2024 election live updates: Obama and Harris rally together in Georgia; Trump campaigns in Arizona

The campaign heads into the final stretch with 12 days to go until Election Day.

KFSN logo
Last updated: Friday, October 25, 2024 12:05AM GMT
WATCH LIVE: The latest from ABC News Live
Watch breaking news and other live events from ABC.

The race for the White House is heading into the final stretch with most polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump neck-and-neck in key states with less than two weeks to go.

Oct 24, 2024, 9:51 PM

More than 30 million Americans have voted early

As of Thursday evening, more than 30 million Americans cast an absentee ballot or voted early in person, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

People mark their ballots at machines during the first day of early in-person voting in Black Mountain, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
People mark their ballots at machines during the first day of early in-person voting in Black Mountain, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

Roughly 13 million people voted early in person, the lab reported, and more than 17 million returned their ballot by mail.

ABCNews logo
12:05 AM GMT

'He won't have people like John Kelly around to stop him,' Obama lays into Trump at Atlanta rally

Former President Barack Obama gestures to Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign rally for Harris, Oct. 24, 2024, in Clarkston, Ga.
Former President Barack Obama gestures to Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign rally for Harris, Oct. 24, 2024, in Clarkston, Ga.

Former President Barack Obama took the stage in Atlanta following a performance from Bruce Springsteen and speeches from Tyler Perry and Sen. Raphael Warnock repeating his message to get Georgians to vote.

Obama wasted no time bashing former President Donald Trump over his policies and rhetoric.

"We know this election is going to be tight because a lot of Americans are still struggling," he said. "What I cannot understand ... why anybody would think that Donald Trump would be able to shake things up for you."

Obama ripped into Trump for his rambling speeches, peddling of products such as shoes and bibles, stating "All he cares about is his ego."

"Just because he acts goofy doesn't mean his presidency wouldn't be dangerous," he warned.

Obama brought up the recent comments by Trump's former Chief of Staff John Kelly and Trump's claims to go after the "enemy within."

"Unlike the first time, he won't have people like John Kelly around to stop him. He'll have people who are just as looney as he is, and let him do what he wants" he said.

Obama touted Vice President Kamala Harris as the candidate who listens to the people and "is ready for the job."

"If you elect Kamala Harris, she will not be focused on her problems, her ego, her money. She's going to be focused on you," he said.

ByKelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa and Soo Rin Kim ABCNews logo
Oct 24, 2024, 11:59 PM GMT

Trump calls John Kelly a 'bully,' calls for Jack Smith to be deported

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at Mullett Arena, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at Mullett Arena, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz.

While he bashed Kelly with childish insults, Trump didn't respond directly to Harris calling him a fascist despite being given an explicit chance to do so during a call in interview with WABC's Cats&Cosby radio show.

"John Kelly was a stupid person," Trump said. "He had two things. He was tough, but ultimately became a marshmallow. At the end of his time, I fired him, he sat in his office and he was as weak as anybody I've ever seen."

Trump then attacked several high-profile military leaders who have denounced the former president, including former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and retired generals Mark Milley and Jim Mattis.

Later, Trump continued his defamatory rhetoric toward special counsel Jack Smith. As he discussed immigration, alluding to his plan of mass deportations on his first day in office if he's elected, Trump suggested that he should deport Jack Smith, too.

"Jack Smith should be considered mentally deranged, and he should be thrown out of the country," Trump said.
Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, echoed the former president's comments at a rally at Waterford, Michigan, calling Kelly a "disgruntled ex-employee."

Vance questioned Kelly's truthfulness claiming that other Trump staffers had refuted his claims.

"Do we believe multiple eyewitnesses, or do we believe a disgruntled ex-employee?" he asked.

ByOlivia Rubin ABCNews logo
Oct 24, 2024, 11:54 PM GMT

Swing state county warns of fake video showing destroyed ballots

Officials in a Pennsylvania county are warning voters to beware of a fake video circulating on social media purporting to show mail-in-ballots being opened and destroyed ahead of the 2024 election.

"The envelope and materials depicted in this video are clearly not authentic materials belonging to or distributed by the Bucks County Board of Elections," the board said in a bipartisan statement.

The video has been reported to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Pennsylvania Department of State.

"This type of behavior is meant to sow division and distrust in our election systems, and makes a mockery of the people working incredibly hard to ensure a free and fair election is carried out. The Board of Elections unequivocally condemns this purposeful spreading of dangerous disinformation. We will not be distracted from the job the voters of Bucks County have entrusted to us," the board said.

Oct 24, 2024, 11:47 PM GMT

Trump says current border policy make US 'garbage can for the world'

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump gestures at a campaign rally at Mullett Arena, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump gestures at a campaign rally at Mullett Arena, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz.

Trump said the Biden-Harris administration's immigration and border policies had made the U.S. a "dumping ground" for other countries during a rally at Tempe, Arizona, on Thursday.

"We're like a garbage can for the world," Trump said. "And every time I come up and talk about what they've done to our country, I get angrier and angrier. [It's the] first time I've ever said 'garbage can.' But you know what? It's a very accurate description."

Trump also said he watched Harris' town hall on CNN Wednesday night, an event Trump declined to attend, and said she was "pathetic."

The former president also criticized President Joe Biden for a gaffe he made telling voters that Trump should be "locked up" before adding "politically."

"He's such a stupid guy. Such a stupid fool," Trump said.