WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT):
8:00 p.m.
Democrat Hillary Clinton says "steadiness" is the most important characteristic for a commander in chief.
Speaking at a forum hosted by NBC Wednesday night, Clinton said a president must have an "absolute rock steadiness mixed with strength to be able to make the hard decisions."
The Democratic presidential nominee noted her time advising President Barack Obama in the situation room, including on the decision process on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Clinton is speaking first at the forum. She will be followed by Republican rival Donald Trump.
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7:00 p.m.
Donald Trump is once again predicting victory in New York State, despite polls showing rival Hillary Clinton way ahead.
Speaking in front of the Conservative Party of New York in Manhattan, the GOP nominee told the crowd Wednesday evening that, "We're going to win this state. It's going to shock people."
Trump spent much of his time on stage discussing one of his earliest projects: His work on the Wollman Rink in Central Park. He said that that he would use the same skills he used to rebuild the skating rink to rebuild parts of the state that have faced economic hardship.
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6:00 p.m.
FBI Director James Comey has told his colleagues that the decision to not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton was not a close call.
In an internal memo Wednesday, Comey says "the case itself was not a cliff-hanger" and that there was not a prosecutable case "despite all the chest-beating by people no longer in government."
He also struck back against criticism that the FBI had timed for political reasons its release last Friday of documents related to the investigation.
He says the documents were released once they had been cleared for release. He says more documents will be released, "no matter the day of the week."
The memo was first reported by CNN.
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5:53 p.m.
FBI Director James Comey has told his colleagues that the decision to not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton was not a close call.
In an internal memo Wednesday, Comey says "the case itself was not a cliff-hanger" and that there was not a prosecutable case "despite all the chest-beating by people no longer in government."
He also struck back against criticism that the FBI had timed for political reasons its release last Friday of documents related to the investigation.
He says the documents were released once they had been cleared for release. He says more documents will be released, "no matter the day of the week."
The memo was first reported by CNN.
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5:32 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Donald Trump can be trusted to oversee the nation's nuclear weapons if he wins the presidency.
McConnell was asked at his weekly press conference if he feels confident that Republican nominee Trump can be trusted "with his finger on the nuclear button."
Trump gave a speech Wednesday calling for major increases in defense spending.
"I didn't hear the speech today, but the answer is yes," McConnell said in response to the question about nuclear weapons.
McConnell said he agrees with Trump that the nation's defense is underfunded.
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4:18 p.m.
The nation's largest investment bank is barring its top employees from contributing to certain political campaigns — including Donald Trump's White House bid. But the policy does not bar those employees from contributing to Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign.
That's because the new rules, which went into effect last week, prohibit partners at Goldman Sachs from donating to state officials who are seeking federal office. That applies to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, so Goldman Sachs partners can't contribute to the Republican ticket.
But Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine, meet neither of those criteria, meaning top employees can contribute to the Democratic ticket.
The policy is meant to remove any implication of a "pay for play" scandal, according to a memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
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4:13 p.m.
The nation's largest investment bank is barring its top employees from contributing to certain political campaigns — including Donald Trump's White House bid. But the policy does not bar those employees from contributing to Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign.
That's because the new rules, which went into effect last week, prohibit partners at Goldman Sachs from donating to state officials who are seeking federal office. That applies to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, so Goldman Sachs partners can't contribute to the Republican ticket.
But Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine, meet neither of those criteria, meaning top employees can contribute to the Democratic ticket.
The policy is meant to remove any implication of a "pay for play" scandal, according to a memo obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
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4:01 p.m.
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein is wanted on a warrant in North Dakota after she allegedly spray-painted construction equipment during a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline.
Stein was charged Wednesday in Morton County with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
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