Friday's Campaign Round-Up, 10.14.16

Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.* Can Mike Pence say with certainty that Donald Trump didn't assault any of his women accusers? The Indiana governor faced this question yesterday afternoon, and he wouldn't answer directly.* In response to the allegations of sexual misconduct, Trump said yesterday, "We already have substantial evidence to dispute these lies and it will be made public in an appropriate way at an appropriate time very soon." Pence added this morning we should expect this evidence "before the day is out."* No one seriously believes Texas will be competitive this year, but a new poll commissioned by WFAA-TV and Texas TEGNA television stations shows Trump leading Clinton by just four points, 47% to 43%.* The Washington Post reports that 10 former nuclear launch control officers "who once held the keys needed to fire on the president's order have signed an open letter saying they think Donald Trump should not be entrusted with the nation's nuclear codes."* According to the New York Times, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus has been "deeply shaken" by recent revelations about Trump. He reportedly told one longtime associate that he was having "sleepless nights."* Charles Krauthammer, one of the nation's most prominent conservative pundits, argues in his new column that Trump is wrong to push for Clinton's incarceration: "The prize for the winner is temporary accession to limited political power, not the satisfaction of vendettas. Vladimir Putin, Hugo Chávez and a cavalcade of two-bit caudillos lock up their opponents. American leaders don't."* And Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) spent quite a bit of time in Iowa this week, offering another reminder about the right-wing senator's intention to run for president in 2020.