(The Economic Collapse Blog)—Are we witnessing a surge in the polls that will ultimately decide this election? At this time in 2016, Hillary Clinton had an enormous lead over Donald Trump, but over the last several weeks of the campaign the polls dramatically tightened. The more that the American people saw Donald Trump, the more they liked him. And the more that the American people saw Hillary Clinton, the less they liked her. It appears that a very similar thing is happening now. Donald Trump has always been a star, and his massive rallies are an incredibly powerful campaigning tool. No matter how much money Kamala Harris spends, she can’t recreate the same kind of emotional energy that Trump generates, because Kamala Harris is not a star. She simply does not have the ability to move people emotionally the way that Trump does, and it was an enormous mistake for the Democrats to choose her as the nominee.
A brand new NBC News national poll shows the momentum that Trump has been able to create in recent weeks.
September’s NBC News national poll had Harris up by five points, but now in the latest poll the two candidates are tied…
In the new poll — which was conducted Oct. 4-8 — Harris gets support from 48% of registered voters in a head-to-head matchup, while Trump gets an identical 48%. Another 4% say they are undecided or wouldn’t vote for either option when forced to choose between those two major-party candidates.
That’s a change from September’s NBC News poll, which found Harris leading Trump by 5 points, 49%-44%, though that result was within the margin of error.
And when third-party candidates are included, that same poll shows that Trump is actually leading…
An expanded ballot including third-party candidates also shows this shift, with 47% of registered voters in the new poll picking Trump, 46% supporting Harris and a combined 7% picking other candidates or saying they’re undecided.
In September, however, Harris held a 6-point lead on this expanded ballot.
The mainstream media kept telling us that this was a “static” race.
But these numbers tell an entirely different story.
During a segment discussing this new poll, Steve Kornacki explained that Donald Trump’s favorability rating is rising and meanwhile the opposite is true for Kamala Harris.
Of course this isn’t the only poll that shows that Trump is building up momentum.
Journalist Mark Halperin says that private polling on both sides shows that the numbers are definitely moving in Trump’s favor right now…
“When I’ve reported over the last several days about private polling” which is favorable to Trump, says @MarkHalperin, “that is not Republican-only private polling. It’s reflected in the Democratic private polling, too. In fact, I think if you’d ask the Harris campaign about their polling, you’d hear a similar story. This is not spin by Republicans about secret or fake polls. This is what is happening in the data. And as we’ve said repeatedly, the public and private data differs. The public data is cheap and has issues in almost every case. It’s just the nature of the beast now for academic and media organizations, not every one, but most.”
This certainly does not mean that Trump has the election wrapped up.
So much could still happen between now and November.
In fact, some very disturbing allegations about Tim Walz are being released as I write this article. So we shall see what happens.
But right now the big online betting markets seem to think that Trump is going to win…
Former President Donald Trump is currently leading Vice President Kamala Harris by 10 points on the Polymarket prediction platform — a sharp reversal over betting odds in September.
According to the latest Polymarket data, Trump currently has a 55% chance of securing the Oval Office in November compared to Harris’ 45% chance.
The former President also reversed Harris’ lead in 4 of 6 swing states and now leads in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania — with Arizona and Georgia representing the GOP candidate’s widest margins of victory.
About a month ago, the Democrats were feeling very confident.
But now panic is clearly starting to set in…
Of course, that has not stopped both parties from doing what they always do. In Democrats’ case, this appears to be the week when their traditional preëlection panic has set in. Strategists are now warning that Harris has “plateaued,” that she “needs to be more aggressive,” and that she has to reinvent herself as a centrist to “seal the deal.” In recent days, I’ve read articles dissecting her challenges with male voters, Black male voters, Arab voters, Latino voters, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin voters. She also, apparently, has a Biden problem, a Bibi problem, and a hurricane problem.
Harris just isn’t very inspiring at all, and many people find her to be extremely annoying.
These flaws torpedoed her run for the presidency in 2020, and they are likely to be fatal this time around too.
If you want to run for president and win, you need to be a star.
It really is that simple.
The reason why Trump draws such large crowds to his rallies is because millions upon millions of Americans absolutely adore him.
That also makes Trump a target, and it appears that a “third assassination attempt” was just thwarted…
A third assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump was thwarted on Saturday after a Las Vegas man was arrested with weapons and fake passes about a half mile from Trump’s campaign rally in Coachella Valley, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Sunday.
Deputies assigned to Trump’s rally said the driver, Vem Miller, rolled up in a black SUV to a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive around 5 p.m. He was found to be in illegal possession of a shotgun, loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
Bianco told the Southern California News Group on Sunday that he believes Miller — who he said is a member of a right–leaning anti-government group — planned to kill Trump and that deputies thwarted the plan when Miller presented fake VIP and press passes at a checkpoint.
“They were different enough to cause the deputies alarm,” Bianco said. “We probably stopped another assassination attempt.”
As I have stated before, it really will be a miracle if Trump actually makes it to the election.
And no matter who ultimately emerges victorious, the truth is that we are a bitterly divided nation that is rapidly heading in the wrong direction.
Whether Trump wins or Harris wins, I am expecting tremendous civil unrest following the outcome of this election.
So those that are looking at election day as the finish line are getting it all wrong.
This election will not be the end of anything. Instead, it will simply be the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
