NEWS AND OPINION:

Political independents are not too thrilled with the Democratic National Committee at the moment. They are vexed, and for a specific reason.

“Green Party leaders and members responded to an ad from the DNC targeting Green nominee Jill Stein, calling it a desperate collection of smears and myths,” the Green Party said in a written statement released Tuesday.

The TV ad is titled “Crucial” and is aimed at voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The outreach begin with an image of Ms. Stein that transforms into an image of former President Donald Trump.

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“Why are Trump’s close allies helping her? Stein was key to Trump’s 2016 wins in battleground states. She’s not sorry she helped Trump win. That’s why a vote for Stein is really a vote for Trump,” a narrator tells viewers.

There’s more.

“Democrats have also attempted to block or remove Jill Stein and running mate Butch Ware from several state ballots by filing frivolous lawsuits, most of which have been thrown out of court,” the organization said.

“The DNC wants Jill Stein off the ballot. They assume that if Jill Stein dropped out of the race, Stein voters would vote for Harris — which is like believing that Harris voters would vote for Donald Trump if Harris were to drop out,” said Cassandra Lems, a co-chair of the Green Party, also in a written statement.

“The DNC wants the public to believe that Jill Stein is siphoning votes from Kamala Harris, which shows that the DNC thinks Harris owns my vote. Harris doesn’t own anyone’s vote except her own. Candidates have to earn my vote. Stein did, Harris didn’t,” said Justin Paglino, also a co-chair of the Green Party.

Curious? Find the Green Party at GP.org.

A PEEK AT THE DEMOCRATS

Two longtime political observers cite some new creativity in the Democratic Party’s outreach when it comes to male voters.

That pitch now includes references to football, pheasant hunting and other activities traditionally favored by American men. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, in fact, recently donned camouflage, toted a gun and offered an interview from a field in Minnesota.

Fox News host Laura Ingraham and conservative author A.J. Rice are skeptical about the Democrats’ pitch to men.

“Will men actually fall for this kind of Tim Walz approach?” Ms. Ingraham asked Mr. Rice in an exchange on Fox News.

“I don’t think so. He’s out on a testosterone deficiency tour. I guess he’s going to ride around on a John Deere tractor wearing camouflage — and maybe drink some of that Miller High Life that Stephen Colbert recently pulled out of a cooler under his desk for Kamala Harris,” Mr. Rice said.

That gesture on CBS’s “The Late Show” caused much buzz and media chatter.

“MSNBC thinks men are in crisis, and they’re now suggesting men get therapy,” Ms. Ingraham said.

“We’re only in crisis when we’re watching MSNBC. Most of the time we’re OK,” Mr. Rice replied.

He is president and CEO of Publius PR, a longtime radio producer, and the author of the new book “The White Privilege Album: Bringing Racial Harmony to Very Fine People … On Both Sides,” published Sept. 17.

Find his online outreach at publiuspr.com.

ONE MORE PROGRAMMING NOTE

The aforementioned Kamala Harris could sit down for an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, who boasts an audience of 14.5 million.

“Harris campaign officials, in the final stretch of the U.S. presidential campaign, met with Rogan’s team this week but an appearance has not been confirmed yet, said two of the sources, who have knowledge of the matter,” Reuters news agency reported Tuesday.

“The interview will offer Harris an opportunity to make her case to his followers, as she works to shore up support with male voters and Black men in particular. Numerous public polls suggest Republican nominee Donald Trump could outperform among young men of all races,” Reuters said.

“The appearance could offer a shot in the arm for Harris and Trump as polls show an incredibly tight race between the two candidates that is expected to come down to the results in seven swing states,” the news organization said.

AN INTERESTING TITLE

A new book has arrived with an interesting title: “Vindicating Trump” by Dinesh D’Souza.

“I have met four presidents, and closely studied another three, and Donald Trump is the most interesting and unusual of the group of them,” the author wrote.

“Trump is the most intriguing figure in our time, perhaps in the whole landscape of presidential history.” Mr. D’Souza said. “There’s no one like Trump, there never has been, and I venture to say there never will be again. When God made Donald Trump, he threw away the mold.”

“This book — and the accompanying film in theaters this fall — is an unqualified defense and vindication of Trump,” said Regency Books, the publisher.

“It makes the case for Trump ‘as is,’ the man as well as the policies. It will rally and inspire Trump supporters and at the same time convince Americans who are ambivalent about Trump that he is the right ‘wartime general’ for the perilous times we face in this country,” Regency said in advance notes.

The book was published Oct. 8 in the wake of the “accompanying film.” The movie’s title is also “Vindicating Trump,” and it was released Sept. 27. Find details at vindicatingtrump.com.

POLL DU JOUR

• 89% of likely U.S. voters say they have already decided for whom they will vote in the presidential election.

• 91% of Republicans, 89% of Democrats and 75% of independents agree.

• 88% of those who support Donald Trump agree; 84% of those who support Kamala Harris agree.

• 84% of voters who live in a “battleground state” also agree.

• 11% overall are “still weighing the choices” about whom to vote for.

• 9% of Republicans, 11% of Democrats and 25% of independents agree.

• 12% of those who support Mr. Trump agree; 16% of those who support Ms. Harris agree.

• 16% of voters who live in a “battleground state” also agree.

SOURCE: A Harvard University Center for American Political Studies/Harris poll of 2,596 registered likely U.S. voters and 898 battleground state voters conducted online Oct. 11-13.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.