New single, video shows Pat Boone still going strong at 90

NEWS AND OPINION:

Pat Boone — a singer and actor famous for his smooth vocals and on-screen appeal over seven decades — has released a new song and video with a telling title: “Where Did America Go?”

A lot of people may be wondering about that as well, perhaps.

“The lyrics I have written in ‘Where Did America Go?’ are crucial to mending our country,” Mr. Boone said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

“The lyrics express a profound longing for the principles that once defined America,” he said.

“Yes, that old family Bible still holds our survival,” he also said, citing a line from his new tune.

“Boone’s heartfelt vocals resonate with a nostalgic and hopeful message, yet concerned, urging listeners to reflect on the nation’s past and the potential for a united future. Can America still rise again, find our way back to where we were then?” an advance notice for the tune said.

Mr. Boone has sold 45 million records during his career and remains an active 90-year-old. That public appeal still appears to be quite active. The crooner’s new video has drawn 343,000 views on YouTube since its release two months ago. The song is also featured on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms.

Find his story and more information at PatBoone.com.

’KAMALANOMICS’ AT WORK

The Republican National Committee is not letting up on its research on the state of the U.S. economy in a damning new report on “Kamalanomics” released Thursday.

Former President Donald Trump, the report says, “will end inflation and make America affordable again.” Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, “is responsible for painfully high prices.”

There are numbers, of course — and here are a few.

“The latest Consumer Price Index data shows year-over-year inflation increased in September by 2.4 percent — coming in higher than expected and well above the rate when Harris and Biden took office. For nearly every month of the Harris-Biden administration, inflation has been well above the Fed’s average target of 2%. Core consumer prices — stripping out food and energy — rose by 3.3%,” the committee’s report said.

“Hardworking Americans are struggling to survive financially as Kamalanomics continues to drain the wallets of families and businesses across the country. Kamalanomics has cost the middle class $2.4 trillion since March 2022, with the average middle-class household losing at least $33,000 in real wealth,” the report continued.

There’s more.

“Americans need a six-figure salary to afford a typical home in nearly half of U.S. states. Under Kamala Harris, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit a 23-year high of 7.79% — while current mortgage rates still remain more than double what they were when President Trump left office. To afford a median-priced home of $402,343, Americans would need an annual income of $110,871, a nearly 50 percent increase over the last four years,” the report said.

“Nearly half of Americans consider themselves ’broke’; 65% of Americans struggle to save more due to the rising cost of living. Two-thirds of Americans report living paycheck-to-paycheck, while 30% of retired Americans are considering a temporary job to help offset inflation,” it said, citing new research from MarketWatch.com.

WHERE’S TRUMP?

As usual, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is on the campaign trail in a big way — appearing at four rallies in four states.

Beginning Friday, Mr. Trump will travel on Friday to a convention center in Aurora, Colorado — followed by a resort in Reno, Nevada. On Saturday, it’s on to a ranch — yes, a ranch — in Coachella, California. And on Sunday, the candidate then heads for Prescott, Arizona.

Meanwhile, there appears to be little change in the race for the White House, as Mr. Trump still holds a 2-point lead over Vice President Kamala Harris.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that if the election were held today, 48% of likely U.S. voters would support the former president and 46% would vote for Ms. Harris; 3% say they would vote for some other candidate and 3% are undecided.

These findings are nearly unchanged since last week, when Mr. Trump held a 49% to 47% lead over Ms. Harris, and marks the fifth consecutive week that Mr. Trump has led by 2 points, dating back to Sept. 12, the pollster said.

The new survey of 2,244 U.S. likely U.S. voters was conducted on Oct. 3 and Oct. 6-9.  

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POLL DU JOUR

• 48% of U.S. adults say they are paying “a lot” of attention to the 2024 presidential election.

• 59% of Republicans, 54% of Democrats and 32% of independents agree; 53% of men and 43% of women also agree.

• 27% overall say they are paying “some” attention to the presidential election.

• 26% of Republicans, 28% of Democrats and 27% of independents agree; 26% of men and 28% of women also agree.

• 19% overall say they are paying “only a little” attention to the election.

• 12% of Republicans, 14% of Democrats and 29% of independents agree; 17% of men and 20% of women also agree.

• 6% overall say they are paying no attention at all to the election.

• 3% of Republicans, 3% of Democrats and 12% of independents agree; 3% of men and 9% of women also agree.

SOURCE: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,604 U.S. adults conducted online Oct. 6-7.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse. Contact her at jharper@washingtontimes.com.