Last Call – A primetime read on current political events in Florida.

First shot

Vice President Kamala Harris has a lead of four points over the former president Donald Trump on the way to the Democratic National Convention.

Morning consultation Current polls show the Democratic candidate enjoying 48% approval nationwide, followed by Trump at 44%. The four-point lead matches a record high reached earlier this month.

Harris’ popularity is also high: 50 percent of voters have a positive opinion of the vice president, while 45 percent have a negative one. Trump, on the other hand, is five percentage points below the average.

Voters continue to hear good things about Harris – Morning Consult said that for the fourth week in a row, voters are double-digit more likely to say they’ve heard something positive (43%) than negative (31%). On Trump, voters report they’ve heard something negative than positive, although the gap has narrowed from minus-20 earlier this month.

As far as the vice presidential candidates are concerned, the worst seems to be over for the US Senator from Ohio. JD Vance. His approval rating started at minus one before falling to minus eleven. Recent polls show that voters are now only two percentage points more likely to have a negative opinion of him than a positive one.

Governor of Minnesota. Tim Walz remains afloat, but not by much — 39% continue to have a favorable opinion of the Democratic vice presidential nominee, while 36% have an unfavorable opinion of him two weeks into the race. That’s a slight drop from the previous week (39% to 34%).

Evening reading

—“Can Kamala Harris win as incumbent?” via Nate Silver of Silver Bulletin

—“How Harris *changed* the electoral map” about Chris Cillizza from So What

—”How the Democrats turned the tables” via Jonathan Martin of POLITICO

—”Hillary Clinton and Harris: Insights into their quiet, close bond” via Annie Karni and Katie Glueck of the New York Times

—”Joe Biden was supposed to be the headliner. Instead, he’s just the opening act.” via Matt Viser of the Washington Post

—”The mistake that could cost Donald Trump the election” via David A. Graham of The Atlantic

—”Trump’s RNC supports Republicans’ voter purge in Georgia in court” via Justin Glawe from Rolling Stone

—”The Democrats are expected to adopt a party platform that has not been updated with Harris’ candidacy“via Ali Swenson of The Associated Press

—”A 90-year-old sandwich shop fights for survival ahead of the Democratic Convention” via Jeanne Whalen of the Wall Street Journal

—”1.9 million Floridians voted in the state’s primary elections” via Jackie Llanos of Florida Phoenix

Quote of the day

“I am an innocent victim. I will not compromise, not today or ever.”

— Member of Parliament. Fabian Basabeon the recent lawsuit for inappropriate behavior.

Put it on the tab

Look left, then right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour joint, flag down the bartender and add one to your bill. Recipes included, in case the Cocktail Codex falls down the fountain.

US Senator. Rick Scott is perhaps on to something in terms of sanctions, but he must deal with a Conspiracy theory currently.

There is no “right” version, i.e. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis must be content with a Martini on the left bank for his plan to counter the “woke” banks with State-approved alternatives.

Send a round Gator Grogs to the University of Florida Athletic Department, which announced a shock among the top performers.

Groundbreaking insights

Turn on

Rays open series against A’s

The Tampa Bay Rays have a chance to get some momentum when they open a four-game series against one of baseball’s worst teams, the Oakland Athletics (9:40 p.m. ET, Bally Sports Sun).

Since trading away most of their high-paid veterans before the trade deadline, the Rays (62-61) have been hovering around the .500 mark, with Tampa Bay 10 games behind the American League East and 6.5 games out of the final wild-card spot.

Could the Rays make a run at the wild card? Maybe. Playing the A’s (53-71) could be a stepping stone into contention. Oakland has been more competitive lately. They have won or tied their last four series in August, including a weekend rivalry series with the San Francisco Giants. Oakland won the first of two games over the weekend.

Before the Bay Area series, the A’s won series against the White Sox, Blue Jays and Mets.

Tampa Bay has been inconsistent this month, winning a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks after being swept by the Houston Astros.

With 39 games left in the schedule, the Rays can’t afford to get swept if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorschcompiled and edited by Phil Amman And Drew Wilsonwith contributions from Florida Politics staff.

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