Good morning, and welcome to Tuesday. It’s now two weeks until Election Day, and you have to wonder what can happen in that time. Let’s take a look at the Digest.
1. A new poll of 625 registered Minnesota voters shows Hillary Clinton has increased her lead over Donald Trump here. The poll shows Clinton with 47 percent support compared to 39 percent for Trump. That’s a 2 point improvement for Clinton over a poll in mid-September. The poll was taken after last week’s debate. (Star Tribune)
2. Northern Minnesota has become fertile ground for traveling speakers who have built national careers on spreading fear and alarm about immigrants, specifically Muslims. At dozens of events in rural churches, schools and community events, speakers have warned crowds about refugees and called on them to be prepared to oppose Muslims. This comes at a time of mounting political tension over immigration ahead of the contentious presidential election. (MPR News)
3.Premiums will go up sharply next year under the federal health care law, and many consumers will be down to just one insurer, the Obama administration said Monday. Before taxpayer-provided subsidies, premiums for a midlevel benchmark plan will increase an average of 25 percent across the 39 states served by the federally run online market, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. Some states will see much bigger jumps, others less. And about 1 in 5 consumers will only have plans from a single insurer to pick from, after some big insurance companies scaled back their roles. (AP)
4. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said at a New Hampshire rally Monday that “nasty women vote,” turning around a remark Donald Trump used at last week’s debate. Warren and Hillary Clinton have formed an alliance on the campaign trail, but some liberal Democrats are hoping Warren will put pressure on Clinton if she wins should she is tempted to move too far to the right. (New York Times)
5. Trump called polls showing him training Clinton “phony,” and said a number of major news organizations are rigged against him. Speaking at a rally in Florida Monday he once again promised to “drain the swamp” in Washington by imposing term limits, banning lobbying by former elected officials and a freezing federal government hiring except for the military and health and safety. (Politico)
