The keys to the White House may be decided on the ground in Pennsylvania, where campaigns are blanketing the commonwealth, and the pivotal suburbs.

Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Philadelphia suburbs this week as they vie for Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes, and the suburban residents who could prove crucial to their effort.

We just want to make sure that Kamala wins, said Rosemary Moller. Because the alternative is very frightening.

She and her husband, Jeffrey, added to the more than one million door knocks the campaign has completed in the state as volunteers canvass out of 50 campaign offices. They hit the pavement in Montgomery County, a region they too call home.

If you've judged by lawn signs, you'd have to say that, like, 99% of the lawns don't have a sign out at all, so you don't really know what's what's going on, said Jeffrey Moller.

In our neighborhood, Rosemary Moller added, It's a little bit more Kamala than Trump.

The Harris-Walz campaign approaches Pennsylvania with go-everywhere tactics, but a senior advisor for Pennsylvania notes the suburbs are a significant target. Theyre full throttle with organizing, phone calls and paid media, recognizing the need for significant margins in the suburbs to win Pennsylvania.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton received 742,226 votes in the four counties surrounding Philadelphia. Trump ultimately won the state. But in 2020, President Joe Biden got 170,792 more, when he ultimately turned the state blue that year.

RELATED STORY | Pennsylvania GOP group comes out with support for Harris-Walz ticket

But the campaign sees the suburbs as their own blue wall, and believes they are seeing enthusiasm in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that will match 2020 levels.

Our township isn't the well to do area that you might find elsewhere in Montgomery County, people trying to raise their kids and put their kids through school and so forth. So I think money is a big issue, said Jeffrey Moller, adding he doesnt believe it makes sense to connect higher prices to the Biden administration.

The campaign is homing in on messages including Harris plan to combat price gouging, her healthcare policy, reproductive rights and around the issue of democracy.

It believes theyre making progress in their suburban margins, according to a senior advisor for Pennsylvania, in part contending Trumps extremism is driving voters to them as they also focus on swaying Republicans, and make efforts in more historically red areas.

During the Republican primary, more than 19% of voters supported Nikki Haley over Trump in Bucks County, and nearly 25% of voters supported Nikki Haley over Trump in Montgomery County.

The coalition we have built has room for everyone who is ready to turn the page on the chaos and instability of Donald Trump, Harris said during a rally alongside Republicans who have endorsed her at Washington Crossing.

But former president Donald Trumps team has dismissed concerns over former Haley supporters backing Harris, as they zero in on issues like inflation, the economy and the border.

We win this great commonwealth, we are going to win the whole ball game, Trump said during a town hall in Oaks, PA earlier this week, his first visit to the collar counties since the Republican National Convention.

A campaign official described it as a battle of ideas, noting they are quadrupling down on the message are you better off now than you were four years ago? in the counties surrounding Philadelphia.

The official said they are feeling good about the counties, pointing to their ground game investments, the campaign having more than two dozen offices across the state, and Bucks County where slightly more Republicans than Democrats have registered to vote.

Thats where Caroline Devenuto is volunteering, one of thousands across the state.

Definitely feeling confident because there's so much more visibility this election, she said, who is volunteering as a Trump Force 47 team captain this election.

I've never gotten money from anybody in my entire life, much less from the President of the United States. So during COVID, when, like, all of us single mothers were out here scrapping for money, like, you know, trying to make ends meet, that was the I was like, you know, he sees us. He cares about us. she said.

For each campaign, reaching women in the suburbs is a particular focus.

Well, I've always supported Trump. My biggest issue, as I mentioned, was immigration. I'm a first generation American. My parents immigrated to America legally and that's how it should be done, the way my parents came to this country, said Vicky Wagner.

She was part of a group of women that came together to see Trump at the town hall. For some, it was their first time seeing the former president, pointing to immigration, safety, affordability and foreign affairs as top concerns.

I know people that voted for him first and then the second election they did not in this election they're back. Women. So hopefully, you know, we're going to see a big change in that. I hope more women do come out, said Colleen Rossi, noting she did consider other candidates but believes hes the only one that can get the job done and plans to vote for him again.

But polling has shown a historic gender divide, with women breaking for Harris in record numbers. Her campaign believes it has grown support among them, and on the trail has heavily focused on reproductive rights.

Im a nurse, so you know, it might not be my choice, but even though I'm 68 years old, I still have a vote, and I can vote for my, you know, my nieces and other women I know, said Rosemary Moller.

With a race in battlegrounds thats sure to be close, there are still challenges. Former Democratic Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies, the first woman to represent her suburban Philadelphia district in Congress, now teaches about women in politics at the University of Pennsylvania.

I still think that many, many, many people are more comfortable walking into the voting booth and voting for a White male. And that's what I said when on the when I went to Congress the first year of the woman, we knew that we were pushing the rock up the hill, Margolies said.

Now comes a push into the home stretch outside Philadelphia for each campaign, in the collar counties that could decide the presidency.

RELATED STORY | Harris' interview with Fox News is marked by testy exchanges over immigration and more

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are traversing battleground states with less than a month until Election Day.

Trumps son, Eric Trump, believes they have 'incredible momentum' as his father has focused on the economy, the border, and, more recently, the current administrations response to hurricanes.

Hurricane Response

Nobody's ever seen such a weak response. So we have to get a strong response, former President Donald Trump said earlier this week.

Eric Trump echoed the sentiment as Hurricane Milton took aim at Florida Wednesday afternoon, and after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina.

They're watching their houses and everything that they've ever owned. You know, their belongings get wiped out in mudslides. And, I mean, it's gone. It's all gone. And yet you see Mayorkas come out and say that FEMA is out of money, yet we give $200 billion to Ukraine, we give money to every country around the world , Eric Trump said.

RELATED | Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Siesta Key, Florida, with destructive winds and rushing storm surge

At the beginning of the month, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters the administration was meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have but noted, FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what is imminent.

FEMA officials indicated they have whats needed to support the responses to the hurricanes, with a continuing resolution passed by Congress allowing the authority to spend against the presidents budget, but that they are assessing how much they may need from Congress.

The amount that we're spending for Hurricane Helene and the amount that we anticipate we're going to spend for Hurricane Milton, we are watching that very closely and assessing it every day so we can have a good estimate of how much more that we will need to be asking for in a supplemental, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Wednesday.

FEMA is also combatting disinformation surrounding the disaster response. President Joe Biden has put the onus on former President Trump.

It's harmful to those who most need the help. Quite frankly, these lies are un-American. And theres simply no place for them. Not now, not ever. Former president Trump has led to this onslaught of Lies, Biden said in an address Wednesday evening.

The false information the administration has combatted has included false claims survivors are only eligible for $750 and that disaster funds were spent on housing undocumented migrants.

RELATED STORY | FEMA addresses rumors hurricane survivors receive less assistance than migrants

Eric Trump stood by the false claims.

We have 157 hotels in New York that are filled with illegal immigrants right now that cost taxpayers of this country over a billion dollars. We gave Ukraine over $200 billion so that young kids can can shoot at each other in trenches, and we can see it every single night being played on YouTube. Yet, FEMA, FEMA, in the middle of the worst hurricane season we've probably seen in a century, has run out of money. There's no money left in FEMA. They don't have a reserve, Eric Trump said, adding, I think it's so disingenuous when, when people say this, 'Oh, this is just a first step,' and they talk about misinformation. Its not misinformation. FEMA has run out of money.

When asked whether his father would increase funding for disaster relief, the younger Trump said, If you're talking about a fund to take care of Americans, my father would absolutely increase a fund to take care of Americans, also pointing to Trumps intention to build a border wall and fight fentanyl.

Americans are coming in last so, yeah, you better believe my father would support anybody in this country. You better believe my father thinks that, you know, this has been the greatest calamity of a response to a national disaster ever, Eric Trump said.

President Biden indicated in early October he expects to have to ask Congress for supplemental funding, though hasnt given a timeline.

I don't know what his conversations are going to be with Speaker Johnson, but I can guarantee you he wants funding for people who have been devastated by these storms, Eric Trump said when asked whether the former president would tell House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring Congress back to deal with hurricane funding.

The storms have impacted states key to the election, which is less than a month out, including the battleground state of North Carolina.

Temporary voter locations have to pop up in certain areas in North Carolina, specifically where you know, you literally have counties that have been absolutely devastated. The structures are just gone, right? Eric Trump said. And so that's, that's obviously something that the state's going to do, and that's obviously something as a campaign well work with, right? I mean, you need to be able to maintain, you know, basic democracy, you know, just despite tragedy.

Another Trump/Harris Debate?

Voters heard Trump and Vice President Harris debate each other last month, in what could be their only debate.

CNN reported it set a Thursday deadline for campaigns to respond to their offer to host a second debate at the end of the month.

While Harris campaign has been willing, Trump has not indicated a willingness to participate.

RELATED | Prosecutors say Trump was engaged in 'private criminal effort' to overturn 2020 election

I'm happy he's not, not going back into one of these kind of cesspools of unfairness. I don't think you could credibly say that the ABC debate was anything but a three-on-one. I mean, I think the entire country saw that. And so how many more of those does he have to walk into? Eric Trump said.

Foreign Policy

Debate or not, each candidates foreign policy approach has been a significant focus on the campaign trail.

Trump has vowed conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza wouldnt have happened under his administration and has often touted his relationships with leaders of Russia and North Korea in his first administration.

Trump had several private calls with Vladimir Putin after leaving office, Bob Woodward reported in his book War.

Eric Trump said he had no idea of any conversation with Vladimir Putin when asked about the report.

Oftentimes the media thinks it's bad to have a good relationship with other world leaders, even when they're adversarial to this country, as clearly, Vladimir Putin is in many ways. It's great to be able to pick up that phone, Eric Trump said. "We need that kind of, you know, we need that kind of relationship. We need that kind of diplomacy, touting what his father has described as peace through strength.

RELATED | After assassination attempts, Trump returns to Butler with better security and steeper political odds

Woodwards book, reportedly also says Trump sent COVID-19 testing machines to Putin during the pandemic.

"None of these made-up stories by Bob Woodward are true and are the work of a truly demented and deranged man who suffers from a debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, Steven Cheung, the Trump campaigns communications director, said in a statement following reports of Woodwards book.

The Kremlin confirmed testing machines were sent, according to multiple media reports.

Trumps stance towards Ukraine has drawn criticism from Vice President Harris.

These proposals are the same as those of Putin. And let us be clear: They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable, Harris said during a visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month.

Trump also met with the Ukrainian leader during his visit to the United States.

The Campaign

Trump will take his campaign west with stops in Colorado, California and Nevada.

I think we're gonna have a great three weeks. We have incredible momentum, and people have to get out, and they have to get to the polls and they have to vote. Our country can do so much better than we're doing on every front right now, Eric Trump said.

Haley Voters For Harris, a political group looking to sway center-right and previous Nikki Haley supporters in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris, is rolling out a new seven-figure digital advertising campaign in key swing states, with tailored messages around the economy, fiscal responsibility and Harris prosecutorial background.

The effort will particularly focus on Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the so-called blue wall states, and target voters in North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia.

We think that there are many, many voters who will be receptive to our message, and we know that there are more of them out there, potentially a lot more of them in fact, than the likely margin of the victory that's going to happen for one of the two candidates come November the fifth, said Craig Snyder, the national director of the organization.

The group stemmed from a political action committee supporting Haley over former president Donald Trump. After Haleys primary loss, it threw its weight into supporting President Joe Biden, and now Harris with the Democratic ticket change. Theyre looking to reach people who voted for Haley in the primaries and center-right voters.

RELATED STORY | Who won the Vance/Walz vice presidential debate? 3 polls gave the same answer.

Group leaders believe with the right messages, trusted messengers and a targeted audience, they can make a positive case and grow the number of center-right voters planning to support Harris.

The question is, how do you get folks who don't like Donald Trump, but who may have never voted for a Democrat for president in their lives, to come over and vote for the Vice President, to kind of cross that last bridge? Snyder posed. The answer, we believe, and what our research has shown, is that you demonstrate with facts that the Vice President is a member of the American center."

She may be center-left, and these voters may be center-right but the key is that they can meet in the center and find some common ground, he added. Particularly on major issues like fiscal responsibility and closing the border, being tough on crime-- these are all things that are facts about the Vice President's record, and we believe that a lot of these voters may not know them.

The series of ads feature lifelong Republican and conservative voters who now support Harris, using what Snyder called facts and common sense arguments.

The Harris campaign has been making a concerted effort to reach out and to try to build a coalition with center-right voters and Republicans, but it's still a Democratic campaign talking to Republicans, Snyder told Scripps News. What we're doing is having fellow Republicans, fellow conservatives, people with long credentials in the party, in many cases, speaking to their friends, their neighbors, their peers.

The ads seek to contrast the economic policies between candidates. They underscore Trumps proposals to cut the corporate tax rate and raise tariffs, something some experts believe would ultimately raise taxes while highlighting Harris plan they contend would cut taxes for middle-class Americans and be more fiscally responsible.

Prices are too high but Trumps tariffs would be a giant sales tax that would make everything even more expensive, said Kyle, named as a lifelong Republican from Alabama in the ads.

With a likely Republican Senate, those checks and balances will keep our country sane, said Ann, named a lifelong conservative in the ad.

RELATED STORY | Scripps News fact-checks the Walz-Vance vice presidential debate

Im a conservative, I dont agree with Harris on everything, but she was a tough prosecutor, and she put bad guys in prison, said Jay, dubbed a lifelong Republican in the ad.

The group has tested its messaging among center-right, undecided voters, finalizing it following last months debate between Harris and Trump ahead of the rollout.

What our research shows is that when they're exposed to these facts, it has a measurable effect on their vote behavior and getting them to be willing to cast that vote for a Democrat for president when they may never have done it before, Snyder said.

The group says it is using ideological preferences and geographical data to target voters. It will identify moderate Republican and independent voters using party registration data, turnout records and consumer information for the media campaign that is expected to reach streaming apps, social media websites and gaming sites.

The organization expects the media campaign will reach more than 2.5 million voters, including 1.5 million in Pennsylvania, 600,000 in Michigan and 400,000 in Wisconsin, as well as tens of thousands in sunbelt states, according to data shared with Scripps News. Snyder believes the numbers are in excess of whats needed to have a meaningful impact on the outcome of those states.

Our goal is to have somewhere between 25% and 40% of these center-right voters make the decision to vote for Vice President Harris. We think we can do that. And we think that if we achieve that goal, then we help win these states for the Vice President, he said.

The numbers could be critical amidst what polling shows to be a tight race between Harris and Trump.

A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found 44% of independent voters polled in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio supported Harris compared to 49% for Trump, but 8% didnt know or didnt answer.

Those voters have been a focus of the Harris-Walz campaign, which has made a significant effort to reach anti-Trump, moderate and independent voters.

The campaign launched the organizing coalition Republicans for Harris in August to further its outreach to Republicans. Its spent more than seven figures on voter outreach, including one ad in Pennsylvania last week featuring former Trump voters who now support Harris, according to a campaign official.

Harris has picked up notable Republican endorsements, including from former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Rep. Liz Cheney, John McCains son Jimmy and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, in addition to hundreds of former GOP staff members and national security officials.

The Vice President is bringing together voters from across the political spectrum by running a campaign about freedom, democracy, and opportunity. Our Republicans for Harris program is taking that unifying, inspiring message to anti-Trump Republicans, moderates, and independents, said Austin Weatherford, National Republican Outreach Director for the Harris-Walz campaign. We know that these are votes we need to earn, and were continuing to put in the work everyday to win over the millions of Republicans who are ready to turn the page on the chaos, extremism, and division of Donald Trump.

Trump, meanwhile, has focused on painting Harris as radical, honing in on the economy, border and foreign policy as key campaign themes. And on the trail, his campaign has boasted the support of former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

We see more enthusiasm in the Republican side of the aisle than we've ever seen. Really, the fight is over. You know, some moderates and independents and even disaffected Democrats that haven't made up their mind, but time and again, what they demonstrate is going to help them make up their mind is a commitment to the three top issues, Trump campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes said following last months debate.

President Zelenskyy met with leaders in Washington Thursday as he continued efforts to cement support for Ukraine. The leader of the country fighting against Russias invasion presented his "victory plan" to leaders, as the White House rolled out a surge in new assistance.

The meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris come after President Zelenskyy has worked to cement global support for Ukraine and its peace plan during this weeks UN general assembly.

We deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side from the very first moments of this terrible Russian invasion. Your determination is incredibly important for us to prevail, Zelenskyy said, seated next to President Biden in the Oval Office.

Zelenskyy presented the broad contours of the plan, according to White House national security communications advisor John Kirby. The teams expected to "engage in intensive consultation regarding next steps, into the details over the coming weeks, according to a White House readout of the meeting.

Broadly speaking, it contains a series of initiatives and steps and objectives that President Zelenskyy believes will be important, not only for helping him end the war that he's in now, but prevent another one, and be able to deter and defeat any future Russian aggression once the war is over, Kirby said.

RELATED STORY | Ukraine pleads for more aid to put 'victory plan' into action

Zelenskyy called for strong sanctions, the use of proceeds of frozen Russian assets and strengthened air defense.

The meeting comes as Zelenskyy has warned of Russian attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure during the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy said Russia was planning attacks on Ukraines nuclear power plants in particular; as Ukraine has carried out operations in Russian territory against military targets; and as Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for western nations including the US to lift restrictions on the use of their weapons to strike deeper into Russia.

While no new policy changes were made on the use of long-range weapons, the White House announced significant new aid.

Coinciding with the visit, President Biden directed the Department of Defense to allocate all remaining security assistance funding designated for Ukraine by the end of his term in office. The department announced a security assistance package with $2.4 billion including more air defense and air to ground munitions. Biden also authorized $5.5 billion in Presidential drawdown authority, which allows for the drawdown of US stocks and their subsequent replenishment, which comes before authority expired with the end of the fiscal year after not being including in Congress continuing resolution for the budget.

The additional aid the White House announced also included the provision of Joint Standoff weapons, a medium range capability; another Patriot battery and additional Patriot missiles; the training of 18 additional Ukrainian pilots on F-16s; and a leader level convening of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month, an organization of dozens of nations coordinating support for Ukraine. Biden and Zelenskyy are expected to meet again there and review progress on the victory plan consultations.

We are making it clear we stand with Ukraine now and in the future, Biden said.

Vice President Kamala Harris echoed the message during her seventh meeting with Zelenskyy. During remarks she underscored continued support for Ukraine and criticized calls for Ukraine to negotiate territory.

There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forego security relationships with other nations, Vice President Harris said. These proposals are the same of those of Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable.

Former president Donald Trump has suggested Ukraine should have negotiated with Russia before its invasion and called Zelenskyy the greatest salesman on Earth.

Trump said he would meet with Zelenskyy on Friday.

We'll see I do believe I disagree with him. He doesn't know me but I disagree but I will say this, I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and president Zelenskyy, quite quickly, Trump said, defending his strategy as not a surrender.

However, the administration has been clear that how the war ends is up to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people.

If there's trade space, he gets to decide what that trade space is. He's not getting direction from the United States and administration in one way or another when it comes to that, said Kirby.

RELATED STORY | In UN address, Ukraine urges world leaders not to seek 'lull' in Russia's war instead of true peace

Former President Donald Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday to honor U.S. service members who died during the withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago.

Trump was at Arlington National Cemetery with family members of the victims. Bill Barnett, the grandfather of Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, who was killed in the attack, accompanied Trump as they placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

President Biden and Vice President Harris also paid tribute to the service members killed years ago, as well as those who died over the past two decades in Afghanistan.

"They were sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, spouses and friends," President Biden wrote in a statement. "No matter how much time passes, the pain of their loss will remain real and raw. And so will the pride we feel in their service.

"These 13 devoted patriots represent the best of America, putting our beloved nation and their fellow Americans above themselves and deploying into danger to keep their fellow citizens safe," Harris said in a statement.

A government investigation revealed that a suicide bomber from the Islamic State group was responsible for the attack that killed the service members and more than 100 Afghans. The attack happened four days before the U.S. withdrew from the country, ending the longest war in American history.

The withdrawal plans were started under Trump and followed through under Biden. The Biden administration oversaw the United States evacuation from the country, following Trumps peace agreement with the Taliban to end the war.

A military review of the bombing determined the attack was not preventable without degrading the mission to maximize the number of evacuees.

RELATED STORY | Hundreds of rescue animals arrive in DC from Afghanistan

Trump has been critical of the Biden administration for the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the chaotic scene that unfolded in August 2021. However, the Biden administration has put the onus on conditions it was left by Trump. A previous report on the withdrawal from the administration said its choices were severely constrained by conditions created, while a state department report said during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow."

Trump continued his criticism on Monday while speaking at the National Guard Association of the United States conference.

"Caused by Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, the humiliation in Afghanistan set off the collapse of American credibility and respect all around the world, Trump said, as hes sought to tie Harris to Bidens record.

Vice President Harris called the decision to end the war right and courageous.

The Biden-Harris Administration inherited a mess from Donald Trump. Trump wants America to forget that he had four years to get out of Afghanistan, but failed to do it. All he did was continue our longest war. Trump cannot be trusted to keep us safe, but Vice President Harris is a proven leader on the world stage and will use her expertise to ensure Americas security, defeat our adversaries, and stand with our allies around the world, Harris campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa aid.

Meanwhile, Trump also vowed to fire senior officials tied to the Afghanistan calamity and indicated he would not have given up Bagram Air Base. He argued that there had been greater global peace under his administration.

Never been anything like it. It's the wrong base. Shouldn't have taken the soldiers out first. Should have taken the soldiers out last. That's where you'd want to be. They took the soldiers out first, and they had a field day at our expense and our reputation, Trump said.

However, officials dispute his claims of planning to keep forces at Bagram Air Base.

The agreement reached between the Trump administration and the Taliban did not include provisions to keep the base, according to a senior administration official.

"Trump wanted completely out of Afghanistan. I don't recall any mention of retaining Bagram Air Base, let along keeping U.S. troops there to secure it, a former senior administration official said.

That was never part of the discussion with him. The plan President Trump was briefed on was a plan to go to zero, a retired senior military official said, also pointing out, He put a hold on it at 2,500 when he left office and left the ultimate decision up to President Biden.

Biden and Harris reiterated the commitment to prevent attacks in their statements.

Over the past three years, our Administration has demonstrated we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaida and ISIS, without troops deployed into combat zones, Harris said in the statement.

RELATED STORY | Hamas Congratulates Taliban On Afghanistan Takeover

The administration assesses that the landscape in Afghanistan is challenging for terrorist groups, according to a senior administration official. The intelligence community assesses al-Qaida has a minuscule presence and hasnt reconstituted it since August 2021, and doesnt have the capability to launch attacks against the US from Afghanistan, according to a senior administration official. ISIS-Ks capabilities in Afghanistan are said to have been degraded.

And one retired senior military official warned of the ability to see into Afghanistan, specifically al-Qaida and ISIS-K.

I think that the odds of an attack occurring are higher every month because of our inability to see into Afghanistan, which is actually quite limited and our ability to string into Afghanistan, which is even more limited, the retired official said. They explained that with other events in the region, the problem is theres just not enough intelligence gathering resources to go around.

In the three years since the Taliban took control of the government, there have been concerns over human rights, the gutting of womens rights and food crises.

The relocation and resettlement efforts started during the US withdrawal, meanwhile, have continued.

Thats impacted 165,000 people from Afghanistan since August 2021, according to the group #AfghanEvac, which has sought to work with the administration on efforts. It met with officials again last week.

It sends a message that this stuff matters to this administration and to the national security leaders in our country," said group president Shawn VanDiver. "It matters what our volunteers and members are doing. It matters that we're continuing to raise the voices of Afghans and their families who are waiting their ultimate resettlement here and the administration, it's been like pushing on an open door. They're navigating complex laws and bureaucracy, and we're adding a lot of pressure."

While VanDiver has praised the administrations work, the group is also looking to see humanitarian parole applications adjudicated more quickly and a program that puts the onus on the US government rather than applicants.

VanDiver estimates there are between 200,000 and 400,000 people left.

We are going to push no matter who wins the election, VanDiver said.

On the anniversary of the third year since the bombing, the group stated, in part, Today, as we mourn the lives lost, let us also reaffirm our commitment to securing the future for those who were forced to leave everything behind in pursuit of safety and freedom. The memory of Abbey Gate must serve as a rallying crya reminder that we must never forget the lives lost that day, and a reminder that our work is not finished until every Afghan who stood with us has a chance to live the life they deserve.

On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would be awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the families of the 13 service members killed on Aug. 26, 2021.

The White House is not slowing down during President Biden's final few months in office, according to administration officials, as a legacy of more than 50 years of public service is celebrated Monday night at the Democratic National Convention.

The week will mark the passing of the baton from President Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris after the president ended his own reelection bid following weeks of intra-party turmoil, citing the need to unite the nation.

"I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future all merited a second term, but nothing, nothing, can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition," he said during an address to the nation less than a month ago, which echoed a theme that belied his initial run for the office in 2020.

The decision is described as selfless and patriotic by senior administration officials and longtime Biden aides. And while for some it doesn't change his legacy, it reflects it.

"The first 3 1/2 years is a legacy that is remarkably powerful and enduring. It undeniably cements your legacy when you have the courage and humility to understand that it's not about you," said a senior administration official.

Officials and aides whom Scripps News spoke with view Biden's presidency thus far as unprecedented, and believe history will judge him generously.

"He has a legacy of making people's lives better and frankly, you know, making the world safer," said the senior administration official.

RELATED STORY | Biden, Clinton to open Democratic National Convention as party unveils platform

Officials point to his economic record particularly in rebuilding the middle class strengthening America's leadership globally and preserving democracy. And looking toward his legacy, they often look back to when he took office in the midst of a pandemic and in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

"He led us out of the chaos of the Trump years with stability and integrity and with that wisdom and experience and expertise that he built up over the 50 years. He turned this country around," said Elizabeth Alexander, deputy assistant to the president and communications director for first lady Jill Biden.

Globally, President Biden touts strengthening the United States' alliances and unifying NATO, as his administration has navigated conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Domestically, officials point to major policy achievements in the American Rescue Plan, Inflation Reduction Act and Chips and Science Act  legislation designed to help boost the economy and domestic manufacturing, up America's competitiveness, lower costs like prescription costs and junk fees, and usher in sweeping climate policy.

"We have a level of construction of factories on U.S. soil that is way above anything we've ever seen, so it's really part of this legacy of bringing manufacturing in key new, expanding sectors back to our shores," said Jared Bernstein, chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors. "But these projects, while they're creating jobs now, they also have a 5-, 10-, 15-year of return on investment because, again, we're making transformational investments in the areas of semiconductors and chips and batteries and EVs, and so this will have a lasting impact for years to come."

Many elements of President Biden's agenda are still being implemented, but one official compares the moment to the likes of former Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Franklin Roosevelt.

But President Biden's legacy started long before his presidency, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29. During his 36 years serving in the chamber, he helped write the Violence Against Women Act, led the judiciary and foreign relations committees, and as Vice President to former President Barack Obama, helped pass the Affordable Care Act.

Personally, early on in his career, he experienced the death of his wife and daughter and later his son.

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"History is going to be very kind to Joe Biden because, to be honest, when I think of this president, I think of a commitment to public service and to pushing our country forward that has spanned an entire career," said one longtime Biden aide.

While his legacy is often described by the impact of major policy achievements, it is always underlined by a deep admiration for his character among senior administration officials and longtime Biden aides.

In times of divisive modern-day politics, they praise his decency, respect and friendship with colleagues across the aisle; ability to navigate bipartisan policy over the course of his career; and his compassion and morality of putting others and country first.

"He's had transformational policies put in place in 3 1/2 years, has gotten done more in a single term than presidents get done in two terms, and I think his attributes as a decent, honorable, honest person and a patriotic leader will be remembered fondly and then the impacts on people's lives," said another longtime Biden aide.

Some longtime aides even bought an ad over the weekend in the Delaware News Journal underscoring their appreciation.

But officials in the White House are not taking a victory lap just yet, and describe President Biden as "full steam ahead," as they're still focused on implementing what's already been achieved on top of a still ambitious agenda.

"The focus is the work. It's sprinting through the tape. It's, what else can we do to strengthen the middle class? What else can we do to restore America's leadership in the world? What else can we do to restore the soul of America and strengthen our democracy? There's a lot of ambitious policy to enact, to put forward and to get done on behalf of the country," said Herbie Ziskend, White House deputy director of communications.

While items like wanting to codify the protections in Roe v. Wade, pass an assault weapons ban and immigration reform are unlikely to pass within the next months in the current political landscape, over the past month and a half, President Biden has proposed ethical reforms to the Supreme Court, rolled out announcements to combat cancer, welcomed home wrongfully detained Americans from Russian prisons and celebrated lowering the costs of prescription drugs.

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With several months in office still remaining, the president's administration is expected to continue judicial appointments, work towards normalized relations in the Middle East, finalize a cease-fire deal and continue its focus on the economy.

"You don't need to remind me about that because he tells us that with great certainty," Bernstein said. "We are never finished with the agenda to uplift the American middle class, to help people get a ladder into that middle class, where that is an ongoing project for the lifetime of this president."

It wasn't policy, but his age that some couldn't move past in reflecting on the political events of the last month and a half, one official explained.

"The energy has obviously shifted to making sure that we do our jobs well, and that the greatest thing that we can do to preserve the president's legacy is make sure we get things done, but also that we work very closely on the shared vision with the vice president," said another senior administration official. "This is their collective work, but the energy and the tone and tenor and pace in the building is not changed one bit. These are Olympic times. We're running through the pace, we're running hard and fast and, right now, we're at that last leg of a marathon. And we haven't slowed down one bit."

On Monday night, the president is expected to talk about his vision for the country in his speech on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. He views the moment as a fulfilling one, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, that will be important for the nation, not just the Democratic party.

When asked last week what his message to Democrats would be, President Biden simply said: "Win."