Political heat is stirring up ahead of the US election in duelling campaign rallies in key election state of Florida. Rival Joe Biden & President Donald Trump pulled out all stops to appeal to the voters just days before the voting day. Watch the report to know more.

Political heat stirs up ahead of the US Election; Trump & Biden's final appeal to voters

In this episode of U.S. Election Dialogues we talk about the China factor in U.S. Elections.

U.S. Election Dialogues | Race to the White House | Oct 28, 2020 | WION

In a pair of decisions welcomed by Democrats, the Supreme Court on Wednesday let election officials in two key battleground states, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, accept absentee ballots for several days after Election Day.

In the Pennsylvania case, the court refused a plea from Republicans in the state that it decide before Election Day whether election officials can continue receiving absentee ballots for three days after Nov. 3.

In the North Carolina case, the court let stand lower court rulings that allowed the state’s board of elections to extend the deadline to nine days after Election Day, up from the three days called for by the state Legislature.

The court’s brief orders in the two cases were unsigned. The Pennsylvania order appeared to be unanimous, while the North Carolina one was issued over three noted dissents.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the court on Tuesday, did not take part in either case. A court spokeswoman said Barrett had not participated "because of the need for a prompt resolution" and because "she has not had time to fully review the parties’ filings.”

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-the-most-expensive-in-american-history-study-338759">US election 2020 the most expensive in American history: Study</a>

The Pennsylvania and North Carolina cases were the latest examples of the complications that COVID-19 has presented to officials preparing for next week’s election and facing a record-setting number of absentee and mail-in ballots cast by voters eager to avoid voting in person during a pandemic.

Democrats have consistently pushed for more lenient rules when it comes to mail-in ballots and how and when they are counted. Republicans have resisted such changes, with many of them arguing that the relaxed rules could open the process to abuse and fraud.

There were no noted dissents in the Pennsylvania case, though three justices said the court might return to it after Election Day. In the North Carolina case, the same three members of the court — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch — said they would have granted requests from Republican lawmakers and the Trump campaign to block lower court rulings allowing the longer deadline.

The two cases involved broadly similar issues. In Pennsylvania, the question was whether the state’s Supreme Court could override voting rules set by the state legislature. In North Carolina, the question was whether state election officials had the power to alter such voting rules.

The Pennsylvania case left open the possibility of later action by the court.

“I reluctantly conclude that there is simply not enough time at this late date to decide the question before the election,” Alito wrote.

“Although the court denies the motion to expedite” the petition seeking review, he wrote, the petition “remains before us, and if it is granted, the case can then be decided under a shortened schedule.”

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-leading-in-us-election-2020-against-donald-trump-survey-338733">Joe Biden leading in US Election 2020 against Donald Trump: Survey</a>

The court’s refusal to move more quickly came a little more than a week after it deadlocked, 4-4, on an emergency application in the case. The Pennsylvania Republican Party had asked the justices to temporarily block a ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that allowed election officials to count some mailed ballots received up to three days after Election Day.

The state court said the extra time was needed because of the coronavirus pandemic and delays in mail service.

State Republicans, apparently hoping that the arrival of Barrett would alter the judicial calculus, returned to the Supreme Court on Friday asking it to hear an ordinary appeal from the state court’s ruling, which is not unusual, but to compress a process that usually takes months into a few days, which certainly is.

In his statement, Alito criticized his court’s treatment of the case, which he said had “needlessly created conditions that could lead to serious postelection problems.”

“The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has issued a decree that squarely alters an important statutory provision enacted by the Pennsylvania legislature pursuant to its authority under the Constitution of the United States to make rules governing the conduct of elections for federal office,” he wrote.

That echoed a concurring opinion issued on Monday by Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a case from Wisconsin. Kavanaugh also said that state legislatures, rather than state courts, have the last word in setting state election procedures.

Writing on Wednesday, Alito said he regretted that the election would be “conducted under a cloud.”

“It would be highly desirable to issue a ruling on the constitutionality of the State Supreme Court’s decision before the election,” he wrote. “That question has national importance, and there is a strong likelihood that the State Supreme Court decision violates the federal Constitution.”

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“The provisions of the federal Constitution conferring on state legislatures, not state courts, the authority to make rules governing federal elections would be meaningless,” he wrote, “if a state court could override the rules adopted by the legislature simply by claiming that a state constitutional provision gave the courts the authority to make whatever rules it thought appropriate for the conduct of a fair election.”

Earlier Wednesday, Pennsylvania officials told the court that they had instructed county election officials to segregate ballots arriving after 8 p.m. on Election Day through 5 p.m. three days later. That could potentially allow a later ruling from the court to determine whether they were ultimately counted.

In its motion seeking expedited consideration of the case, lawyers for the Republican Party wrote that the court’s ordinary briefing schedules “would not allow the case to be considered and decided before the results of the general election must be finalized.”

The motion noted that four justices had already indicated where they stood when the court deadlocked on Oct. 19. Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said they would have granted a stay blocking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision. On the other side were Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s three-member liberal wing: Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Neither side gave reasons, and the split suggested that Barrett could play a decisive role if the court eventually heard the case.

Responding to the motion seeking expedited treatment of the Republicans’ appeal, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party called the request “rash and unseemly.”

“Even on the extraordinarily hurried schedule” proposed by the Republicans, the response said, “a ruling from this court could not realistically issue until the eve of the election.”

“By then,” it added, “it will be too late for many Pennsylvania voters who have relied on the existing rules to adjust to any change in the rules that this court might impose.”

The state court ordered a three-day extension for ballots clearly mailed on or before Election Day and for those with missing or illegible postmarks “unless a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that it was mailed after Election Day.”

The U.S. Supreme Court has not hesitated to block orders from federal judges that sought to alter state rules for conducting elections. Rulings from state courts present more difficult questions, because the Supreme Court generally defers to them in cases concerning interpretations of state law and the Constitution empowers state legislatures to set the times, places and manner of congressional elections.

In an earlier brief, Republicans argued that “the Constitution reserves a special role for state legislatures in federal elections,” one that cannot be overridden by state courts. The brief relied heavily on the Supreme Court’s decision in the cases culminating in Bush v. Gore, the 2000 ruling that handed the presidency to George W. Bush.

“By extending the deadline by judicial fiat and establishing a presumption of timeliness that will allow voters to cast or mail ballots after Election Day,” the brief said, “the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has impermissibly altered both the ‘time’ and ‘manner’ established by the General Assembly” for conducting elections.

In response, Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s attorney general, a Democrat, said a provision of the state constitution protecting “free and equal elections” allowed the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to extend the deadline.

The North Carolina case concerned a state law that allowed absentee ballots to be received up to three days after Election Day. But the state’s board of elections, drawing on its power to address natural disasters, had agreed to nine days as part of a settlement of a lawsuit in state court.

All five members of the board agreed to the settlement, including two Republicans who later resigned, saying they had been “gulled into providing their assent.”

Republican lawmakers, the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign challenged the settlement in federal court, saying the board had exceeded its power. By a 12-3 vote, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against them. All three of President Donald Trump’s appointees to the court voted with the majority.

“All ballots must still be mailed on or before Election Day,” Judge James A. Wynn Jr. wrote. “The change is simply an extension from three to nine days after Election Day for a timely ballot to be received and counted. That is all.”

In dissent, Judges J. Harvie Wilkinson and G. Steven Agee, joined by Judge Paul V. Niemeyer, said the majority’s ruling had endorsed a pernicious trend.

“It takes no special genius to know what this insidious formula is producing,” they wrote. “Our country is now plagued by a proliferation of pre-election litigation that creates confusion and turmoil and that threatens to undermine public confidence in the federal courts, state agencies and the elections themselves.”

In the Supreme Court, the Trump campaign urged the justices to intercede.

“This case involves an extraordinary attempt by an unelected state board of elections to rewrite the unambiguous terms of a statute enacted in June by a bipartisan state legislature to set time, place, and manner requirements for absentee voting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the brief said.

The board responded that it had the statutory authority to act. A state law gave it emergency powers to be used when elections are disrupted by natural disasters.

“In the past three years alone, the board has twice extended the absentee-ballot receipt deadline after hurricanes hit the state’s coast,” its brief said. “No one challenged those extensions.”

Thomas said he would have granted the stay sought by the Republicans, but he gave no reasons.

Gorsuch, joined by Alito, criticized “the board’s constitutional overreach.”

Its actions, Gorsuch wrote, “do damage to faith in the written Constitution as law, to the power of the people to oversee their own government, and to the authority of legislatures.”

“Such last-minute changes by largely unaccountable bodies, too,” he wrote, “invite confusion, risk altering election outcomes, and in the process threaten voter confidence in the results.”

In a pair of decisions welcomed by Democrats, the Supreme Court on Wednesday let election officials in two key battleground states, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, accept absentee ballots for several days after Election Day.

In a pair of decisions welcomed by Democrats, the Supreme Court on Wednesday let election officials in two key battleground states, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, accept absentee ballots for several days after Election Day. In the Pennsylvania case, the court refused a plea from Republicans in the state that it decide before Election Day whether election officials can continue receiving absentee ballots for three days after Nov. 3. In the North Carolina case, the court let stand lower court rulings that allowed the state’s board of elections to extend the deadline to nine days after Election Day, up from the three days called for by the state Legislature. The court’s brief orders in the two cases were unsigned. The Pennsylvania order appeared to be unanimous, while the North Carolina one was issued over three noted dissents. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the court on Tuesday, did not take part in either case. A court spokeswoman said Barrett had not participated "because of the need for a prompt resolution" and because "she has not had time to fully review the parties’ filings.” Also Read | US election 2020 the most expensive in American history: Study The Pennsylvania and North Carolina cases were the latest examples of the complications that COVID-19 has presented to officials preparing for next week’s election and facing a record-setting number of absentee and mail-in ballots cast by voters eager to avoid voting in person during a pandemic. Democrats have consistently pushed for more lenient rules when it comes to mail-in ballots and how and when they are counted. Republicans have resisted such changes, with many of them arguing that the relaxed rules could open the process to abuse and fraud. There were no noted dissents in the Pennsylvania case, though three justices said the court might return to it after Election Day. In the North Carolina case, the same three members of the court — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch — said they would have granted requests from Republican lawmakers and the Trump campaign to block lower court rulings allowing the longer deadline. The two cases involved broadly similar issues. In Pennsylvania, the question was whether the state’s Supreme Court could override voting rules set by the state legislature. In North Carolina, the question was whether state election officials had the power to alter such voting rules. The Pennsylvania case left open the possibility of later action by the court. “I reluctantly conclude that there is simply not enough time at this late date to decide the question before the election,” Alito wrote. “Although the court denies the motion to expedite” the petition seeking review, he wrote, the petition “remains before us, and if it is granted, the case can then be decided under a shortened schedule.” Also Read | Joe Biden leading in US Election 2020 against Donald Trump: Survey The court’s refusal to move more quickly came a little more than a week after it deadlocked, 4-4, on an emergency application in the case. The Pennsylvania Republican Party had asked the justices to temporarily block a ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that allowed election officials to count some mailed ballots received up to three days after Election Day. The state court said the extra time was needed because of the coronavirus pandemic and delays in mail service. State Republicans, apparently hoping that the arrival of Barrett would alter the judicial calculus, returned to the Supreme Court on Friday asking it to hear an ordinary appeal from the state court’s ruling, which is not unusual, but to compress a process that usually takes months into a few days, which certainly is. In his statement, Alito criticized his court’s treatment of the case, which he said had “needlessly created conditions that could lead to serious postelection problems.” “The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has issued a decree that squarely alters an important statutory provision enacted by the Pennsylvania legislature pursuant to its authority under the Constitution of the United States to make rules governing the conduct of elections for federal office,” he wrote. That echoed a concurring opinion issued on Monday by Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a case from Wisconsin. Kavanaugh also said that state legislatures, rather than state courts, have the last word in setting state election procedures. Writing on Wednesday, Alito said he regretted that the election would be “conducted under a cloud.” “It would be highly desirable to issue a ruling on the constitutionality of the State Supreme Court’s decision before the election,” he wrote. “That question has national importance, and there is a strong likelihood that the State Supreme Court decision violates the federal Constitution.” × “The provisions of the federal Constitution conferring on state legislatures, not state courts, the authority to make rules governing federal elections would be meaningless,” he wrote, “if a state court could override the rules adopted by the legislature simply by claiming that a state constitutional provision gave the courts the authority to make whatever rules it thought appropriate for the conduct of a fair election.” Earlier Wednesday, Pennsylvania officials told the court that they had instructed county election officials to segregate ballots arriving after 8 p.m. on Election Day through 5 p.m. three days later. That could potentially allow a later ruling from the court to determine whether they were ultimately counted. In its motion seeking expedited consideration of the case, lawyers for the Republican Party wrote that the court’s ordinary briefing schedules “would not allow the case to be considered and decided before the results of the general election must be finalized.” The motion noted that four justices had already indicated where they stood when the court deadlocked on Oct. 19. Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said they would have granted a stay blocking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision. On the other side were Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s three-member liberal wing: Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Neither side gave reasons, and the split suggested that Barrett could play a decisive role if the court eventually heard the case. Responding to the motion seeking expedited treatment of the Republicans’ appeal, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party called the request “rash and unseemly.” “Even on the extraordinarily hurried schedule” proposed by the Republicans, the response said, “a ruling from this court could not realistically issue until the eve of the election.” “By then,” it added, “it will be too late for many Pennsylvania voters who have relied on the existing rules to adjust to any change in the rules that this court might impose.” The state court ordered a three-day extension for ballots clearly mailed on or before Election Day and for those with missing or illegible postmarks “unless a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that it was mailed after Election Day.” The U.S. Supreme Court has not hesitated to block orders from federal judges that sought to alter state rules for conducting elections. Rulings from state courts present more difficult questions, because the Supreme Court generally defers to them in cases concerning interpretations of state law and the Constitution empowers state legislatures to set the times, places and manner of congressional elections. In an earlier brief, Republicans argued that “the Constitution reserves a special role for state legislatures in federal elections,” one that cannot be overridden by state courts. The brief relied heavily on the Supreme Court’s decision in the cases culminating in Bush v. Gore, the 2000 ruling that handed the presidency to George W. Bush. “By extending the deadline by judicial fiat and establishing a presumption of timeliness that will allow voters to cast or mail ballots after Election Day,” the brief said, “the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has impermissibly altered both the ‘time’ and ‘manner’ established by the General Assembly” for conducting elections. In response, Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s attorney general, a Democrat, said a provision of the state constitution protecting “free and equal elections” allowed the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to extend the deadline. The North Carolina case concerned a state law that allowed absentee ballots to be received up to three days after Election Day. But the state’s board of elections, drawing on its power to address natural disasters, had agreed to nine days as part of a settlement of a lawsuit in state court. All five members of the board agreed to the settlement, including two Republicans who later resigned, saying they had been “gulled into providing their assent.” Republican lawmakers, the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign challenged the settlement in federal court, saying the board had exceeded its power. By a 12-3 vote, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against them. All three of President Donald Trump’s appointees to the court voted with the majority. “All ballots must still be mailed on or before Election Day,” Judge James A. Wynn Jr. wrote. “The change is simply an extension from three to nine days after Election Day for a timely ballot to be received and counted. That is all.” In dissent, Judges J. Harvie Wilkinson and G. Steven Agee, joined by Judge Paul V. Niemeyer, said the majority’s ruling had endorsed a pernicious trend. “It takes no special genius to know what this insidious formula is producing,” they wrote. “Our country is now plagued by a proliferation of pre-election litigation that creates confusion and turmoil and that threatens to undermine public confidence in the federal courts, state agencies and the elections themselves.” In the Supreme Court, the Trump campaign urged the justices to intercede. “This case involves an extraordinary attempt by an unelected state board of elections to rewrite the unambiguous terms of a statute enacted in June by a bipartisan state legislature to set time, place, and manner requirements for absentee voting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the brief said. The board responded that it had the statutory authority to act. A state law gave it emergency powers to be used when elections are disrupted by natural disasters. “In the past three years alone, the board has twice extended the absentee-ballot receipt deadline after hurricanes hit the state’s coast,” its brief said. “No one challenged those extensions.” Thomas said he would have granted the stay sought by the Republicans, but he gave no reasons. Gorsuch, joined by Alito, criticized “the board’s constitutional overreach.” Its actions, Gorsuch wrote, “do damage to faith in the written Constitution as law, to the power of the people to oversee their own government, and to the authority of legislatures.” “Such last-minute changes by largely unaccountable bodies, too,” he wrote, “invite confusion, risk altering election outcomes, and in the process threaten voter confidence in the results.”

Supreme Court allows longer deadlines for absentee ballots in Pennsylvania and North Carolina

The COVID-19 pandemic is driving more Americans to vote by mail. At least 70 million Americans have already cast their ballots with a record number which keeps getting larger day by day. Watch the report to know, how is the vote counted on election night?

US Election 2020: How is the vote counted on election night?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/general-bajwa-quivering-qureshi-said-india-will-attack-if-abhinandan-not-released-pakistan-mp-recalls-338667">General Bajwa quivering, Qureshi said India will attack if Abhinandan not released: Pakistan MP recalls</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2019/03/02/85529-untitled-design-7.jpg?itok=fEUzxZt2" /> 
A Pakistan politician claimed that fearing an attack by India, the Imran Khan Government had abruptly released Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-and-wife-jill-biden-cast-early-vote-in-wilmington-days-before-us-election-338663">Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, cast an early vote in Wilmington days before US Election</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/29/167153-joe-biden-casts-early-vote.jpg?itok=aDng4tqw" /> 
Less than a week away from the US elections 2020, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden cast an early vote with his wife, Jill Biden, in his home town of Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-torn-yemen-on-brink-of-losing-an-entire-generation-of-children-to-hunger-un-338662">War-torn Yemen on brink of losing an entire generation of children to hunger: UN</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/07/03/148002-yemen-humanitarian-crisis.jpg?itok=0cz8vT9u" /> 
Conflict-ravaged Yemen has become a "living hell" for children with thousands dying every year from malnutrition and easily preventable diseases. 
&nbsp;

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

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General Bajwa quivering, Qureshi said India will attack if Abhinandan not released: Pakistan MP recalls A Pakistan politician claimed that fearing an attack by India, the Imran Khan Government had abruptly released Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

General Bajwa quivering, Qureshi said India will attack if Abhinandan not released: Pakistan MP recalls A Pakistan politician claimed that fearing an attack by India, the Imran Khan Government had abruptly released Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, cast an early vote in Wilmington days before US Election Less than a week away from the US elections 2020, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden cast an early vote with his wife, Jill Biden, in his home town of Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday. War-torn Yemen on brink of losing an entire generation of children to hunger: UN Conflict-ravaged Yemen has become a "living hell" for children with thousands dying every year from malnutrition and easily preventable diseases.

Morning news brief: India-Pakistan dogfight, US election and more

6 days to go for USElection2020 and there's a big debate on whether Americans can change their vote. Donald trump says most Americans want to vote again after watching the last Presidential Debate.

Gravitas: Can Americans change their vote?

Less than a week away from the US elections 2020, the&nbsp;Democrat candidate and former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;cast an early vote with his wife, Jill Biden, in his home town of&nbsp;Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday.

Biden&nbsp;was seen entering the Delaware States Building in Wilmington on Wednesday shortly after talking to a group of supporters about how he would help the country come out of a pandemic with a better plan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-american-voters-make-history-more-than-70-million-cast-ballots-338468">Also read|&nbsp;US Election 2020: American voters make history in early voting; more than 70 million cast ballots</a>

In the Delaware State Building,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;cast an early vote and also met other voters who had either voted by mail and/or had voted early. He also met with few health experts to discuss and fine-tune the plan to fight the novel coronavirus — an issue he has been pushing against the current Republican candidate and President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to gain the upper hand in the upcoming elections.

Former Vice President's words were a little different from his previous public gatherings and rallies. Earlier,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;has always claimed that he will help Americans come out of this pandemic as healthy human beings, rather than them losing their loved ones to this deadly virus. However, on Wednesday,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;talked about how he will put a lot of hard work from Day 1 of his Presidency, but cannot bring a magic switch to hop put of the pandemic. "Even if I win it's going to take a lot of hard work to end this pandemic," he said in Wilmington.

"I'm not running on a false promise of being able to end this pandemic by flipping a switch," he added. "But what I can promise you is this: we'll start on Day 1 by doing the right thing. We'll let science guide our decisions."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/joe-biden-holds-drive-in-rally-a-week-before-us-election-2020-338552">Have a look|&nbsp;Joe Biden holds 'drive-in' rally a week before US election 2020</a>

To prove his point, he has also been campaigning and holding rallies in small gatherings, unlike&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;who holds gatherings in large grounds and stadiums with little or no precautions and is also often seen boasting about the huge turnout.

Trump, along with the First Lady <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-flotus-melania-trump-and-her-recent-controversies-337452">Melania Trump</a>,&nbsp;voted in-person over the weekend. His daughter,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-trump-family-finally-wears-facemasks-at-the-last-presidential-debate-337442"> Ivanka Trump</a>, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were massively mocked on the internet after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-ivanka-trump-and-jared-kushner-opt-for-mail-in-voting-as-donald-trump-questions-authenticity-338532">First Daughter posted a picture of the couple holding a mail-in voting envelope</a> while her father sat on his chair onboard the Air Force One —&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has repeatedly criticised and questioned the authenticity of the mail-in ballots.

The two leaders are now wrapping up their campaign trail with the elections due on November 03.

Less than a week away from the US elections 2020, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden cast an early vote with his wife, Jill Biden, in his home town of Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday.

Less than a week away from the US elections 2020, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden cast an early vote with his wife, Jill Biden, in his home town of Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday. Biden was seen entering the Delaware States Building in Wilmington on Wednesday shortly after talking to a group of supporters about how he would help the country come out of a pandemic with a better plan. Also read| US Election 2020: American voters make history in early voting; more than 70 million cast ballots In the Delaware State Building, Biden cast an early vote and also met other voters who had either voted by mail and/or had voted early. He also met with few health experts to discuss and fine-tune the plan to fight the novel coronavirus — an issue he has been pushing against the current Republican candidate and President Donald Trump to gain the upper hand in the upcoming elections. Former Vice President's words were a little different from his previous public gatherings and rallies. Earlier, Biden has always claimed that he will help Americans come out of this pandemic as healthy human beings, rather than them losing their loved ones to this deadly virus. However, on Wednesday, Biden talked about how he will put a lot of hard work from Day 1 of his Presidency, but cannot bring a magic switch to hop put of the pandemic. "Even if I win it's going to take a lot of hard work to end this pandemic," he said in Wilmington. "I'm not running on a false promise of being able to end this pandemic by flipping a switch," he added. "But what I can promise you is this: we'll start on Day 1 by doing the right thing. We'll let science guide our decisions." Have a look| Joe Biden holds 'drive-in' rally a week before US election 2020 To prove his point, he has also been campaigning and holding rallies in small gatherings, unlike Trump who holds gatherings in large grounds and stadiums with little or no precautions and is also often seen boasting about the huge turnout. Trump, along with the First Lady Melania Trump, voted in-person over the weekend. His daughter, Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were massively mocked on the internet after the First Daughter posted a picture of the couple holding a mail-in voting envelope while her father sat on his chair onboard the Air Force One — Trump has repeatedly criticised and questioned the authenticity of the mail-in ballots. The two leaders are now wrapping up their campaign trail with the elections due on November 03.

Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, cast early vote in Wilmington days before US Election

A research group has revealed that the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election</a> of the year 2020 will be one of the most expensive elections in the history of American politics as the total expenditure can reach $14 billion approximately.

The Center for Responsive Politics has revealed that this election cycle is one of the most expensive elections and it is already twice as expensive as the 2016 elections which saw <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Hillary Clinton rally against each other.

As per the study, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;will be the first contestant to raise nearly (or more than) $1 billion from his donors. Biden's campaign raised a record-breaking figure of $938 million through October 14, whereas Trump's campaign managed to raise $596 million.

"Even amid a pandemic, everyone is giving more in 2020, from ordinary individuals making small donations to billionaires cutting eight-figure checks to super PACs."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-and-wife-jill-biden-cast-early-vote-in-wilmington-days-before-us-election-338663">Also read|&nbsp;Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, cast early vote in Wilmington days before US Election</a>

"Women are smashing donation records, and Americans are increasingly donating to candidates who aren't running for office in their state," it said in a statement.

The Center for Responsive Politics has claimed that an "extraordinary influx" of political donations in the final months has&nbsp;pushed the total spending&nbsp;in the elections well past the earlier estimated figure of $11 billion. The shift is being assumed to be a result of&nbsp;the Supreme Court battle and closely watched races for the White House and Senate.

Spendings this year will be more than the expenditure incurred in the last two elections combined, which is not something that the experts would have expected due to the pandemic. "Donors poured record amounts of money into the 2018 midterms, and 2020 appears to be a continuation of that trend - but magnified," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics.

"Ten years ago, a billion-dollar presidential candidate would have been difficult to imagine. This cycle, we're likely to see two," Krumholz said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-american-voters-make-history-more-than-70-million-cast-ballots-338468">Also read|&nbsp;US Election 2020: American voters make history in early voting; more than 70 million cast ballots</a>

A majority of the spendings have come from wealthy national groups, and have majorly funded Biden instead of the current President Donald Trump.&nbsp;In the month of October alone, outside spending by super PACs and other big-money groups totalled nearly $1.2 billion.

"Their money machine is more powerful than ever in 2020," the Center said.

It is not just the wealthy groups that have donated money this election, the small-size groups have donated more this election cycle when compared to the other years. Joe Biden got donations of nearly $1.7 billion whereas the Republicans gained $1 billion from small groups. Overall, small donors account for 22 per cent of the money raised in the 2020 cycle. These individual donors giving USD 200 or less only accounted for 15 per cent of the money raised in the 2016 election.

In an interesting observation, more than 1.5 million women have donated to federal committees driving an increase of 37 per cent from the 2016 election — accounting for a total of 44 per cent of all donors.

The study also revealed that the Trump administration has failed to keep their old supporters in their corner as the majority of the leading industries have shifted over to Democrats' side, except fpr real estate which still favours Trump over Biden.&nbsp;

A research group has revealed that the upcoming US election of the year 2020 will be one of the most expensive elections in the history of American politics as the total expenditure can reach $14 billion approximately.

A research group has revealed that the upcoming US election of the year 2020 will be one of the most expensive elections in the history of American politics as the total expenditure can reach $14 billion approximately. The Center for Responsive Politics has revealed that this election cycle is one of the most expensive elections and it is already twice as expensive as the 2016 elections which saw Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton rally against each other. As per the study, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden will be the first contestant to raise nearly (or more than) $1 billion from his donors. Biden's campaign raised a record-breaking figure of $938 million through October 14, whereas Trump's campaign managed to raise $596 million. "Even amid a pandemic, everyone is giving more in 2020, from ordinary individuals making small donations to billionaires cutting eight-figure checks to super PACs." Also read| Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, cast early vote in Wilmington days before US Election "Women are smashing donation records, and Americans are increasingly donating to candidates who aren't running for office in their state," it said in a statement. The Center for Responsive Politics has claimed that an "extraordinary influx" of political donations in the final months has pushed the total spending in the elections well past the earlier estimated figure of $11 billion. The shift is being assumed to be a result of the Supreme Court battle and closely watched races for the White House and Senate. Spendings this year will be more than the expenditure incurred in the last two elections combined, which is not something that the experts would have expected due to the pandemic. "Donors poured record amounts of money into the 2018 midterms, and 2020 appears to be a continuation of that trend - but magnified," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. "Ten years ago, a billion-dollar presidential candidate would have been difficult to imagine. This cycle, we're likely to see two," Krumholz said. Also read| US Election 2020: American voters make history in early voting; more than 70 million cast ballots A majority of the spendings have come from wealthy national groups, and have majorly funded Biden instead of the current President Donald Trump. In the month of October alone, outside spending by super PACs and other big-money groups totalled nearly $1.2 billion. "Their money machine is more powerful than ever in 2020," the Center said. It is not just the wealthy groups that have donated money this election, the small-size groups have donated more this election cycle when compared to the other years. Joe Biden got donations of nearly $1.7 billion whereas the Republicans gained $1 billion from small groups. Overall, small donors account for 22 per cent of the money raised in the 2020 cycle. These individual donors giving USD 200 or less only accounted for 15 per cent of the money raised in the 2016 election. In an interesting observation, more than 1.5 million women have donated to federal committees driving an increase of 37 per cent from the 2016 election — accounting for a total of 44 per cent of all donors. The study also revealed that the Trump administration has failed to keep their old supporters in their corner as the majority of the leading industries have shifted over to Democrats' side, except fpr real estate which still favours Trump over Biden.

US election 2020 the most expensive in American history: Study

Several polls and studies have tried to predict the winner of the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election 2020</a>, which are to be held on November 03. While some are studying the shift in the political environment in several <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-vs-joe-biden-swing-states-and-their-role-in-us-election-2020-338559">swing states</a>, some are turning towards astrologers for answers.

Several organisations are now conducting independent polls to predict the next President of the United States. And as per a poll conducted by the American media house, CNN, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is still the frontrunner against the Republican candidate and current President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

The poll revealed that among the registered voters and the participants,&nbsp;54 per cent back Biden and 42 per cent Trump,&nbsp;matching several other opinion polls and predictions made by different organisations and individuals.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-and-wife-jill-biden-cast-early-vote-in-wilmington-days-before-us-election-338663">Also read|&nbsp;Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, cast early vote in Wilmington days before US Election</a>

This poll was conducted by CNN with&nbsp;SSRS, an independent research company. In this poll, nearly 1,005 American voters were approached and questioned between October 23-26, 2020. The interviews were conducted through telephone.

As per the results, among those who have voted,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;leads by&nbsp;64 per cent to 34 per cent votes for&nbsp;Trump. The category of people who were yet to vote, at the time of being interviewed, also favoured Biden&nbsp;with 63 per cent lead&nbsp;and Trump lagging behind with 33 per cent.

However, a shift in results is seen in the category of the voters who plan to vote on November 03 with Trump leading with&nbsp;59 per cent, and&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;securing only 36 per cent voters' attention.

When the voter category is shifted to demographics of women versus men, women are still preferring the Democrats by 61 per cent and only&nbsp;37 per cent women supporting Republicans — with women of colour favouring Biden by 77 per cent and 54&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;white women also giving votes to Biden.&nbsp;Men, on the other hand, have a very small difference between the two leaders with Trump leading the race with 48 per cent and Biden matching up with 47 per cent — with men of colour giving a lead to&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;by&nbsp;64 per cent but white men favouring&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;with 56 per cent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-american-voters-make-history-more-than-70-million-cast-ballots-338468">Also read|&nbsp;US Election 2020: American voters make history in early voting; more than 70 million cast ballots</a>

Another interesting observation made in this poll has been that American voters with college degrees, and higher, are favouring&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;whereas people without degrees are split evenly. Similarly,&nbsp;49 per cent white women without college degrees&nbsp;favour Biden and same with&nbsp;Trump.

Nearly 48 per cent of&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;supporters have also revealed that their vote is mainly a vote against the current President rather than a vote in favour of&nbsp;Joe Biden.&nbsp;On the other hand,&nbsp;79 per cent&nbsp;trump&nbsp;supporters have said their vote is in favour of the President rather than against his rival.

Overall,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;is still leading the polls for the upcoming US election 2020, but&nbsp;Trump,&nbsp;too, can gain the lead if the political environment in the country keeps shifting. The final result of the elections will be revealed a little later than the estimated time period due to the majority votes being cast by mail-in.&nbsp;

Several polls and studies have tried to predict the winner of the upcoming US election 2020, which are to be held on November 03. While some are studying the shift in the political environment in several swing states, some are turning towards astrologers for answers.

Several polls and studies have tried to predict the winner of the upcoming US election 2020, which are to be held on November 03. While some are studying the shift in the political environment in several swing states, some are turning towards astrologers for answers. Several organisations are now conducting independent polls to predict the next President of the United States. And as per a poll conducted by the American media house, CNN, the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is still the frontrunner against the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump. The poll revealed that among the registered voters and the participants, 54 per cent back Biden and 42 per cent Trump, matching several other opinion polls and predictions made by different organisations and individuals. Also read| Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, cast early vote in Wilmington days before US Election This poll was conducted by CNN with SSRS, an independent research company. In this poll, nearly 1,005 American voters were approached and questioned between October 23-26, 2020. The interviews were conducted through telephone. As per the results, among those who have voted, Biden leads by 64 per cent to 34 per cent votes for Trump. The category of people who were yet to vote, at the time of being interviewed, also favoured Biden with 63 per cent lead and Trump lagging behind with 33 per cent. However, a shift in results is seen in the category of the voters who plan to vote on November 03 with Trump leading with 59 per cent, and Biden securing only 36 per cent voters' attention. When the voter category is shifted to demographics of women versus men, women are still preferring the Democrats by 61 per cent and only 37 per cent women supporting Republicans — with women of colour favouring Biden by 77 per cent and 54 per cent white women also giving votes to Biden. Men, on the other hand, have a very small difference between the two leaders with Trump leading the race with 48 per cent and Biden matching up with 47 per cent — with men of colour giving a lead to Biden by 64 per cent but white men favouring Trump with 56 per cent. Also read| US Election 2020: American voters make history in early voting; more than 70 million cast ballots Another interesting observation made in this poll has been that American voters with college degrees, and higher, are favouring Biden whereas people without degrees are split evenly. Similarly, 49 per cent white women without college degrees favour Biden and same with Trump. Nearly 48 per cent of Biden supporters have also revealed that their vote is mainly a vote against the current President rather than a vote in favour of Joe Biden. On the other hand, 79 per cent trump supporters have said their vote is in favour of the President rather than against his rival. Overall, Biden is still leading the polls for the upcoming US election 2020, but Trump, too, can gain the lead if the political environment in the country keeps shifting. The final result of the elections will be revealed a little later than the estimated time period due to the majority votes being cast by mail-in.

Joe Biden leading in US Election 2020 against Donald Trump: Survey

The U.S. senate is not the only institution divided over Amy Coney Barrett. Protests were held outside the Supreme Court during Barrett's swearing-in. Pro-life & pro-choice activists faced off outside SCOTUS . WION reports

Pro-life & pro-choice protests outside Supreme Court | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

The battle for the White House is in its final lap. Donald Trump & Joe Biden are aiming for the battleground states. After several campaigns, Both candidates' rallies crossed paths in Pennsylvania. What happened next?

Trump & Biden campaigns cross paths in Pennsylvania | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

In a lightning-fast senate approval, Amy Coney Barrett has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. Handing a pre-poll SCOTUS victory to Donald Trump. For the first time in 151 years, a justice got confirmed without a single support from minority party. What next?

Amy Coney Barrett joins the Supreme Court | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

With just 7 days to US Election 2020, Team Trump is planning to host an election night party at one of the Trump Hotels in Washington, D.C. After the 'super spreader' event at the White House's rose garden, will the Washington, D.C. virus regulators allow another one?

Trump eyes to host a party on election night | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

The United States is exactly a week away from the day of voting. The town halls and the presidential debates are done, and the campaigning is headed towards a conclusion.

Pre-election voting has been underway for weeks now and it has surpassed all pre-election ballots cast in the history of America, more than 62 million Americans have voted already. These record-breaking figures are only set to grow.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/campaigning-for-us-presidential-election-enters-final-week-338396" hreflang="en">Campaigning for US presidential election enters final week</a>

The candidates are doing everything they can to woo undecided voters. Both Trump and Biden recently held clashing rallies on the same day in Pennsylvania. Trump addressed three boisterous events, while Biden made a low-key appearance at a voter activation centre.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-election-2020-americans-are-breaking-early-voting-records-338422/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"He wants to shut down the whole country. And we're rounding the turn. You know, all they want to talk about is covid. By the way, on November 4th, you won't be hearing so much about it. Covid, covid, covid", Donald Trump said. 
 
"The bottom line is Donald Trump is the worst possible president, the worst possible person to try to lead us through this pandemic. I don't think he just, he either doesn't have any idea what to do or he just doesn't care. I'm never gonna give up. You know, Mr President, you have to have a little bit of shame, just a little bit of shame because people are dying'', Joe Biden said.

''He made his speech and he said that he doesn't do this kind of rallies because of covid, you know. No, he doesn't do them because nobody shows up. That's why nobody shows up. Covid, covid, covid'', President Trump retorted with.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-elections-over-64-million-votes-cast-will-voter-turnout-percentage-be-the-highest-ever-338306" hreflang="en">US elections: Over 64 million votes cast, will voter turnout percentage be the highest ever?</a>

''We're going to be travelling, continue to travel. But the big difference between us and reason why looks like we're not traveling, we're not putting on super spreaders'', Joe Biden said.

After weeks of high voltage political theatrics, the vacant Supreme Court seat has finally been filled. Conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett has been confirmed to the court with 52-48 votes. She has succeeded the late liberal judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is a lifetime appointment and a major pre-election political victory for Donald Trump. Barrett has taken the first of the two oaths at the White House.

Barrett has taken the oath, but the legal troubles for Donald Trump are only mounting. Recently, a federal judge denied President Trump's request to be replaced as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit, which was filed by a woman.

&nbsp;She says Trump had raped her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Trump's lawyers argued that he should be replaced as the defendant because he was forced to respond to the lawsuit to prove that he was fit to be president.

The judge ruled that Trump's denials of the rape allegations fall outside his scope of employment. So he couldn't be replaced.

The United States is exactly a week away from the day of voting. The town halls and the presidential debates are done, and the campaigning is headed towards a conclusion.

The United States is exactly a week away from the day of voting. The town halls and the presidential debates are done, and the campaigning is headed towards a conclusion. Pre-election voting has been underway for weeks now and it has surpassed all pre-election ballots cast in the history of America, more than 62 million Americans have voted already. These record-breaking figures are only set to grow. Also read: Campaigning for US presidential election enters final week The candidates are doing everything they can to woo undecided voters. Both Trump and Biden recently held clashing rallies on the same day in Pennsylvania. Trump addressed three boisterous events, while Biden made a low-key appearance at a voter activation centre. "He wants to shut down the whole country. And we're rounding the turn. You know, all they want to talk about is covid. By the way, on November 4th, you won't be hearing so much about it. Covid, covid, covid", Donald Trump said. "The bottom line is Donald Trump is the worst possible president, the worst possible person to try to lead us through this pandemic. I don't think he just, he either doesn't have any idea what to do or he just doesn't care. I'm never gonna give up. You know, Mr President, you have to have a little bit of shame, just a little bit of shame because people are dying'', Joe Biden said. ''He made his speech and he said that he doesn't do this kind of rallies because of covid, you know. No, he doesn't do them because nobody shows up. That's why nobody shows up. Covid, covid, covid'', President Trump retorted with. Also read: US elections: Over 64 million votes cast, will voter turnout percentage be the highest ever? ''We're going to be travelling, continue to travel. But the big difference between us and reason why looks like we're not traveling, we're not putting on super spreaders'', Joe Biden said. After weeks of high voltage political theatrics, the vacant Supreme Court seat has finally been filled. Conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett has been confirmed to the court with 52-48 votes. She has succeeded the late liberal judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is a lifetime appointment and a major pre-election political victory for Donald Trump. Barrett has taken the first of the two oaths at the White House. Barrett has taken the oath, but the legal troubles for Donald Trump are only mounting. Recently, a federal judge denied President Trump's request to be replaced as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit, which was filed by a woman. She says Trump had raped her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Trump's lawyers argued that he should be replaced as the defendant because he was forced to respond to the lawsuit to prove that he was fit to be president. The judge ruled that Trump's denials of the rape allegations fall outside his scope of employment. So he couldn't be replaced.

US election 2020: With a week to go, here's what is abuzz

The US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>'s campaign website was hacked in for a few minutes, a week before the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US elections</a>&nbsp;in which Trump is racing against the Democratic candidate and former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.

On Tuesday, the events tab of the website 'Donaldjtrump.com', read that the world has&nbsp;"had enough" of the "fake news" spread by Pesident Trump&nbsp;— a term verycommonly used by Trump for the media houses that oppose him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-with-a-week-to-go-heres-what-is-abuzz-338402">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: With a week to go, here's what is abuzz</a>

The hacker(s), who have not been caught till now, claimed to have dirt on the President. They did not offer any proof or evidence but posted a cryptocurrency account asking people to transfer funds in if they want to see the secrets being revealed. They also took a hit at the FBI by posting seals of the FBI and Department of Justice above the message, mocking them as these seals are posted on the FBI website over the messages the FBI posts about as a part of their criminal investigation.

<img alt="Trump's website hacked" data-align="left" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a46d6b9-ed48-4483-8b50-14f76131bf29" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Trump%27s%20website%20hacked.jpg" />

The website, later, went offline for a brief period of time as soon as the social media went abuzz with the news of the Trumps website being defaced by unknown hacker(s).&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Earlier this evening, the Trump campaign website was defaced and we are working with law enforcement authorities to investigate the source of the attack. There was no exposure to sensitive data because none of it is actually stored on the site. The website has been restored," campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/campaigning-for-us-presidential-election-enters-final-week-338396">Also read|&nbsp;Campaigning for US presidential election enters final week</a>

The&nbsp;CISA Director Chris Krebs took to Twitter to issue statement biut the defacement saying, "Like I said yesterday, website defacements are noise. Don't fall for these attempts designed to distract, sensationalize, and confuse. Ultimately they're trying to undermine your confidence in our voting process."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Like I said yesterday, website defacements are noise. Don’t fall for these attempts designed to distract, sensationalize, and confuse. Ultimately they’re trying to undermine your confidence in our voting process. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/keepcalmandvoteon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#keepcalmandvoteon</a> <a href="https://t.co/5lZ7YoLYO8">https://t.co/5lZ7YoLYO8</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qk9XOlFELE">pic.twitter.com/Qk9XOlFELE</a>
— Chris Krebs #Protect2020 (@CISAKrebs) <a href="https://twitter.com/CISAKrebs/status/1321255987890835456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Meanwhile, Trump was seen&nbsp;campaigning with&nbsp;a mask-less crowd and&nbsp;almost zero social distancing in an open-air space in Michigan and Wisconsin. "I've got to say I'm working my ass off here!," he told a massive crowd of supporters wearing 'MAGA'caps.&nbsp;Biden,&nbsp;on the other hand, held a 'drive-in'rally in georgia with&nbsp;Barack Obama&nbsp;by his side and masked supporters chanting "Dump Trump".

The hacking matter is being investigated by the authorities and there has not been any comment by the Trump administration, as of now.

The US President Donald Trump's campaign website was hacked in for a few minutes, a week before the upcoming US elections in which Trump is racing against the Democratic candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden.

The US President Donald Trump's campaign website was hacked in for a few minutes, a week before the upcoming US elections in which Trump is racing against the Democratic candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden. On Tuesday, the events tab of the website 'Donaldjtrump.com', read that the world has "had enough" of the "fake news" spread by Pesident Trump — a term verycommonly used by Trump for the media houses that oppose him. Also read| US election 2020: With a week to go, here's what is abuzz The hacker(s), who have not been caught till now, claimed to have dirt on the President. They did not offer any proof or evidence but posted a cryptocurrency account asking people to transfer funds in if they want to see the secrets being revealed. They also took a hit at the FBI by posting seals of the FBI and Department of Justice above the message, mocking them as these seals are posted on the FBI website over the messages the FBI posts about as a part of their criminal investigation. The website, later, went offline for a brief period of time as soon as the social media went abuzz with the news of the Trumps website being defaced by unknown hacker(s). "Earlier this evening, the Trump campaign website was defaced and we are working with law enforcement authorities to investigate the source of the attack. There was no exposure to sensitive data because none of it is actually stored on the site. The website has been restored," campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. Also read| Campaigning for US presidential election enters final week The CISA Director Chris Krebs took to Twitter to issue statement biut the defacement saying, "Like I said yesterday, website defacements are noise. Don't fall for these attempts designed to distract, sensationalize, and confuse. Ultimately they're trying to undermine your confidence in our voting process." Like I said yesterday, website defacements are noise. Don’t fall for these attempts designed to distract, sensationalize, and confuse. Ultimately they’re trying to undermine your confidence in our voting process. #keepcalmandvoteon https://t.co/5lZ7YoLYO8 pic.twitter.com/Qk9XOlFELE — Chris Krebs #Protect2020 (@CISAKrebs) October 28, 2020 × Meanwhile, Trump was seen campaigning with a mask-less crowd and almost zero social distancing in an open-air space in Michigan and Wisconsin. "I've got to say I'm working my ass off here!," he told a massive crowd of supporters wearing 'MAGA'caps. Biden, on the other hand, held a 'drive-in'rally in georgia with Barack Obama by his side and masked supporters chanting "Dump Trump". The hacking matter is being investigated by the authorities and there has not been any comment by the Trump administration, as of now.

Donald Trump's campaign website hacked a week before US Election 2020

WASHINGTON —While senior Trump administration officials said this week that Iran has been actively interfering in the presidential election, many intelligence officials said they remained far more concerned about Russia, which in recent days has hacked into state and local computer networks in breaches that could allow Moscow broader access to U.S. voting infrastructure.

The discovery of the hacks came as U.S. intelligence agencies, infiltrating Russian networks themselves, have pieced together details of what they believe are Russia’s plans to interfere in the presidential race in its final days or immediately after the election Nov. 3. Officials did not make clear what Russia planned to do, but they said its operations would be intended to help President Donald Trump, potentially by exacerbating disputes around the results, especially if the race is too close to call.

FBI and Homeland Security officials also announced Thursday that Russia’s state hackers had targeted dozens of state and local governments and aviation networks starting in September. They stole data from at least two unidentified victims’ computer servers and continued to crawl through some of the affected networks, the agencies said. Other officials said that the targets included some voting-related systems and that they may have been collateral damage in the attacks.

So far, there is no evidence that the Russians have changed any vote tallies or voter registration information, officials said. They added that the Russian-backed hackers had penetrated the computer networks without taking further action, as they did in 2016. But U.S. officials expect that if the presidential race is not called on election night, Russian groups could use their knowledge of the local computer systems to deface websites, release nonpublic information or take similar steps that could sow chaos and doubts about the integrity of the results, according to U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence. Such steps could fuel Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the vote is “rigged” and that he can be defeated only if his opponents cheat.

Some U.S. intelligence officials view Russia’s intentions as more significant than the announcement Wednesday night by the director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, that Iran has been involved in the spreading of faked, threatening emails, which were made to appear as if they came from the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group.

The Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions against Iraj Masjedi, a former general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the country’s ambassador to Iraq. The department said Masjedi had overseen training of pro-Iranian militia groups in Iraq and directed groups responsible for killing U.S. forces there.

Officials briefed on the intelligence said that Ratcliffe had accurately summarized the preliminary conclusion about Iran. But Iran’s hackers may have accomplished that mission simply by assembling public information and then routing the threatening emails through Saudi Arabia, Estonia and other countries to hide their tracks. One official compared the Iranian action to playing single A baseball, while the Russians are major leaguers.

Nonetheless, the Iranian and the Russian activity could pave the way for “perception hacks,” which are intended to leave the impression that foreign powers have greater access to the voting system than they really do. Federal officials have warned for months that small breaches could be exaggerated to prompt inaccurate charges of widespread voter fraud.

Officials say Russia’s ability to change vote tallies nationwide would be difficult, given how disparate U.S. elections are. The graver concern is the potential effect of any attack on a few key precincts in battleground states.

Russian hackers recently obtained access “in a couple limited cases, to election jurisdiction, an election-related network,” Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said Thursday. But he was careful to note that the breaches had “nothing to do with the casting and counting” of votes.

The hackers believed to be operating at the behest of Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB — the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB — have infiltrated dozens of state and local computer networks in recent weeks, according to officials and researchers. But Krebs said the attacks appeared to be “opportunistic” in nature, a scattershot break-in of vulnerable systems rather than an attempt to zero in on key battleground states.

But officials were alarmed by the combination of the targets, the timing — the attacks began less than two months ago — and the adversary, which is known for burrowing inside the supply chain of critical infrastructure that Russia may want to take down in the future.

The officials fear that Russia could change, delete or freeze voter registration or pollbook data, making it harder for voters to cast ballots, invalidating mail-in ballots or creating enough uncertainty to undermine results.

“It’s reasonable to assume any attempt at the election systems could be for the same purpose,” said John Hultquist, director of threat analysis at FireEye, a security firm that has been tracking the Russian group’s foray into state and local systems. “This could be the reconnaissance for disruptive activity.”

Krebs said so far Russia was not as active as Iran, and its targeting was imprecise. “They’re broadly looking to scan for vulnerabilities, and they’re working opportunistically,” he said.

Current and former officials said there was little doubt that Russia remained a greater threat and questioned why the focus was on Iran on Wednesday, though they acknowledged that Iran’s interference was real and troubling.

Administration officials said the news conference reflected the urgency of the intelligence about Iran. But some saw politics at play. Ratcliffe’s focus on Iran would potentially benefit Trump politically.

“It is concerning to me that the administration is willing to talk about what the Iranians are doing — supposedly to hurt Trump — than what the Russians are likely doing to help him,” said Jeh Johnson, a former secretary of homeland security in the Obama administration. “If the Russians have in fact breached voter registration data, then the American people deserve to know from their government what it believes the Russians are doing with that data.”

A senior official briefed on the intelligence said U.S. spy agencies had been tracking the Iranian group responsible for the spoofed emails for some time. As a result, the government was able to quickly debunk the falsified Proud Boys emails and identify Iran as the culprit.

Iran’s hackers appear to have scanned or penetrated some state and local networks, government officials said Thursday. But security experts said the Proud Boys email campaign that the government attributed to Iran did not appear to be based on hacked materials and instead relied on publicly available information that Florida officials regularly distribute.

“This was an email sent from a nonexistent domain using publicly available information,” said Kevin O’Brien, chief executive of GreatHorn, a cybersecurity firm. “There was no hack here. Your name, your party affiliation, your address and email address are all, generally speaking, public information.”

O’Brien said the information presented publicly had not persuaded him that Iran was culpable.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi also voiced scepticism of Ratcliffe’s announcement. “Russia is the villain here,” she said before a briefing from intelligence officials. “From what we have seen in the public domain, Iran is a bad actor but in no way equivalent.”

So far, the FSB’s hackers have not zeroed in on swing states, where a hack that affects digital disenfranchisement could have maximum effect; they have taken a scattershot approach instead, hitting systems in multiple states, including some battlegrounds. Experts said they might be just testing to see where they could get in, like a thief trying every doorknob in the neighborhood.

“My concern is not that they are pinpointing individual races but are gaining access where they can for some disruption down the road,” Hultquist said.

The threat is similar to the one that officials have highlighted from ransomware attacks, which hold data hostage until victims pay to have access restored. Likewise, officials and researchers believe the Russian attacks would not necessarily change vote tallies but could make voter data inaccessible or delete or change voters’ registration data to disenfranchise voters or cause the kind of confusion and delays that would undermine U.S. confidence in the election.

In recent years, Homeland Security officials have made a concerted effort to secure voter registration systems and to ensure that election officials have paper copies of voter information in case of disruptions.

But they have further to go. In Gainesville, Georgia, this week, a ransomware attack held city systems hostage, including an online map with polling locations and the database used to verify voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots.

Officials and experts believe the greatest defense against a coordinated cyberattack on the election is not so much how secure these voting system are but how disparate.

“You can’t just ‘hit the election,’” said Eric Chien, a cybersecurity director at Symantec, now part of Broadcom, which was among the first to detail the Stuxnet attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran’s nuclear program a decade ago. “The soft targets are really the state and local election committees, local websites that provide information about polling places and hold voter registration data.”

&nbsp;

WASHINGTON —While senior Trump administration officials said this week that Iran has been actively interfering in the presidential election, many intelligence officials said they remained far more concerned about Russia, which in recent days has hacked into state and local computer networks in breaches that could allow Moscow broader access to U.

WASHINGTON —While senior Trump administration officials said this week that Iran has been actively interfering in the presidential election, many intelligence officials said they remained far more concerned about Russia, which in recent days has hacked into state and local computer networks in breaches that could allow Moscow broader access to U.S. voting infrastructure. The discovery of the hacks came as U.S. intelligence agencies, infiltrating Russian networks themselves, have pieced together details of what they believe are Russia’s plans to interfere in the presidential race in its final days or immediately after the election Nov. 3. Officials did not make clear what Russia planned to do, but they said its operations would be intended to help President Donald Trump, potentially by exacerbating disputes around the results, especially if the race is too close to call. FBI and Homeland Security officials also announced Thursday that Russia’s state hackers had targeted dozens of state and local governments and aviation networks starting in September. They stole data from at least two unidentified victims’ computer servers and continued to crawl through some of the affected networks, the agencies said. Other officials said that the targets included some voting-related systems and that they may have been collateral damage in the attacks. So far, there is no evidence that the Russians have changed any vote tallies or voter registration information, officials said. They added that the Russian-backed hackers had penetrated the computer networks without taking further action, as they did in 2016. But U.S. officials expect that if the presidential race is not called on election night, Russian groups could use their knowledge of the local computer systems to deface websites, release nonpublic information or take similar steps that could sow chaos and doubts about the integrity of the results, according to U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence. Such steps could fuel Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the vote is “rigged” and that he can be defeated only if his opponents cheat. Some U.S. intelligence officials view Russia’s intentions as more significant than the announcement Wednesday night by the director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, that Iran has been involved in the spreading of faked, threatening emails, which were made to appear as if they came from the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group. The Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions against Iraj Masjedi, a former general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the country’s ambassador to Iraq. The department said Masjedi had overseen training of pro-Iranian militia groups in Iraq and directed groups responsible for killing U.S. forces there. Officials briefed on the intelligence said that Ratcliffe had accurately summarized the preliminary conclusion about Iran. But Iran’s hackers may have accomplished that mission simply by assembling public information and then routing the threatening emails through Saudi Arabia, Estonia and other countries to hide their tracks. One official compared the Iranian action to playing single A baseball, while the Russians are major leaguers. Nonetheless, the Iranian and the Russian activity could pave the way for “perception hacks,” which are intended to leave the impression that foreign powers have greater access to the voting system than they really do. Federal officials have warned for months that small breaches could be exaggerated to prompt inaccurate charges of widespread voter fraud. Officials say Russia’s ability to change vote tallies nationwide would be difficult, given how disparate U.S. elections are. The graver concern is the potential effect of any attack on a few key precincts in battleground states. Russian hackers recently obtained access “in a couple limited cases, to election jurisdiction, an election-related network,” Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said Thursday. But he was careful to note that the breaches had “nothing to do with the casting and counting” of votes. The hackers believed to be operating at the behest of Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB — the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB — have infiltrated dozens of state and local computer networks in recent weeks, according to officials and researchers. But Krebs said the attacks appeared to be “opportunistic” in nature, a scattershot break-in of vulnerable systems rather than an attempt to zero in on key battleground states. But officials were alarmed by the combination of the targets, the timing — the attacks began less than two months ago — and the adversary, which is known for burrowing inside the supply chain of critical infrastructure that Russia may want to take down in the future. The officials fear that Russia could change, delete or freeze voter registration or pollbook data, making it harder for voters to cast ballots, invalidating mail-in ballots or creating enough uncertainty to undermine results. “It’s reasonable to assume any attempt at the election systems could be for the same purpose,” said John Hultquist, director of threat analysis at FireEye, a security firm that has been tracking the Russian group’s foray into state and local systems. “This could be the reconnaissance for disruptive activity.” Krebs said so far Russia was not as active as Iran, and its targeting was imprecise. “They’re broadly looking to scan for vulnerabilities, and they’re working opportunistically,” he said. Current and former officials said there was little doubt that Russia remained a greater threat and questioned why the focus was on Iran on Wednesday, though they acknowledged that Iran’s interference was real and troubling. Administration officials said the news conference reflected the urgency of the intelligence about Iran. But some saw politics at play. Ratcliffe’s focus on Iran would potentially benefit Trump politically. “It is concerning to me that the administration is willing to talk about what the Iranians are doing — supposedly to hurt Trump — than what the Russians are likely doing to help him,” said Jeh Johnson, a former secretary of homeland security in the Obama administration. “If the Russians have in fact breached voter registration data, then the American people deserve to know from their government what it believes the Russians are doing with that data.” A senior official briefed on the intelligence said U.S. spy agencies had been tracking the Iranian group responsible for the spoofed emails for some time. As a result, the government was able to quickly debunk the falsified Proud Boys emails and identify Iran as the culprit. Iran’s hackers appear to have scanned or penetrated some state and local networks, government officials said Thursday. But security experts said the Proud Boys email campaign that the government attributed to Iran did not appear to be based on hacked materials and instead relied on publicly available information that Florida officials regularly distribute. “This was an email sent from a nonexistent domain using publicly available information,” said Kevin O’Brien, chief executive of GreatHorn, a cybersecurity firm. “There was no hack here. Your name, your party affiliation, your address and email address are all, generally speaking, public information.” O’Brien said the information presented publicly had not persuaded him that Iran was culpable. Speaker Nancy Pelosi also voiced scepticism of Ratcliffe’s announcement. “Russia is the villain here,” she said before a briefing from intelligence officials. “From what we have seen in the public domain, Iran is a bad actor but in no way equivalent.” So far, the FSB’s hackers have not zeroed in on swing states, where a hack that affects digital disenfranchisement could have maximum effect; they have taken a scattershot approach instead, hitting systems in multiple states, including some battlegrounds. Experts said they might be just testing to see where they could get in, like a thief trying every doorknob in the neighborhood. “My concern is not that they are pinpointing individual races but are gaining access where they can for some disruption down the road,” Hultquist said. The threat is similar to the one that officials have highlighted from ransomware attacks, which hold data hostage until victims pay to have access restored. Likewise, officials and researchers believe the Russian attacks would not necessarily change vote tallies but could make voter data inaccessible or delete or change voters’ registration data to disenfranchise voters or cause the kind of confusion and delays that would undermine U.S. confidence in the election. In recent years, Homeland Security officials have made a concerted effort to secure voter registration systems and to ensure that election officials have paper copies of voter information in case of disruptions. But they have further to go. In Gainesville, Georgia, this week, a ransomware attack held city systems hostage, including an online map with polling locations and the database used to verify voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots. Officials and experts believe the greatest defense against a coordinated cyberattack on the election is not so much how secure these voting system are but how disparate. “You can’t just ‘hit the election,’” said Eric Chien, a cybersecurity director at Symantec, now part of Broadcom, which was among the first to detail the Stuxnet attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran’s nuclear program a decade ago. “The soft targets are really the state and local election committees, local websites that provide information about polling places and hold voter registration data.”

Russia poses greater election threat than Iran, many US officials say

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-campaign-website-hacked-a-week-before-us-election-2020-338446">Donald Trump's campaign website hacked a week before US Election 2020</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/25/166530-trump.jpg?itok=6fTp6yAs" />

The hacker(s), who have not been caught till now, claimed to have dirt on the President.&nbsp;They did not offer any proof or evidence but posted a cryptocurrency account asking people to transfer funds in if they want to see the secrets being revealed.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/charlie-hebdo-caricatures-recep-erdogan-sparks-turkish-fury-338428">Charlie Hebdo caricatures Recep Erdogan; sparks Turkish fury</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/09/17/160373-untitled-design-80.jpg?itok=OcIgxUID" />

Charlie Hebdo's intervention came during an escalating war of words between Erdogan, Macron, and other European leaders after the beheading of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty by a suspected Islamist attacker this month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/citizens-launch-anti-lukashenko-strike-500-riot-related-cases-initiated-in-belarus-338444">Citizens launch anti-Lukashenko strike, 500 riot-related cases initiated in Belarus</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/04/163085-luka11.jpg?itok=-XUGfCHD" />

Over 500 criminal cases have been opened in Belarus over riots and participation of Belarusian citizens in them, Andrey Serbun, deputy head of the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office`s department for overseeing the implementation of legislation by the Investigative Committee, said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-surge-in-can-i-change-my-vote-donald-trump-says-trend-refers-to-him-338447">US election 2020: Surge in 'can I change my vote'; Donald Trump says trend refers to him</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/15/165062-us-elections.jpg?itok=xecivbyt" />

More than 60 million Americans have cast ballots in the US presidential election, a record-breaking pace that could lead to the highest voter turnout in over a century.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/protests-continue-in-islamic-world-against-france-over-cartoon-row-338442">Protests continue in Islamic world against France over cartoon row</a>

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amy-coney-barrett-takes-first-oath-at-the-white-house-338445">Amy Coney Barrett takes first oath at the White House</a>

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Donald Trump's campaign website hacked a week before US Election 2020 The hacker(s), who have not been caught till now, claimed to have dirt on the President. They did not offer any proof or evidence but posted a cryptocurrency account asking people to transfer funds in if they want to see the secrets being revealed.

Donald Trump's campaign website hacked a week before US Election 2020 The hacker(s), who have not been caught till now, claimed to have dirt on the President. They did not offer any proof or evidence but posted a cryptocurrency account asking people to transfer funds in if they want to see the secrets being revealed. Charlie Hebdo caricatures Recep Erdogan; sparks Turkish fury Charlie Hebdo's intervention came during an escalating war of words between Erdogan, Macron, and other European leaders after the beheading of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty by a suspected Islamist attacker this month. Citizens launch anti-Lukashenko strike, 500 riot-related cases initiated in Belarus Over 500 criminal cases have been opened in Belarus over riots and participation of Belarusian citizens in them, Andrey Serbun, deputy head of the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office`s department for overseeing the implementation of legislation by the Investigative Committee, said. US election 2020: Surge in 'can I change my vote'; Donald Trump says trend refers to him More than 60 million Americans have cast ballots in the US presidential election, a record-breaking pace that could lead to the highest voter turnout in over a century. Protests continue in Islamic world against France over cartoon row × Amy Coney Barrett takes first oath at the White House ×

Morning news brief: Donald Trump's website hacked; Erdogan-Macron clash and more

Republican President Donald Trump questioned the integrity of the U.S. election again on Tuesday, saying it would be "inappropriate" to take extra time to count the tens of millions of ballots cast by mail in his race against Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump questions counting late ballots as Biden preaches unity in Georgia

Americans are breaking early voting records. More than 62 million people have already voted in US Election 2020. The figures have surpassed all pre-election ballots cast in America's history. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: US Election 2020: Americans are breaking early voting records

As the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US elections</a> near, the two leaders — <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> — have now kickstarted their last leg of campaigning. On Tuesday, Biden&nbsp;held a drive-in rally to make sure there is no spread of the novel coronavirus — an issue he grilled&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;on, yet again.

Biden, on Tuesday, accused the current US President of surrendering in front of a pandemic. The rally, that took place in the&nbsp;Republican stronghold of Georgia, saw the attendance of&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;fans in the Democrat minority area.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-with-a-week-to-go-heres-what-is-abuzz-338402">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: With a week to go, here's what is abuzz</a>

During the rally, Biden stressed on the statement made by&nbsp;Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows at the weekend that "we're not going to control the pandemic." Further, he claimed the White Houe's efforts to control the pandemic&nbsp;as&nbsp;"a capitulation"&nbsp;that White House and the Trump administration "never really tried" to halt a pandemic which has now killed more than 226,000 Americans.

Biden claimed that the President,&nbsp;"shrugged, he swaggered and he surrendered"instead of fighting the pandemic and helping fellow Americans get a healthy aid during this deadly virus outbreak. Promising that he can control the virus, unlike&nbsp;Trump, the Democratic candidate said,&nbsp;"I'm here to tell you: We can and we will control this virus".

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/campaigning-for-us-presidential-election-enters-final-week-338396">Also read|&nbsp;Campaigning for US presidential election enters final week</a>

He also showed confidence in his voters on Georgia and urged them to get out and vote.&nbsp;"We win Georgia, we win everything!" Biden said. "These are the final days, so keep that sense of empowerment with you, that sense of optimism."

Biden&nbsp;also got help fort he former US President&nbsp;Barack Obama&nbsp;who motivated the voters to voter for the "right candidate" saying,&nbsp;"One week until the most important election in our lifetimes," Obama said.

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Two years ago, a white supremacist entered Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue and perpetrated the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history. May the memories of those we lost be a blessing — and may we never stop fighting the scourges of anti-Semitism and gun violence.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1321255611795951618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"We were complacent last time. Folks got a little lazy, folks took things for granted, and look what happened," Obama said.&nbsp;"Not this time. Let's bring it home."

Meanwhile, Trump&nbsp;was also seen campaigning in a mask-less crowd with almost zero social distancing in an open-air space in Michigan and Wisconsin.&nbsp;"I've got to say I'm working my ass off here!," he told a massive crowd of supporters wearing 'MAGA'caps.

The First Lady, Melania Trump, too, finally joined her husband's campaign and calling him a "fighter", she said,&nbsp;"I do not always agree with the way he says things. But it is important to him that he speaks directly to the people he serves."

As the US elections near, the two leaders — Donald Trump and Joe Biden — have now kickstarted their last leg of campaigning. On Tuesday, Biden held a drive-in rally to make sure there is no spread of the novel coronavirus — an issue he grilled Trump on, yet again.

As the US elections near, the two leaders — Donald Trump and Joe Biden — have now kickstarted their last leg of campaigning. On Tuesday, Biden held a drive-in rally to make sure there is no spread of the novel coronavirus — an issue he grilled Trump on, yet again. Biden, on Tuesday, accused the current US President of surrendering in front of a pandemic. The rally, that took place in the Republican stronghold of Georgia, saw the attendance of Biden fans in the Democrat minority area. Also read| US election 2020: With a week to go, here's what is abuzz During the rally, Biden stressed on the statement made by Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows at the weekend that "we're not going to control the pandemic." Further, he claimed the White Houe's efforts to control the pandemic as "a capitulation" that White House and the Trump administration "never really tried" to halt a pandemic which has now killed more than 226,000 Americans. Biden claimed that the President, "shrugged, he swaggered and he surrendered"instead of fighting the pandemic and helping fellow Americans get a healthy aid during this deadly virus outbreak. Promising that he can control the virus, unlike Trump, the Democratic candidate said, "I'm here to tell you: We can and we will control this virus". Also read| Campaigning for US presidential election enters final week He also showed confidence in his voters on Georgia and urged them to get out and vote. "We win Georgia, we win everything!" Biden said. "These are the final days, so keep that sense of empowerment with you, that sense of optimism." Biden also got help fort he former US President Barack Obama who motivated the voters to voter for the "right candidate" saying, "One week until the most important election in our lifetimes," Obama said. Two years ago, a white supremacist entered Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue and perpetrated the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history. May the memories of those we lost be a blessing — and may we never stop fighting the scourges of anti-Semitism and gun violence. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 28, 2020 × "We were complacent last time. Folks got a little lazy, folks took things for granted, and look what happened," Obama said. "Not this time. Let's bring it home." Meanwhile, Trump was also seen campaigning in a mask-less crowd with almost zero social distancing in an open-air space in Michigan and Wisconsin. "I've got to say I'm working my ass off here!," he told a massive crowd of supporters wearing 'MAGA'caps. The First Lady, Melania Trump, too, finally joined her husband's campaign and calling him a "fighter", she said, "I do not always agree with the way he says things. But it is important to him that he speaks directly to the people he serves."

US Election 2020: Joe Biden slams Donald Trump on coronavirus blunder

First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday hit the campaign trail for her president husband for the first time on her own this year, praising him as a "fighter" and offering support to pandemic victims.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melania-trump-body-double-photo-sparks-bizarre-social-media-conspiracy-338006">Also read: Melania Trump 'body double' photo sparks bizarre social media conspiracy</a> 
 
Trump, 50, has been only a rare presence at her husband's campaign events but won praise for her speech at the Republican Party's nominating convention in August.

"Donald is a fighter. He loves this country and he fights for you every single day," she told supporters of the president in Pennsylvania, a key battleground in his duel with Joe Biden.

Her plans to hit the trail with her husband last week were thwarted due to a "lingering cough" from her battle with the coronavirus, which struck the first couple and son Barron.

"Thank you for all the love and support you gave us when our family was diagnosed with Covid-19," she said Tuesday. "We are feeling so much better now."

She offered compassion to families of the more than 225,000 Americans who have succumbed to Covid so far this year.

"I know there are many people who have lost loved ones or know people who have been forever impacted by this silent enemy," she said.

"My family's thoughts and prayers are with all of you through this difficult time," Trump added. "We will triumph over this virus."

In her speech, she offered a few comments about her husband's rabid Twitter use.

Her "Be Best" campaign -- which champions "uplifting, positive and respectful online interactions," according to the White House website -- has often faced criticism given the president's own strident online persona.

"For the first time in history, the citizens of this country get to hear directly and instantly from their president every single day through social media," she said. 
"I do not always agree with the way he says things," she added, to some laughter from the crowd.

"But it is important to him that he speaks directly to the people he serves."

First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday hit the campaign trail for her president husband for the first time on her own this year, praising him as a "fighter" and offering support to pandemic victims.

First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday hit the campaign trail for her president husband for the first time on her own this year, praising him as a "fighter" and offering support to pandemic victims. Also read: Melania Trump 'body double' photo sparks bizarre social media conspiracy Trump, 50, has been only a rare presence at her husband's campaign events but won praise for her speech at the Republican Party's nominating convention in August. "Donald is a fighter. He loves this country and he fights for you every single day," she told supporters of the president in Pennsylvania, a key battleground in his duel with Joe Biden. Her plans to hit the trail with her husband last week were thwarted due to a "lingering cough" from her battle with the coronavirus, which struck the first couple and son Barron. "Thank you for all the love and support you gave us when our family was diagnosed with Covid-19," she said Tuesday. "We are feeling so much better now." She offered compassion to families of the more than 225,000 Americans who have succumbed to Covid so far this year. "I know there are many people who have lost loved ones or know people who have been forever impacted by this silent enemy," she said. "My family's thoughts and prayers are with all of you through this difficult time," Trump added. "We will triumph over this virus." In her speech, she offered a few comments about her husband's rabid Twitter use. Her "Be Best" campaign -- which champions "uplifting, positive and respectful online interactions," according to the White House website -- has often faced criticism given the president's own strident online persona. "For the first time in history, the citizens of this country get to hear directly and instantly from their president every single day through social media," she said. "I do not always agree with the way he says things," she added, to some laughter from the crowd. "But it is important to him that he speaks directly to the people he serves."

‘Donald is a fighter’: Melania Trump hits the campaign trail for her husband 

With a week left for&nbsp;the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">&nbsp;US elections</a>,&nbsp;the two leaders — the current Republican candidate and President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and his Democrat rival and former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;— have started the last eg of election campaigning and are also covering the states which hold a minority of their party support.

The American voters have created history with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-american-voters-make-history-more-than-70-million-cast-ballots-338468">more than 70 million voters casting ballot</a> a week before the November 03 elections — a number that could lead to the highest voter turnout in percentage terms in more than a century.&nbsp; As of now, the opinion polls are showing Joe Biden to be the frontrunner, but realistically speaking both the leaders have a fair chance of winning.

The United States has a total of 50 states out of which few hold more importance than the rest. These states are called "swing states" — also known as "battlegrounds" informally.&nbsp;In the elections this year, these states comprise of 15 major states. These result for these states cannot be determined as of now as the states work in a balance and can lead to either&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;or&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;winning the claim on the White House for the next four years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-surge-in-can-i-change-my-vote-donald-trump-says-trend-refers-to-him-338447">Also read|&nbsp;Voters' remorse? Surge in 'can I change my vote' as US election nears</a>

The rest of the states are ones which have, in a way, already established their winner. Places such as&nbsp;New York and California are the areas where Trump&nbsp;cannot secure a win, while he can be crowned as undefeated in the Republican majority states such as&nbsp;Alabama or Oklahoma.

A swing states thi year is Arizona. The state has only voted for one Democrat — Bill Clinton&nbsp;(in 1996) — since 1952. In 2016,&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;won this state with a margin of four percent. However, the state has seen a radical shift in its political atmosphere since 2016, and thus&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;also has a chance of winning the state this year.

Colarodo and Florida are the next two swing states with Colarodo having elected three Republican candidates and three Democrats in the past six years. Last time in 2016,&nbsp;Hillary Clinton&nbsp;has won the state in opposition to the ultimate winner,&nbsp;Donald Trump.&nbsp;Florida, too, has been one of the most unpredictable states in the history of the US elections.&nbsp;Trump, in 2016, won the election by&nbsp;1.19 per cent and&nbsp;Barack Obama by&nbsp;0.88 per cent in 2012.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-slams-donald-trump-on-coronavirus-blunder-338432">Also read|&nbsp;US Election 2020: Joe Biden slams Donald Trump on coronavirus blunder</a>

Georgia is another state which has usually favoured Republicans but has also helped&nbsp;Bill Clinton&nbsp;back in 1992. The recet political scenario is taking a shift which can change the results in the upcoming elections.

States such as Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Minnesota,&nbsp;Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina&nbsp;have supported&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;in the past and will be critical in the upcoming elections as the voters have been tad bit undecided this year. Texas has been a Trump supporter for the last four years. However,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;has been putting in extra efforts to woo the Texas voters. However, Trump supporters have been vocal in upporting him this year too.

Each candidate's aim is to secure 270&nbsp;electoral votes, and each state's victory will put them a step closer to the swearing ceremony due in January 2021 at the White House.

The sudden shifts and the undecisive nature of the voters has been majorly due to the mail-in voting that has been adopted majorly by a lot of states this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The results of this year's elections can be delayed — a warning often highlighted by&nbsp;Trump.

With a week left for the US elections, the two leaders — the current Republican candidate and President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden — have started the last eg of election campaigning and are also covering the states which hold a minority of their party support.

With a week left for the US elections, the two leaders — the current Republican candidate and President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden — have started the last eg of election campaigning and are also covering the states which hold a minority of their party support. The American voters have created history with more than 70 million voters casting ballot a week before the November 03 elections — a number that could lead to the highest voter turnout in percentage terms in more than a century. As of now, the opinion polls are showing Joe Biden to be the frontrunner, but realistically speaking both the leaders have a fair chance of winning. The United States has a total of 50 states out of which few hold more importance than the rest. These states are called "swing states" — also known as "battlegrounds" informally. In the elections this year, these states comprise of 15 major states. These result for these states cannot be determined as of now as the states work in a balance and can lead to either Trump or Biden winning the claim on the White House for the next four years. Also read| Voters' remorse? Surge in 'can I change my vote' as US election nears The rest of the states are ones which have, in a way, already established their winner. Places such as New York and California are the areas where Trump cannot secure a win, while he can be crowned as undefeated in the Republican majority states such as Alabama or Oklahoma. A swing states thi year is Arizona. The state has only voted for one Democrat — Bill Clinton (in 1996) — since 1952. In 2016, Donald Trump won this state with a margin of four percent. However, the state has seen a radical shift in its political atmosphere since 2016, and thus Biden also has a chance of winning the state this year. Colarodo and Florida are the next two swing states with Colarodo having elected three Republican candidates and three Democrats in the past six years. Last time in 2016, Hillary Clinton has won the state in opposition to the ultimate winner, Donald Trump. Florida, too, has been one of the most unpredictable states in the history of the US elections. Trump, in 2016, won the election by 1.19 per cent and Barack Obama by 0.88 per cent in 2012. Also read| US Election 2020: Joe Biden slams Donald Trump on coronavirus blunder Georgia is another state which has usually favoured Republicans but has also helped Bill Clinton back in 1992. The recet political scenario is taking a shift which can change the results in the upcoming elections. States such as Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina have supported Biden in the past and will be critical in the upcoming elections as the voters have been tad bit undecided this year. Texas has been a Trump supporter for the last four years. However, Biden has been putting in extra efforts to woo the Texas voters. However, Trump supporters have been vocal in upporting him this year too. Each candidate's aim is to secure 270 electoral votes, and each state's victory will put them a step closer to the swearing ceremony due in January 2021 at the White House. The sudden shifts and the undecisive nature of the voters has been majorly due to the mail-in voting that has been adopted majorly by a lot of states this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The results of this year's elections can be delayed — a warning often highlighted by Trump.

Donald Trump vs Joe Biden: Swing states and their role in US Election 2020

Waving U.S. flags and beeping their horns, a car convoy carrying Republicans living in Israel, made its way on Tuesday (October 27) to the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem in a show of support for Donald Trump and his party, bringing the race for the White House onto the streets of Israel a week before U.S. election,

Donald Trump supporters rally at US embassy in Jerusalem

Ivanka Trump shared a photo of herself and husband Jared Kushner holding their mail-in ballot. While Donald Trump earlier claimed a flood of mail ballots would lead to fraud.

Ivanka Trump shares a picture of her mail-in ballot

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