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TAMPA: Donald Trump and Joe Biden dueled over the crucial state of Florida on Thursday (October 29), painting radically different visions of the United States as large GDP figures showed the economy was returning to normal. even as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates again. .
With Trump touting an early end to the health crisis, while warning of rampaging “socialists,” and Biden criticizing the president as irresponsible and vowing to heal America’s “soul”, voters face a dramatic election in five days.
Trump, 74, held another large rally in Tampa, telling the cheering crowd that the coronavirus lockdowns under Biden, 77, would banish normal life.
“They will not allow you anything,” said the Republican.
“We are never going to close again … We are open for business,” he said, telling his fans that his own fight with COVID-19 this month proved it can be beaten.
“You know, the bottom line is that you improve,” he said.
US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona. (Photo: AFP / Brendan Smialowski)
The coronavirus has already claimed 228,000 American lives and is recovering strongly across the country in a second wave late in the summer predicted long ago.
But Trump, long behind in the polls, is counting on the economic recovery and the fear that Democrats will turn America into a failed left-wing state to get over Biden’s message on health.
He got good news in that regard on Thursday with new figures showing a 33.1 percent annual growth rate in the third quarter, a staggering statistic that reflects the fact that the economy is recovering from such a low base.
READ: Trump and Biden’s latest economic speech: GDP growth versus ‘deep hole’
But pick Biden, Trump told the Florida crowd, and they will face “rioters, flag burners and left-wing extremists.”
In an attempt to soften the abrasive image of Trump, loved by his base but a diversion for undecided voters, he was introduced at the rally by his wife Melania, a rare presence in the election campaign.
“We are a country of hope, not a country of fear or weakness and we have a leader who shows us every day,” said the first lady, 50, who immigrated to the United States from Slovenia as a young model.
‘HEART AND SOUL’
Biden, addressing a socially estranged drive-in event in Broward County, reminded supporters that out of every state there are few as important as Florida in deciding the outcome of tight elections.
“Here in Florida, it’s up to you. You have the key. If Florida turns blue, it’s over! It’s over!” he said before a second event in Tampa.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden boards his plane as he heads to Florida for a campaign rally. (Photo: AFP / Jim Watson)
Refuting Trump’s central accusation, Biden emphasized his claim that he would bring in responsible leadership after months of attempts by the White House to downplay the danger of the virus.
“I’m not going to shut down the economy. I’m not going to shut down the country. But I’m going to end the virus,” he said.
While Trump mocks him for holding small campaign events, Biden said he was showing an example, rather than hosting the president’s “blockbuster events.”
“It’s spreading more viruses across the country and here in Florida today it’s spreading division,” Biden said. “We need a president who will unite us, not separate us … The heart and soul of this country are at stake.”
BIDEN AHEAD
Both candidates will go from one transition state to another in the last hours until Tuesday. Trump will set the pace, on a hectic schedule, but Biden’s surprisingly quiet campaign is also picking up on speed.
After Florida, Trump would fly to Fort Bragg in the state of North Carolina for a meeting with the troops. A planned rally in Fayetteville was postponed until Monday due to weather, the campaign said.
Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in Florida in 2016, but an NBC News / Marist poll released Thursday had Biden leading 51-47 points in the state. A new Quinnipiac poll had Biden leading 45-42 in Florida, with a close run at Iowa, but Biden held a slightly larger lead in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
In Florida, the Marist poll showed that Biden had a dominant advantage among black voters (84-14), women (57-41) and independents (55-41) and was also favored by older people (53-46 ), which make up a large proportion of voters in the Sunshine State.
Vote-by-mail ballots for the US Presidential elections are sorted in Pomona, California. (Photo: AFP / Robyn Beck)
“Right now, Biden is raising the score among voters 65 and older and independents, groups that Trump led in 2016,” said Lee Miringoff, who conducted the Marist poll.
“Still, Trump is keeping pace with Biden among Latino voters, a group that Trump badly lost last time.”
Trump was favored by Latinos (52-46), white voters (52-45), men (54-44), and white voters without a college degree (62-36) in Florida, who has sided with the winner of all presidential elections since 1964. with one exception.
