Aug 10, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Poll: A majority of Pennsylvanians oppose fracking

Ben Geman, author of Generate

Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images

Fifty-two percent oppose fracking in a CBS News poll of registered voters in Pennsylvania, while 48% favor the oil-and-gas extraction method, a finding within the poll's margin of error.

The big picture: Pennsylvania is a key swing state where natural gas development is a major industry, and President Trump's campaign has sought to turn Joe Biden's energy plans into a political liability.

  • Overall, the poll released over the weekend found that 45% believe Trump would do a better job handling "issues surrounding oil-and-gas exploration," while 42% said Biden would do better.

Where it stands: The Trump campaign has inaccurately said Biden would pursue an outright ban on fracking. However, Biden's platform does call for new restrictions on oil-and-gas development and an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels.

Methodology: The surveys were conducted for CBS News by YouGov. The margin of error is +/- 3.7. 1,225 registered voters were surveyed in Pennsylvania.

Go deeper: Poll shows Biden leading Trump in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania

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Orion Rummler
Updated Sep 25, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Pennsylvania's "naked ballots" are 2020's hanging chads

A stack of mail-in ballot applications in Pennsylvania. Photo: Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ordered state officials last week to throw out mail-in ballots submitted without a required inner "secrecy" envelope in November's election, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The state of play: The decision went under the radar alongside the simultaneous decision to extend the time that mail-in ballots could be counted, but Philadelphia's top elections official warned state legislators this week that throwing out so-called "naked ballots" could bring "electoral chaos" to the state and cause "tens of thousands of votes" to be thrown out — potentially tipping the presidential election.

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Mike Allen, author of AM
17 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Biden pushes unity message in new TV wave

A fresh Joe Biden ad, "New Start," signals an effort by his campaign to make unity a central theme, underscoring a new passage in his stump speech that says he won't be a president just for Democrats but for all Americans.

What he's saying: The ad — which began Friday night, and is a follow-up to "Fresh Start" — draws from a Biden speech earlier in the week in Manitowoc, Wisconsin:

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Jacob Knutson
20 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Trump unveils plan to expand loans for Black business owners, Juneteenth pledge

President Trump unveiled what he calls the "Black Economic Empowerment — Platinum Plan," at a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, promising to secure more lending for Black-owned businesses if elected for a second term.

Why it matters: With national polls showing the president lagging behind Joe Biden with Black voters, Trump's plan also includes a proposal to make Juneteenth — the commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. — a federal holiday.

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