US Elections: Trump Ducks Covid 19 Coronavirus Test Questions As He And Biden Duel At Town Halls

US President Donald Trump was evasive when asked if he took a Covid-19 test before his first debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden, as the two men clashed again, in a way, afterwards. that their second frustrated debate was replaced by a duel in televised town halls. .

Biden, who appeared nearly 2,000 kilometers away on Thursday (Friday NZT), denounced the White House’s handling of the virus that has claimed more than 215,000 American lives.

Meanwhile, Trump was on the defensive, insisting that the nation was turning the virus around, even as his own battle with the disease took center stage.

Trump, less than two weeks after being diagnosed with Covid-19, avoided responding directly if he had a test on the day of the debate on September 29, saying only “possibly I did, possibly I did not.”

The rules of debate required that each candidate, using the honor system, have tested negative before debate, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested negative.

It was his positive test two days later that created the strange spectacle on Thursday, which deprived most viewers of a simultaneous glance at the candidates just 19 days before US Election Day.

Presidential rivals answered questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia.

Trump backed out of plans for the presidential showdown originally scheduled for the night after organizers of the debate said it would take place virtually after Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis.

City councils offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the couple held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. The difference in the men’s tone was immediate and surprising.

Trump was Trump. He was loud and argumentative, fought with the host, Savannah Guthrie, refused to directly convict the conspiracy group QAnon, testified angrily that he would denounce white supremacy but complained about the questioning, and finally said for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair choice, but only after casting an extraordinary amount of doubt about the probability of justice.

“And then they talk ‘Will you accept a peaceful transfer?” Trump said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to be an honest choice, just like everyone else. “

In a safe time to tickle the internet, one of the voters in the audience told Trump that he was handsome.

“Good evening, Mr. President. I have to tell you, you have a big smile,” she said, smiling widely herself.

“Thank you. Thank you,” Trump replied with a smile.

“It does. You are so handsome when you smile,” she added.

The voter in question, Paulette Dale, was identified as a Republican leaning toward Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, Biden took a very different and softer approach to questions from the audience. The former vice president, who had trouble growing up with a stutter, stuttered a bit early in the show and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words.

Dressed in a blue suit and holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic candidate also brought a small note card to the stage and referred to it while vowing to reverse tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

He said doing so would save “let me see … $ 92 billion.”

The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for the second and final time next week in Nashville.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump appeared at a rally in North Carolina, underscoring the challenge he faces in recent weeks, as multiple polls have shown him behind Biden nationally and in many undecided states.

Trump has spent much of the week on defense, campaigning in states he won in 2016, such as North Carolina and Iowa, where he campaigned on Wednesday.

But despite the polls, Trump predicted a “big, beautiful red wave” on election night, before referring to another of his main challenges: a cash disadvantage for Biden’s campaign, which just announced the record collection of 383 million dollars (NZ $ 580m) in September.

– With news.com.au