Wednesday's Campaign Round-Up, 10.5.16

Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.* After last night's debate, Eric Trump, a prominent surrogate for his father's presidential campaign, said Donald Trump "absolutely" paid federal income taxes within the last 18 years. There remains a show-don't-tell problem here -- there's no way to know if Eric Trump is correct without the release of the candidate's tax returns.* Former Vice President Al Gore has kept a fairly low profile this campaign season, but he's poised to hit the campaign trail on Hillary Clinton's behalf, hoping to connect with younger voters about the importance of the climate crisis.* The NRA is launching a $6.5 million ad campaign, its largest of the year, hoping to boost Trump's candidacy.* For the first time in a month, the New York Times' Senate forecast model shows Democrats favored to reclaim the Senate majority.* An hour and a half before the debate began, the Republican National Committee accidentally published a statement declaring Mike Pence "the clear winner" of the debate that hadn't happened.* In North Carolina, a new WRAL poll shows Clinton narrowly leading Trump, 46% to 44%. Note that nearly all of the recent statewide polling in North Carolina -- a state Mitt Romney carried four years ago -- shows Clinton with a slight advantage.* The same poll showed Roy Cooper (D) with a modest lead over incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory (R), 48% to 44%, and incumbent Sen. Richard Burr (R) narrowly ahead of Deborah Ross (D), 46% to 44%.* In Pennsylvania, a new Monmouth University poll found Clinton up by 10 over Trump, 50% to 40%.* The same poll showed a tied U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania, with incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey (R) and Katie McGinty (D) each garnering 46% support.* Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC, is launching a new ad featuring footage of President Obama's remarks to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, explaining that his legacy is on the line in this year's elections.* And if you have 20 seconds, the video of First Lady Michelle Obama subtly criticizing Trump yesterday was pretty entertaining.