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SAN PABLO: Joe Biden stepped up his attacks Friday on President Donald Trump as they fought through the American Midwest, chasing down to the last vote with four days left in a region that propelled the Republican to victory in 2016.
Trump and Biden stormed three heart states each – with a resurgent coronavirus that surpasses the milestone of nine million cases by reaching the stump – highlighting their differences in a career overshadowed by the pandemic.
Trump announced a campaign “big day” as he left the White House, then held a rally in Michigan before heading to Wisconsin and Minnesota, all states battling a growing number of virus cases.
“We just want normal,” Trump told his supporters. – many of them unmasked – at an outdoor rally near Detroit as he lobbied states to relax public health restrictions and resume daily life.
He again objected to health experts from his own administration by downplaying the Covid-19 threat, saying “if you get it, you’ll get better, and then you’ll be immune.”
Covid-19 has killed nearly 230,000 people in the US, which is experiencing sudden increases in most states as the winter flu season approaches.
The outbreak has devastated the economy, and while there have been signs of recovery, millions are still out of work.
Biden was also stumbling across Wisconsin and Minnesota, where he sharpened his attacks on the president in everything since Trump sought to dismantle Obama-era health care protections and keep his taxes on climate change and trade policy a secret with China.
“We can’t afford four more years of Donald Trump,” the 77-year-old Democrat said at a socially estranged drive-in rally in St Paul, Minnesota.
“So honk the horn if you want America to lead again!” He said, embracing the uncomfortable trend of the pandemic-era campaign of gathering supporters in their vehicles.
“Honk if you want courtesy again, and honk if you want America to be united again!”
Previously in Iowa, he attacked Trump for his handling of the pandemic.
“Donald Trump has given up (and) waved the white flag,” Biden said at a rally with more than 300 cars in Des Moines.
Less divided
Trump turned Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin over to the Democrats for his shocking victory four years ago.
Now polls show Biden leading the way in all three, albeit narrowly in Iowa.
It was Biden’s first visit to Iowa since he began his unfavorable campaign in February, when he placed a dismal fourth place in the opening Democratic nomination contest.
So can Biden win enough voters to prevail in Hawkeye State?
“I wouldn’t put money into it,” said Iowa attorney Sara Riley, 61, at the Biden event, though she was more confident that he would take over the White House.
“I think Americans, even Trump supporters, want to get to a place where the country is less divided,” Riley said.
With voters concerned about the health dangers of crowded polling stations on November 3, a record 86 million have already cast their ballots by mail or in person.
Even as the United States hit a grim new record for daily Covid-19 infections on Thursday, Trump has stood his ground, downplaying the dangers and calling the Democrats furious “socialists” trying to shut down the country.
And while Trump has touted the economic successes of his presidency, including positive GDP figures on Thursday, US stocks ended their worst week since March, highlighting concerns about a shaky recovery.
Turn Texas blue?
After a campaign largely muted by the pandemic, Biden is on the offensive, pushing Trump on the defensive in unexpected battlefields like Texas, a large traditionally conservative stronghold now called a pitch by various analysts.
On Friday, the state reported that a staggering nine million residents had already voted, surpassing the 2016 total.
Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris visited Texas on Friday in an attempt to turn the state into a Democrat for the first time since President Jimmy Carter in 1976.
“We have an opportunity to turn Texas blue,” Carter, 96, said in a fundraising email.
Biden to win there would be a dagger for Trump, but the president dismissed the idea, saying, “Texas, we’re doing great.”
Trump and Biden are focusing their greatest efforts on the traditional battlefields that will decide the elections. – like Florida, where they both campaigned on Thursday.
On Saturday, Biden returns to the Midwest bringing with him perhaps his strongest replacement: former President Barack Obama, making their first joint appearance in person in a campaign of the year with his former vice president.
Motown music legend Stevie Wonder will join them, Biden’s campaign said.
Trump will spend the day campaigning in critical Pennsylvania, where he lags far behind Biden in polls.
Biden will do the same there on both Sunday and Monday, in a clear sign that his campaign sees Keystone State as absolutely crucial to his victory.
