Dead Even: Harris-Trump Odds +100 Each After VP Debate

• Presidential odds dead even following VP Debate.
• The Cook Report shifts Texas from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican".
• Gamblers overwhelmingly believe Israel to target Iran before week's end.

US Presidential Race

Presidential Odds Dead Even After VP Debate

BetOnline.ag has been seeing steady money come in on former President Donald Trump during the past week, which shifted the odds back to nearly tossup ahead of the debate.

Following the JD Vance and Tim Walz showdown, the numbers moved ever-so slightly in the GOP's favor.  Kamala Harris remained the favorite.

By late Wednesday morning, odds were dead EVEN. Harris had been the -120 favorite ahead of the debate.

The Vice Presidential debate unfolded in the final weeks of a campaign that has been defined by harsh, personal attacks and historic convulsions, including a candidate dropping out and Trump facing two attempted assassinations.

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US Senate

Texas Tossup

The Cook Political Report on Tuesday shifted Texas’s Senate race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican,” signaling momentum for Rep. Colin Allred’s (D) challenge against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R) in the red state.

Cruz still leads in the state but the margin has been cut to between 1 percent and 4 percent, all within the margin of error.

BetOnline has the total winning margin for Cruz set at 5.5 Over/Under priced at -120 each way.

Jessica Taylor, the forecaster’s Senate and gubernatorial editor, said Allred’s fundraising and ad spending, coupled with Cruz being on defense on abortion and a trip the senator took to Cancun during a severe winter storm in 2021, have helped Democrats in the state.

Democrats have increasingly set their sights on Texas, as well as Florida, this cycle.

“Senate Democrats are expanding the map and going on offense,” DSCC Chair Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said. “All cycle long the DSCC has been preparing to take advantage of Sens. Cruz and Scott’s damaged standings in their states — and now our efforts in Texas and Florida are accelerating. Democrats have strong candidates running effective campaigns in both states, and as we escalate our communications against Sens. Cruz and Scott we will crystallize the case against them.”

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Middle East

Gamblers Overwhelmingly Believe Israel Response Against Iran By Friday

75% of those at Polymarket believe Israel will respond to an attack by Iran that took place on Tuesday.  Just over $42,000 have wagered on this betting market, released just hours after the attack.

Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel for Israel's campaign against Tehran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, drawing vows of a sharp response from both Israel and the United States.

Alarms sounded across Israel and explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley. Israelis piled into bomb shelters and reporters on state television lay flat on the ground during live broadcasts.

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