NEWS AND OPINION:

Here’s a campaign event of note, set for Monday in the great state of Pennsylvania and featuring a lovely and personable pooch.

“Join West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Babydog for food and fellowship at a Team Trump Road Trip Event in Erie, Pennsylvania,” the Trump campaign noted Sunday in the briefest of brief written notices.

But now, on to the important part.

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Babydog is a splendid female English Bulldog who belongs to Mr. Justice and his wife, Cathy Justice. Babydog is four years old, weighs in at 62 pounds or so and made a much-appreciated appearance at the Republican National Convention earlier this year. And now she’s off to Erie.

“At the heart of Jim Justice’s campaign team is Babydog, the beloved English bulldog. Babydog symbolizes warmth, love, and connection, embodying the shared values that drive Jim’s mission to serve West Virginia,” an official biography of the pooch from the governor’s office advises.

“Joining Jim on the campaign trail, Babydog spreads cheer and fosters unity,” the office noted.

Indeed. Things get underway at the aforementioned event with Mr. Justice and Babydog in the late afternoon. And Inside the Beltway will certainly seek a follow-up report on the big doings.

THE SAFETY FACTOR

Here are some thoughts about Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump as they continue their quest for the White House, courtesy of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) as Election Day approaches.

“As part of the Republican Jewish Coalition’s historic $15 million ad campaign focused on the Jewish community in key battleground states, the committee has announced the launch of its ’closing argument’ ad for the 2024 election cycle,” the organization said in a statement.

“The RJC’s newest, and last, ad of the 2024 campaign reflects the fear and angst that Jewish Americans across our country are feeling, as we see Israel still under attack and antisemitism skyrocketing to unprecedented levels here at home. While Kamala Harris is busy defending the Squad, Donald Trump will keep the Jewish community safe,” CEO Matt Brooks said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

Founded in 2018, the “Squad” is a group of seven progressive lawmakers in the U.S. House.

“Jewish voters, some of whom have never voted for a Republican in their lives, understand the incredibly high stakes in this election. We encourage Jewish voters to listen to their bubbies: it’s OK to vote for Donald Trump,” he said.

“With just days left before Election Day, the Jewish community is more engaged and energized than ever before, and will once again play a decisive role in critical battleground states - and the RJC is laser-focused on delivering a victory for President Trump,” Mr. Brooks vowed.

Find the coalition — a national grassroots organization of Jewish Republicans — at rjchq.org

THINKING AHEAD

The Friends of the National World War II Memorial plans to celebrate Veterans Day at the World War II Memorial in the nation’s capital at 9 a.m. on Nov. 11.

“The ceremony will honor the 16-million-strong men and women who wore the uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II and helped bring freedom to millions around the globe. As part of the commemoration, World War II veterans will lay wreaths at the Freedom Wall in remembrance of their fallen brothers and sisters,” the organization advises.

This significant event can be viewed online. Those who hope to attend in person must register with the host organization. Importantly, those who know of a living veteran from the era who would like to participate in-person during the ceremony can find information at this online page. 

SCIENCE CORNER

Let’s remember those earlier days when U.S. astronauts were very active in space. Let’s remember their spacesuits as well. According to the Smithsonian Institute’s Air and Space Museum, those suits weighed about 200 pounds.

Space fashion can change.

“Increased fabric flexibility and heavy-duty life support systems make Apollo-era space suits look like relics,” writes Mack DeGeurin, a contributor to Popular Science.

“When U.S. astronauts set foot on the moon’s surface again in the coming years, they will do so wearing flexible, Prada-tailored spacesuits. Officially called the ‘Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit’ or AxEMU for short, the sleek-looking suit is the product of a multi-year partnership between the Italian fashion brand and American space infrastructure company Axiom. The final result: a technology-laced hunk with an emphasis on mobility and lengthy exploration on harsh lunar environments. Astronauts could strap into the new outfit as early 2026 as part of NASA’s Artemis III mission,” Mr. DeGeurin noted.

“Competition around space suit design has ramped up in recent years in tandem with a renewed interest in space exploration. Earlier this year, SpaceX revealed its own especially designed suit expected to be worn during upcoming Polaris Dawn spacewalk missions. More recently, China released details on its own relatively thin, lightweight design they intend to use during a planned 2030 lunar surface mission. Much like the new U.S. design, the Chinese-designed suit emphasized flexibility and durability in an effort to improve astronauts’ ability to work and traverse on the moon and in space,” he said.

POLL DU JOUR

• 83% of U.S. adults plan to purchase gifts for friends and family this holiday season.

• 71% plan to purchase holiday gifts online.

• 70% expect higher retail prices.

• 62% will seek more affordable brands.

• 55% will shop at mass merchants such as Target or Best Buy.

• 55% say costs associated with holiday spending stress them out.

• 43% expect the U.S. economy to improve in 2025.

• 32% say it’s important to purchase holiday gifts “to show others love.”

• 28% have not paid off their credit card balance from last year’s shopping.

• 27% have a strict budget for the amount they will spend this year.

SOURCE: A NerdWallet/Harris poll of 2,079 U.S. adults conducted online Sept. 10-12 and released Oct. 8.

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