Bo and Sunny… Socks and Buddy… Barney and Mrs. Beazley… Major and Commander.

That’s right, Election Insider is going to the dogs (and cats) today.

Chalk it up to the spirit of Halloween…

We thought it was as good a time as any to take a walk on the “lighter” side of the election season. And White House history.

For instance, did you know Satan once resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

He was a mutt that belonged to our second president, John Adams, and was among the first known pets to live in the newly-built White House in 1800.

Skip to Abraham Lincoln who owned several cats, including Tabby and the improbably-named Dixie. They were so spoiled that Lincoln reportedly fed them with a gold fork.

And a dog literally saved Nixon’s political career in 1952…

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Your Rundown for Thursday, October 31, 2024...

How Checkers the Dog Saved Nixon

That year, during a televised address, Nixon defended himself against allegations of misusing donor funds.

Nixon’s emotional mention of a gift his family had received — a cocker spaniel named Checkers — led to an outpouring of public support.

The term “Checkers speech” has since become shorthand for an emotional appeal by a politician aimed at gaining public sympathy.

Then there were the Bidens’ German Shepherds, Major and Commander…

Unlike Checkers, these canines did nothing to rehab Joe Biden’s image.

Major had a rough start in his new home, leading to several biting incidents that resulted in him being sent to live with family friends.

Commander, on the other hand, was allowed to menace White House staff and Secret Service for a longer period of time.

In total, the dog was involved in at least 25 biting incidents in under a year!

Like owner, like dog?

This morning, we read that President Joe Biden playfully(?) chomped on the legs of several costumed babies at the White House’s Halloween party. Weird.

On the campaign trail this year, pets have made more headlines. JD Vance sparked controversy when he referred to his opponents as “childless cat ladies.”

Vance himself faced accusations of using his “family dog” as a campaign prop — leading some to question whether he was truly a dog lover or just looking for a photo op.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump entered the fray with an eyebrow-raising claim about immigrants supposedly eating pets in Ohio. (It’s a wild claim which, in my opinion, distracts from the real immigration issue.)

But with five days remaining between us and Election Day 2024, reader, it’s nice to take a breather. And lighten up a little.

Happy Halloween!

Market Rundown for Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024

S&P futures are down 0.60% to 5,815.

Oil is up 0.90% to $69.22 for a barrel of WTI.

Gold is down 0.50% to $2,786.50 per ounce.

And Bitcoin’s at $72,210.

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