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WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden launched rhetorical blows to each other on Monday (Sept. 7) as the presidential campaign entered its traditional home stretch on the Labor Day holiday.
Trump described Biden, whom he follows in national polls, as a threat to the economy and “stupid,” while Biden pointed to Trump’s allegations of downed troops.
In a press conference at the White House, Trump said: “Biden and his very liberal running mate (Kamala Harris), the most liberal person in Congress by the way, is not a competent person in my opinion, he would destroy this country and I would destroy this. ” economy.”
He also called Biden “stupid.” Trump has frequently referred to the former vice president as “Sleepy Joe.”
Trump again rejected a report in The Atlantic that he had referred to the fallen US soldiers as “fools” and “losers”, calling it “a hoax.” The story has dominated news coverage for days and threatens Trump’s support among veterans and members of the military, a key voting bloc.
“There is no one who has more respect not only for our military, but for the people who gave their lives in the military,” Trump said.
Biden cited comments reported while campaigning in the electoral battleground of Pennsylvania.
Referring to his son Beau Biden, who served in Iraq as a member of the Delaware National Guard and died of brain cancer in 2015, he said: “Beau was not a loser or a fool … He served with heroes.”
Biden’s visit to Pennsylvania on Monday kicked off a series of trips to battlefield states this week by Biden and Trump, as some opinion polls show the race tightening with less than 60 days to go. November 3.
With the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest over racism and police brutality drawing attention in recent months, Biden is trying to maintain his advantage by painting the Republican president as an ineffective leader who thrives on chaos and has left the working class.
Trump has fought to change the contours of the campaign despite highly charged rhetoric on racial polarization and “law and order” intended to motivate his base and attract new supporters in suburban areas of key states. like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.
LABOR ENDORSEMENTS
Biden met with union leaders in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania capital, and spoke virtually with the leader of America’s largest federation of unions, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. He also answered questions from union workers and met earlier that day with union members who served in the US military.
Biden’s campaign also announced the endorsement of three unions: the International Workers’ Union of North America, the International Union of Elevator Builders and the National Federation of Federal Employees.
Biden vowed to be the “strongest labor president” in the country’s history, promising to hold executives legally accountable if they interfere with union organizing, raise the minimum wage and strengthen the National Labor Relations Board.
“People have discovered that it is not the financial wizards of Wall Street that make this country work. It is you, the essential workers,” Biden said during the virtual event with Trumka.
Trump said that if Biden were elected, the Democrat would order another economic shutdown to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
“Biden’s plan for the China virus is to shut down the entire American economy,” Trump said. “It would be laying off tens of millions of workers and causing countless deaths from suicide, substance abuse, depression, heart disease and other very serious illnesses.”
Trump plans to visit North Carolina, Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania later in the week, all deemed crucial to both candidates’ chances of victory.
Polls in Pennsylvania, which Trump narrowly won in 2016, have consistently put Biden in the lead, but averages show the margin shrinking to about 4 to 5 percentage points, down from 8 points at the end of June. . Biden is scheduled to return to Pennsylvania on Friday.
