Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas ran a campaign laser-focused on public safety and support for the police as he advanced to a runoff.

The Iowa caucuses and their outsize importance have largely been an exercise in myth-making.

As President Joe Biden runs up against the limits of what he can do on abortion, gun control and other issues without larger Democratic majorities in Congress, some in his party want more fire and boldness than his acknowledgement of their frustration and calls imploring people to vote in November.

“Donald Trump needs this election to be about Joe Biden as a choice," said longtime GOP consultant Alex Conant. Trump's support over the years has remained remarkably consistent, polls over the course of his presidency have found. Even today, when asked to explain their support for Trump, voters often point to his success in business as evidence of his acumen. Roughly half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, but the average income tax paid in 2017 was nearly $12,200, according to the IRS. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer tweeted an emoji calling on followers to raise their hands “if you paid more in federal income tax than President Trump.”“That’s why he hid his tax returns.

Though the Biden campaign often emphasizes that it sees multiple ways to secure the 270 Electoral College votes it needs to win in November, the quickest path runs through Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It has since recovered to 8.7%, but Michigan has nearly 414,500 fewer jobs than it did when Trump was inaugurated. Previewing the president's own Michigan trip, the Trump campaign looked to paint Biden as deferential on China. Michigan Democratic Rep. Brenda Lawrence was among those on-hand. The difference is starkest in Michigan, where the Biden campaign has spent $17.2 million to Trumps $6.7 million.

LANSING, Mich. In 2016, Donald Trump tore down Democrats blue wall, winning the White House with surprise victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The Biden campaign sees an opening there to argue that, even before the pandemic, the president failed some of his most loyal blue-collar backers. The difference is starkest in Michigan, where the Biden campaign has spent $17.2 million to Trumps $6.7 million. Trump is slightly outspending Biden in upcoming ad reservations in Pennsylvania, while Biden is slightly outspending the president on air in Michigan. Were door-knocking all over the place, our local candidates are door-knocking and the Trump campaign volunteers are door-knocking, said Elizabeth Preate-Havey, GOP chairwoman in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania's third-most populous county.