingers crossed.

Perhaps the larger news story from yesterday is that Trump gave a news conference in Milwaukee yesterday in which he was so out of it that even the Washington Post noticed.

He spoke of “a million Rambos.” “Turnarounds” and “gotaways” and “dead-head spending.” He mixed up Iran with North Korea and strained to pronounce United Arab Emirates. He marveled at Hurricane Helene coming so late in the storm season, which typically runs through November. He falsely claimed government agencies can’t name the U.S. population, and he compared the conflict between Israel and Iran to “two kids fighting in the schoolyard.”  …

… Trump spoke slowly and appeared tired. It was his second stop of the day, and he has picked up the pace of campaigning in recent weeks. …

… Trump was more energetic during a speech to supporters in Waunakee, Wis., earlier Tuesday. He went on an extended riff about the 1987 film “Full Metal Jacket” and made up a false claim that Harris raised taxes as the San Francisco district attorney, which is not a power of that office.

See also Aaron Rupar’s Public Notice substack.

Apparently the event in Milwaukee was originally supposed to be a rally, and tickets were distributed. But when ticket holders showed up they were not allowed in; just media. I don’t know what’s up with that.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that Bill Scher at Washington Monthly was writing about Trump’s laziest campaign. Apparently he’s been picking up the pace in response to the poll numbers. I know I wouldn’t have the stamina to maintain a presidential campaign schedule without falling apart, but I’m not running for president. Trump is. I wonder if he’ll make it to election day.