TAMPA, Oct 30, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Donald Trump and Joe Biden dueled Thursday
over the crucial state of Florida, painting radically different visions of
the United States as big new GDP figures showed an improving economy even as
Covid-19 infections reached record highs.
With Trump touting an early end to the health crisis, while warning of
rampaging “socialists,” and Biden slamming the US president as irresponsible
and vowing to heal America’s “soul,” voters face a dramatic choice in five
days.
Trump, 74, held another raucous rally in Tampa, telling the cheering crowd
that coronavirus lockdowns under Biden would banish normal life.
“They will allow you nothing,” the Republican said.
“We’re never going to lock down again…. We’re open for business,” he
said, telling supporters that his own recent bout with Covid-19 proved that
it can be beaten.
“You know, the bottom line is you get better,” he said.
But the pandemic, which has already taken 228,000 American lives, has shown
its resilience and is undergoing a long-predicted second wave.
On Thursday more than 91,000 new US infections were recorded, according to
a Johns Hopkins University tally, the highest 24-hour total since the
pandemic began.
Despite the grim milestone, Trump — trailing in the polls and with a
stunning 81 million Americans already casting their ballots early — is
counting on economic recovery and fear-mongering about Democrats turning the
nation into a leftist failed state to outweigh Biden’s health message for
remaining voters.
He got good news on that score Thursday with new figures showing an annual
growth rate of 33.1 percent in the third quarter — a jaw-dropping statistic
that reflects the economy’s rebound from such a low base.
But elect Biden, Trump told the Florida crowd, and they will face “rioters
and flag burners and the leftwing extremists.”
In a bid to soften the president’s abrasive image — beloved by his base
but a turn-off to swing voters — he was introduced at the rally by First
Lady Melania Trump, who said her husband shows Americans that “we are a
country of hope, not a country of fear or weakness.”
– ‘Heart and soul’ –
Biden, addressing a socially distanced drive-in event in Broward County,
reminded supporters that of all the states there are few as important as
Florida in deciding the outcome of tight elections.
“You hold the key. If Florida goes blue, it’s over!” the 77-year-old told
honking supporters before holding a similar event in Tampa hours after
Trump’s rally.
Rebuffing Trump’s central charge, Biden emphasized his claim that he would
bring responsible leadership after months of the White House downplaying the
virus’ danger.
“I’m not going to shut down the economy, I’m not going to shut down the
country. I’m going to shut down the virus,” he said in Tampa, just hours
after Trump’s appearance where attendees ignored social distancing guidelines
and many did not wear masks.
While Trump mocks him for holding small campaign events, Biden said he was
leading by example, instead of staging the president’s “super-spreader”
events.
“He’s spreading more than just coronavirus; he’s spreading division and
discord. We need a president who’s going to bring us together, not pull us
apart,” he said.
“The heart and soul of this country is at stake.”
– Biden ahead –
Both candidates will be barnstorming swing states in the final sprint to
Tuesday.
Vice President Mike Pence and Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris are also
criss-crossing the nation, to battlegrounds like Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin,
Michigan and all-important Pennsylvania.
Trump sets the pace with a frenetic schedule, but Biden’s strikingly quiet
campaign is also revving up.
After Florida, Trump flew to Fort Bragg in North Carolina for a meeting
with troops. A planned rally in the toss-up state was postponed until Monday
due to the weather, the campaign said.
Mother nature intruded on Biden’s Tampa rally too, as a heavy downpour
forced him to cut his remarks short.
Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in Florida in 2016 but an NBC News/Marist
poll released Thursday had Biden with a 51-47 point lead here.
A new Quinnipiac poll had Biden ahead 45-42 in Florida, with a close race
in Iowa, but Biden maintaining a slightly larger lead in Pennsylvania and
also topping Trump in Ohio.
In Florida, the Marist poll showed Biden had a commanding lead among Black
voters (84-14), women (57-41) and independents (55-41) and was also favored
by seniors (53-46), who make up a large proportion of the voters in the
Sunshine State.
Mary Ann Gouveia, a 55-year-old neonatal nurse practitioner, said she
favors Biden because she wants “commonsense” gun legislation.
But she looks back at 2016, when Clinton “was going to win and she didn’t,”
and gets nervous.
“I’m not confident whatsoever,” despite canvassing, phone-banking and
texting for Biden, she told AFP at his rally.
“I’ve been doing that for several months now, and I’m not stopping until
the day of the election.”