2024 election updates: Harris, Trump continue campaign blitz with 5 days until Election Day

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Last updated: Thursday, October 31, 2024 9:35PM GMT
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With five days until Election Day, Kamala Harris is attacking Donald Trump for saying Wednesday night in Wisconsin that, against his advisers' advice, he is going to keep saying he will "protect the women" "whether the women like it or not."

Both candidates continue their whirlwind campaigns in the West.

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Oct 31, 2024, 11:10 AM

More than 59 million Americans have voted early

As of 5:45 a.m. on Thursday, more than 59 million Americans have voted early, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

Of the total number of early votes, 31,018,125 were cast in person and 27,952,363 were returned by mail.

The voting line wraps around the building at Philadelphia City Hall after a Party to the Polls Purple Tour event.
The voting line wraps around the building at Philadelphia City Hall after a Party to the Polls Purple Tour event.
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5:39 PM GMT

Harris, Trump swipe at each other over the Affordable Care Act

Harris, at a news conference on Thursday, swiped at House Speaker Mike Johnson's comments about making "massive reform" to gut the Affordable Care Act.

"I've been saying throughout this campaign, be very clear that among the stakes in this election are whether we continue with the Affordable Care Act or not," she said. "It has been a part of Donald Trump's agenda for a very long time. He has made dozens of attempts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, and now we have further validation of that agenda from his supporter, the speaker of the House."

"What that would mean for the American people is that pharma -- that insurance companies could go back to a time when they would deny you coverage for health insurance based on pre-existing conditions, pre-existing conditions such as being a survivor of breast cancer, asthma, diabetes," she added.

The Trump campaign is trying to distance itself from Johnson's comments, telling The New York Times they are "not President Trump's policy position."

Trump is also seeking to separate himself from the remarks, despite saying numerous times this campaign that he would replace the ACA without offering a clear alternative.

Trump called Harris a "liar" and said her comments were a "desperate" attempt.

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5:29 PM GMT

Harris pushes inclusivity in final days of campaign

Harris, while speaking to reports before departing Wisconsin, said she found Trump's comments about women "offensive to everybody" and that, in contrast, her campaign is about unifying people.

Harris, speaking with reporters before departing Wisconsin, continued to slam Trump for his comments that he will protect women "whether they like it or not."

"You've been following me and you will see that in the tens of thousands of people who attend our rallies ... there are men, women, young people, people of every race, every background," she said.

Harris said her campaign is "about bringing people together, people of very different and diverse backgrounds, around a common theme that is about love of country, defending the Constitution of the United States, investing in our future and rejecting the notion that we are divided."

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4:33 PM GMT

Harris rips Trump over his comments about women

Harris, speaking with reporters before departing Wisconsin, continued to slam Trump for his comments that he will protect women "whether they like it or not."

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

"It actually is, I think, very offensive to women in terms of not understanding their agency, their authority, their right and their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies," Harris said.

"He does not prioritize the freedom of women and the intelligence of women to make decisions about their own lives and bodies and health care for all Americans is on the line in this election," she added.

3:00 PM GMT

Elon Musk not in attendance at hearing on his controversial giveaway

Musk is a no show in court in Pennsylvania for a hearing over the legality of his $1 million a day giveaway.

The hearing has been derailed after Musk late Wednesday sought to remove the case to federal court. While discussions in court are ongoing, all parties essentially agree the hearing can't go forward until federal court decides on the issue.

-ABC News' Olivia Rubin