A complicated presidential campaign gets even more so as traditional partisan barriers get muddled in the name of hybrid politics. The nation’s third party is seeking an uncommon strategic alliance.

“At this point, there is no path forward for Donald Trump to win this race. And, as I’m sure you are aware, it is too late to reprint ballots with any other name for the Republican ticket. As chairman of the Libertarian Party, I’m asking you to help us block Hillary Clinton from becoming president,” reasons Libertarian National Committee chairman Nicholas Sarwark, in an open letter to GOP vice presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence.

“I am asking you to put your country ahead of your party by resigning from the Republican ticket and publicly endorsing Gary Johnson for president,” Mr. Sarwark continued. “By endorsing Governor Johnson, you would show the country your commitment to character above party. By helping elect a man of integrity to the highest office in the land, you could very truly help save your country.”

JON VOIGHT’S HOPE

“May God give him the strength to continue his calling.”

— Actor Jon Voight’s wish for Donald Trump, in a tweet Saturday, following the raging controversy over the GOP nominee’s “hot mic remarks” made in 2005.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Another day dawns. Donald Trump has nine campaign events scheduled this week, beginning with a pair of jumbo rallies in Pennsylvania on Monday. He follows with three more in Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday, then it’s on to Ohio, North Carolina and New Hampshire by Saturday. In addition, Mr. Trump appears at a Trump Victory Fund fundraiser luncheon in Texas on Tuesday, though some sources suggest the event may not come off.

Hillary Clinton begins her week with a voter event in Michigan and a rally in Ohio. She emerges again on Wednesday in Nevada, followed by an fundraiser in San Francisco on Thursday featuring Elton John, tickets priced as high as $100,000. Among Mrs. Clinton’s powerful surrogates on the trail this week: President Obama, who appears at events in North Carolina and Ohio.

NO NEED FOR A BILINGUAL WHITE HOUSE

Should the president of the United States speak another language besides English? Maybe not: 52 percent of American agree that “speaking English is sufficient for the next president.” So says a new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by Google and One Hour Translation, the world’s largest online translating agency. If a second language was in the offing, respondents said that Spanish was the first choice, cited by 27 percent. Chinese was second with 7 percent, followed by Russian (4 percent), French or Arabic (both 4 percent) and German (3 percent).

“Neither one of the two major party candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, speaks a language other than English,” the survey noted.

RESEARCH: ‘THE POOREST CITIES in AMERICA’

Researchers have identified the 25 “poorest cities in America,” based on current U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Labor statistics for median household income, poverty rates, unemployment, median home values, and other factors in community areas with 10,000 to 50,000 residents. “Some of the poorest cities are becoming even poorer relative to the nation as a whole. Incomes are rising slower than across the country in all but five of the 25 cities on this list,” writes Steven Peters, a researcher for 24/7 Wall Street, a New York-based news organization.

The poorest community in the nation, then?

That would be Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas, where the median household income is $34,074, the median home value is $82,000, the unemployment rate is 7.3 percent and the poverty rate 32.4 percent. The rest of the top-10 poorest, in order: Sebring, Florida, followed by McAllen, Texas; Monroe, Louisiana; Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Valdosta, Georgia; Hot Springs, Arkansas; Beckley, West Virginia; Hinesville, Georgia and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Metropolitan areas in South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, and New Mexico also appeared in the top-25. Find the research at here.

ABOUT COLUMBUS DAY

“In October of 1492, Christopher Columbus completed the first of his expeditions that would land him on the shores of North America. Sponsored by Isabella I and Ferdinand II, Columbus embarked on a 10-week voyage he had hoped would lead to Asia. But when his ships instead landed in the Bahamas, a new story began to unfold. The spirit of exploration that Columbus embodied was sustained by all who would follow him westward, driving a desire to continue expanding our understanding of the world.”

“Though Columbus departed from the coast of Spain, his roots traced back to his birthplace of Genoa, Italy. Blazing a trail for generations of Italian explorers and Italian-Americans to eventually seek the promise of the New World, his voyage churned the gears of history. The bonds between Italy and the United States could not be closer than they are today.”

— From President Obama’s proclamation recognizing Columbus Day, which is Monday. The president also added, “As we mark this rich history, we must also acknowledge the pain and suffering reflected in the stories of Native Americans who had long resided on this land prior to the arrival of European newcomers.”

POLL DU JOUR

51 percent of likely U.S. voters say the nation’s economy is getting worse; 79 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of independents and 24 percent of Democrats agree.

49 percent of likely voters overall say they are “dissatisfied but not angry” with the federal government: 50 percent of Republicans, 55 percent of independents and 43 percent of Democrats agree.

38 percent of likely voters overall say the economy is getting better; 13 percent of Republicans, 36 percent of independents and 63 percent of Democrats agree.

27 percent of likely voters overall are angry with the federal government; 41 percent of Republicans, 26 percent of independents and 14 percent of Democrats agree.

21 percent of likely voters overall are satisfied but not unenthusiastic about the government; 8 percent of Republicans, 17 percent of independents and 34 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A Fox News poll of 896 likely U.S. voters conducted Oct. 3-6.

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