The Latest: Trump says final debate went 'really well'

By Associated Press 24 October 2020, 12:00AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the presidential campaign (all times local):

12:50 p.m.

President Donald Trump is reviewing his debate against Democrat Joe Biden, saying he thought it went “really well” and was an “exciting night.”

The Republican president and the Democratic former vice president squared off Thursday in their final head-to-head matchup before the Nov. 3 election. The debate in Tennessee offered more substantive discussion of issues and was lighter on the types of sometimes intense personal clashes that dominated their first meeting in late September.

Addressing reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump says his more straightforward performance “was a more popular way of doing it.”

Trump says he wanted to play by the rules on Thursday although he liked his more aggressive tone in that first debate.

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12:15 p.m.

Sen. Kamala Harris is clarifying Joe Biden’s comments during the last presidential debate about transitioning away from the oil industry, saying he won't ban the oil extraction technique called fracking.

Speaking to reporters in Atlanta on Friday, Biden's running mate said he will “deal with the oil subsidies.”

Republicans have launched a barrage of attacks on the issue.

Biden was asked during Thursday's debate with President Donald Trump in Tennessee if there would be “any place for fossil fuels, including coal and fracking, in a Biden administration.” The Democrat offered a muddled response, initially saying he would transition away from oil, before clarifying he’d eliminate federal subsidies for the industry.

Biden’s climate plan calls for achieving net-zero carbon emissions in part through nixing subsidies, which would have implications for fracking. Biden also has proposed a ban on new gas and oil permits on federal lands but not a full fracking ban.

Republicans seized on Biden’s answer to again claim that his policies would have damaging implications for the oil and gas industry.

Harris dismisses those attacks, saying Trump “likes to take everything out of context.”

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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Friday are framing their closing messages in the sprint to Nov. 3. On Thursday they met for their final debate in Nashville, Tennessee.

Read more:

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— Battleground states' postal delays persist with mail voting underway

— Vision 2020: What happens if the US election is contested?

Analysis: Debate is brief interlude of normalcy in 2020 race

— Final Trump-Biden debate is marked by clashes but less chaos

— Biden calls for ‘transition’ from oil, GOP sees opening

— US: Russian hackers targeting state, local networks

By Associated Press 24 October 2020, 12:00AM

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