Voters caught up in this state’s exceedingly close Senate race could be forgiven for believing Gov. Steve Bullock, the Democratic candidate, was sharing the ballot with Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader.

An incessant stream of Republican-funded advertisements depicts Bullock, a popular two-term governor, alongside Schumer and other leading Democrats such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Sen. Steve Daines, the Republican incumbent battling for political survival in the conservative-leaning state, regularly tries to tie his opponent to the national party, asserting that Bullock is Schumer’s “lap dog.”

“Steve Bullock in the Senate puts Chuck Schumer in charge,” the latest ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee said. “Think about that.”

Bullock doesn’t think much about it.

“I say it is all B.S.,” he said in an interview as snow descended upon Montana and shut down campaign appearances already curtailed by the coronavirus, which has hung over the election season and was surging anew in the Mountain West. “Montanans see through some of the stuff where they are trying to turn me into something they don’t recognize.”

But while the governor resented the ad’s implication, in one respect it was absolutely true: If Bullock is elected to the Senate, Schumer will almost certainly be in charge as the majority leader.

Here in Montana and in crucial battleground states across the country, Republicans are playing defense in a struggle for control of the Senate. Dragged by President Donald Trump’s struggles even in conservative states and confronting a phalanx of Democratic opponents who have raked in extraordinary sums of cash to challenge them, Republicans privately acknowledge that their majority is hanging by a thread.

The Montana race, described by strategists for both parties as a coin flip, is one of a handful of contests that will determine control of the Senate and the ability of the next president to pursue his agenda, fill a cabinet and win the judicial confirmations suddenly at the forefront of the nation’s political dialogue. Democrats have other narrow paths to Senate power, but a Bullock victory would essentially assure it and signal Democratic gains elsewhere.

As the race entered its final days, Republicans led by Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, were being forced to shore up candidates in traditionally safe locations such as Alaska, Kansas and South Carolina. Democrats believe they are already on track to win Arizona and Colorado and are on the hunt for a half-dozen others starting with Iowa, Maine and North Carolina. Georgia is suddenly looming as a real opportunity for Democrats, with both of the state’s Republican senators at risk.

Democrats conceded they were likely to lose in Alabama, where Sen. Doug Jones is running for reelection after an upset victory in a special election in 2017, and are keeping a close watch on Michigan, where Sen. Gary Peters is facing John James, a Republican who was receiving a last-minute surge of outside money. But they were eyeing significant pickups elsewhere.

With Republicans holding the Senate majority by a margin of 53-47, a net gain of three seats would put Democrats in control should former Vice President Joe Biden win the presidency; four would be required if Trump is reelected.

Schumer called the battle for the Senate a “nail-biter,” but said the outlook for Democrats was far brighter than it was only a few months ago.

“If you would have told me in early January that we would have a good chance of winning the Senate, I would have said that is a real long shot,” he said in an interview. “Now we are in the ballpark because of the strategic decision to expand the seats that are in play.”

Republicans quietly agree that their prospects have dimmed considerably. One Senate Republican leader said privately that the party could end up with anywhere from 47 to 52 seats.

“It is a 50-50 proposition,” said McConnell, R-Ky., who appears to be safely headed toward reelection himself, about his chances for remaining majority leader. “We have a lot of exposure. It is a dogfight out there.”

Republicans are battling the brawl from a weakened position, given Trump’s woes and the record-crushing levels of money Democrats have raised for Senate races. Democratic challengers have flipped the usual formula on its head and outperformed Republican incumbents when it comes to contributions, providing ample resources for TV advertising even as the traditional campaign model has been upended by the pandemic.

Here in Montana, at least an estimated $120 million will be spent, while in Maine, more than $100 million is being poured into the showdown between Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican seeking a fifth term, and Sara Gideon, the Democratic speaker of the state House. The race in North Carolina, where Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, is trying to hold on against Cal Cunningham, a Democrat, is set to be the most expensive Senate contest ever, with well over $200 million expended.

While Democratic candidates are still outspending Republicans in most of the marquee races during the final weeks, the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with McConnell, has dumped more than $82 million into the effort since early October, helping close a money gap Republicans attribute to the success of online small-donor Democratic fundraising.

“We are being outspent dramatically, like so many other races around the country,” said Sen. John Cornyn, a three-term Texas Republican who finds himself in an unexpectedly tough match against M.J. Hegar, a Democrat and veteran. “We have been a little late to the dance and I think we are going to have to learn from the way Democrats raise money. It is no longer like going to a dinner and a cocktail party.”

The fact that Cornyn finds himself sweating is testament to how Democrats have opened multiple potential routes to a Senate majority while Republicans have failed to put their usual strongholds out of reach. Democrats have been unable to put away Collins, whom they saw as exceptionally vulnerable after her vote in 2018 to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. But Republicans now worry the voting system in Maine — in which voters’ second-choice candidate is counted if no candidate earns 50% — could cost her on Tuesday.

Democrats have focused relentlessly on health care in their campaigns, scorching Republicans for their yearslong drive to overturn the Affordable Care Act and its protections for preexisting conditions. The power of the message has been amplified by the pandemic and public anxiety about health costs. Republicans have pushed back with pledges to guarantee coverage but have not produced specifics on how they would do so.

The challenge for Democrats is that to win the Senate, they must prevail in states Trump carried in 2016 and is likely to carry again this year such as Iowa and Montana, though Biden victories in places like Arizona and North Carolina would make their task easier.

Voters caught up in this state’s exceedingly close Senate race could be forgiven for believing Gov. Steve Bullock, the Democratic candidate, was sharing the ballot with Sen.

Voters caught up in this state’s exceedingly close Senate race could be forgiven for believing Gov. Steve Bullock, the Democratic candidate, was sharing the ballot with Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader. An incessant stream of Republican-funded advertisements depicts Bullock, a popular two-term governor, alongside Schumer and other leading Democrats such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Sen. Steve Daines, the Republican incumbent battling for political survival in the conservative-leaning state, regularly tries to tie his opponent to the national party, asserting that Bullock is Schumer’s “lap dog.” “Steve Bullock in the Senate puts Chuck Schumer in charge,” the latest ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee said. “Think about that.” Bullock doesn’t think much about it. “I say it is all B.S.,” he said in an interview as snow descended upon Montana and shut down campaign appearances already curtailed by the coronavirus, which has hung over the election season and was surging anew in the Mountain West. “Montanans see through some of the stuff where they are trying to turn me into something they don’t recognize.” But while the governor resented the ad’s implication, in one respect it was absolutely true: If Bullock is elected to the Senate, Schumer will almost certainly be in charge as the majority leader. Here in Montana and in crucial battleground states across the country, Republicans are playing defense in a struggle for control of the Senate. Dragged by President Donald Trump’s struggles even in conservative states and confronting a phalanx of Democratic opponents who have raked in extraordinary sums of cash to challenge them, Republicans privately acknowledge that their majority is hanging by a thread. The Montana race, described by strategists for both parties as a coin flip, is one of a handful of contests that will determine control of the Senate and the ability of the next president to pursue his agenda, fill a cabinet and win the judicial confirmations suddenly at the forefront of the nation’s political dialogue. Democrats have other narrow paths to Senate power, but a Bullock victory would essentially assure it and signal Democratic gains elsewhere. As the race entered its final days, Republicans led by Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, were being forced to shore up candidates in traditionally safe locations such as Alaska, Kansas and South Carolina. Democrats believe they are already on track to win Arizona and Colorado and are on the hunt for a half-dozen others starting with Iowa, Maine and North Carolina. Georgia is suddenly looming as a real opportunity for Democrats, with both of the state’s Republican senators at risk. Democrats conceded they were likely to lose in Alabama, where Sen. Doug Jones is running for reelection after an upset victory in a special election in 2017, and are keeping a close watch on Michigan, where Sen. Gary Peters is facing John James, a Republican who was receiving a last-minute surge of outside money. But they were eyeing significant pickups elsewhere. With Republicans holding the Senate majority by a margin of 53-47, a net gain of three seats would put Democrats in control should former Vice President Joe Biden win the presidency; four would be required if Trump is reelected. Schumer called the battle for the Senate a “nail-biter,” but said the outlook for Democrats was far brighter than it was only a few months ago. “If you would have told me in early January that we would have a good chance of winning the Senate, I would have said that is a real long shot,” he said in an interview. “Now we are in the ballpark because of the strategic decision to expand the seats that are in play.” Republicans quietly agree that their prospects have dimmed considerably. One Senate Republican leader said privately that the party could end up with anywhere from 47 to 52 seats. “It is a 50-50 proposition,” said McConnell, R-Ky., who appears to be safely headed toward reelection himself, about his chances for remaining majority leader. “We have a lot of exposure. It is a dogfight out there.” Republicans are battling the brawl from a weakened position, given Trump’s woes and the record-crushing levels of money Democrats have raised for Senate races. Democratic challengers have flipped the usual formula on its head and outperformed Republican incumbents when it comes to contributions, providing ample resources for TV advertising even as the traditional campaign model has been upended by the pandemic. Here in Montana, at least an estimated $120 million will be spent, while in Maine, more than $100 million is being poured into the showdown between Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican seeking a fifth term, and Sara Gideon, the Democratic speaker of the state House. The race in North Carolina, where Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, is trying to hold on against Cal Cunningham, a Democrat, is set to be the most expensive Senate contest ever, with well over $200 million expended. While Democratic candidates are still outspending Republicans in most of the marquee races during the final weeks, the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with McConnell, has dumped more than $82 million into the effort since early October, helping close a money gap Republicans attribute to the success of online small-donor Democratic fundraising. “We are being outspent dramatically, like so many other races around the country,” said Sen. John Cornyn, a three-term Texas Republican who finds himself in an unexpectedly tough match against M.J. Hegar, a Democrat and veteran. “We have been a little late to the dance and I think we are going to have to learn from the way Democrats raise money. It is no longer like going to a dinner and a cocktail party.” The fact that Cornyn finds himself sweating is testament to how Democrats have opened multiple potential routes to a Senate majority while Republicans have failed to put their usual strongholds out of reach. Democrats have been unable to put away Collins, whom they saw as exceptionally vulnerable after her vote in 2018 to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. But Republicans now worry the voting system in Maine — in which voters’ second-choice candidate is counted if no candidate earns 50% — could cost her on Tuesday. Democrats have focused relentlessly on health care in their campaigns, scorching Republicans for their yearslong drive to overturn the Affordable Care Act and its protections for preexisting conditions. The power of the message has been amplified by the pandemic and public anxiety about health costs. Republicans have pushed back with pledges to guarantee coverage but have not produced specifics on how they would do so. The challenge for Democrats is that to win the Senate, they must prevail in states Trump carried in 2016 and is likely to carry again this year such as Iowa and Montana, though Biden victories in places like Arizona and North Carolina would make their task easier.

Fueled by cash, health care and Trump’s woes, Democrats aim for Senate control

He was attempting to land Democrat Joe Biden an electoral slam dunk, but former president Barack Obama nailed a 3-pointer instead. Literally.

On the campaign trail Saturday at a high school gym in Flint, Michigan, Obama, who is known for his skill on the court, was passed a basketball as he left the room.

The ex-president dribbled, then sank the 3-pointer from the corner before casually resuming his exit and telling the campaign entourage confidently that "that's what I do."

Video of the shot -- posted to Twitter by both Obama and Biden's traveling digital director Olivia Raisner -- quickly went viral, gaining hundreds of thousands of likes and praise from none other than LeBron James, recently named Most Valuable Player of the 2020 NBA Finals.

"Now you just showing out now my friend!!" James tweeted. "That's what you do huh?? Ok ok I see. All cash!"

Biden, who was Obama's vice president, made his first joint appearance of the campaign with his former boss in Flint, scrambling to boost turnout ahead of Tuesday's election against Republican incumbent President Donald Trump who is trailing in the polls.

Shooting hoops on election day is a tradition for Obama, even when his name is not on the ballot.

The habit is reportedly part superstition for the ex-president who skipped the court during voting in the New Hampshire Democratic primary in 2008 and lost the race to then-senator Hillary Clinton.

He was attempting to land Democrat Joe Biden an electoral slam dunk, but former president Barack Obama nailed a 3-pointer instead. Literally. On the campaign trail Saturday at a high school gym in Flint, Michigan, Obama, who is known for his skill on the court, was passed a basketball as he left the room.

He was attempting to land Democrat Joe Biden an electoral slam dunk, but former president Barack Obama nailed a 3-pointer instead. Literally. On the campaign trail Saturday at a high school gym in Flint, Michigan, Obama, who is known for his skill on the court, was passed a basketball as he left the room. The ex-president dribbled, then sank the 3-pointer from the corner before casually resuming his exit and telling the campaign entourage confidently that "that's what I do." Video of the shot -- posted to Twitter by both Obama and Biden's traveling digital director Olivia Raisner -- quickly went viral, gaining hundreds of thousands of likes and praise from none other than LeBron James, recently named Most Valuable Player of the 2020 NBA Finals. "Now you just showing out now my friend!!" James tweeted. "That's what you do huh?? Ok ok I see. All cash!" Biden, who was Obama's vice president, made his first joint appearance of the campaign with his former boss in Flint, scrambling to boost turnout ahead of Tuesday's election against Republican incumbent President Donald Trump who is trailing in the polls. Shooting hoops on election day is a tradition for Obama, even when his name is not on the ballot. The habit is reportedly part superstition for the ex-president who skipped the court during voting in the New Hampshire Democratic primary in 2008 and lost the race to then-senator Hillary Clinton.

'That's what I do': Obama casually sinks 3-pointer on campaign trail

A federal judge in Texas scheduled an emergency hearing for Monday on whether Houston officials unlawfully allowed drive-through voting and should toss more than 100,000 votes in the Democratic-leaning area.

In a brief order, US&nbsp;District Judge Andrew Hanen in Houston on Friday agreed to hear arguments by a Republican state legislator and others that votes already cast at drive-through voting sites in the Houston area should be rejected.

The lawsuit was brought on Wednesday by plaintiffs including Steve Hotze, a conservative activist, and state Representative Steve Toth. They accused Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, a Democrat, of exceeding his constitutional authority by allowing drive-through voting as an alternative to walk-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-final-weekend-before-nov-3-vote-trump-and-biden-press-closing-arguments-339318" hreflang="en">On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments</a>

Harris County, home to about 4.7 million people, is the third most populous county in the United States. It currently has 10 drive-through polling sites, which are available to all voters.

The lawsuit came after the Texas Supreme Court, one of the most conservative state courts in the United States, rejected similar bids to halt drive-through voting in Harris County.

The plaintiffs ask the court to “reject any votes it finds were cast in violation of the Texas Election Code” and “requir[e] all memory cards from the 10 drive-thru voting locations be secured and not entered or downloaded into the Tally machine until this Court issues an order on this Complaint.”

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-ant-man-star-paul-rudd-offers-cookies-to-early-voters-of-us-election-339370" hreflang="en">Watch: Ant Man star Paul Rudd offers cookies to early voters of US election</a>

Hanen was appointed by President George W. Bush, a Republican.

The request is “wholly unreasonable,” Democratic groups, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said on Friday in a motion asking to intervene in the case.

“Plaintiffs ask this Court to throw Texas’s election into chaos by invalidating the votes of more than 100,000 eligible Texas voters who cast their ballots at drive-thru voting locations at the invitation of county officials and in reliance on the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to allow drive-thru voting to proceed,” the groups said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-90-million-voters-cast-ballots-two-days-before-us-election-2020-339354" hreflang="en">More than 90 million voters cast ballots two days before US election 2020</a>

Michael Morley, a professor of election law at Florida State University, called the lawsuit meritless and said it proposes an “extreme remedy.”

“I think the county has a strong legal basis under state law for implementing these voting alternatives during a pandemic,” Morley said. “Even if the court disagreed, however, a remedy would most likely be purely prospective - prohibiting continued use of these mechanisms while still counting votes already cast.”

Texas, the second largest US state, is a traditionally Republican state, but polls show President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden close, with more than 9 million ballots already cast, eclipsing total turnout from 2016.

A federal judge in Texas scheduled an emergency hearing for Monday on whether Houston officials unlawfully allowed drive-through voting and should toss more than 100,000 votes in the Democratic-leaning area.

A federal judge in Texas scheduled an emergency hearing for Monday on whether Houston officials unlawfully allowed drive-through voting and should toss more than 100,000 votes in the Democratic-leaning area. In a brief order, US District Judge Andrew Hanen in Houston on Friday agreed to hear arguments by a Republican state legislator and others that votes already cast at drive-through voting sites in the Houston area should be rejected. The lawsuit was brought on Wednesday by plaintiffs including Steve Hotze, a conservative activist, and state Representative Steve Toth. They accused Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, a Democrat, of exceeding his constitutional authority by allowing drive-through voting as an alternative to walk-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic. Also read| On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments Harris County, home to about 4.7 million people, is the third most populous county in the United States. It currently has 10 drive-through polling sites, which are available to all voters. The lawsuit came after the Texas Supreme Court, one of the most conservative state courts in the United States, rejected similar bids to halt drive-through voting in Harris County. The plaintiffs ask the court to “reject any votes it finds were cast in violation of the Texas Election Code” and “requir[e] all memory cards from the 10 drive-thru voting locations be secured and not entered or downloaded into the Tally machine until this Court issues an order on this Complaint.” Also read| Watch: Ant Man star Paul Rudd offers cookies to early voters of US election Hanen was appointed by President George W. Bush, a Republican. The request is “wholly unreasonable,” Democratic groups, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said on Friday in a motion asking to intervene in the case. “Plaintiffs ask this Court to throw Texas’s election into chaos by invalidating the votes of more than 100,000 eligible Texas voters who cast their ballots at drive-thru voting locations at the invitation of county officials and in reliance on the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to allow drive-thru voting to proceed,” the groups said. Also read| More than 90 million voters cast ballots two days before US election 2020 Michael Morley, a professor of election law at Florida State University, called the lawsuit meritless and said it proposes an “extreme remedy.” “I think the county has a strong legal basis under state law for implementing these voting alternatives during a pandemic,” Morley said. “Even if the court disagreed, however, a remedy would most likely be purely prospective - prohibiting continued use of these mechanisms while still counting votes already cast.” Texas, the second largest US state, is a traditionally Republican state, but polls show President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden close, with more than 9 million ballots already cast, eclipsing total turnout from 2016.

US judge to hear Republican bid to void 100,000 votes in Texas

Support for the Democrat candidate and former Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is growing in every part of the world, and&nbsp;the Republican candidate and current President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is taking a hit a few days before the upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election</a>.

In such a move to show support for Joe Biden, a Palestinian shoemaker is stamping Donald Trump's name in Arabic calligraphy on the footwear&nbsp;he produces and sells as an insult to the US President.&nbsp;The shoemaker is now quite popular among his Palestinian-American customers since he started making shoes with Trump's name on it.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-announces-executive-order-to-protect-fracking-at-us-election-rally-339339">Donald Trump announces executive order to protect fracking at US election rally</a>

He says the footwear a person wears is one of the most important things in one's apparel and attracts a lot of eyes and speaks volumed about the person. "When you observe body language, the lowest thing is the shoe. So the best thing to do is to put... Trump on the shoes of Palestinians,"&nbsp;said the 57-year-old Imad Haj-Muhammad.

"Shoes touch the ground, dust and dirt. So if we write someone's name on them and that also gets dirty, then it shows... how you value that person," he continued.

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Watch | Palestinian shoemaker's unique protest against US President in which he has written <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Trump</a>'s name on the shoes 
 
In Arab culture, writing a person's name on a shoe is considered as a demeaning gesture 
 
Priyanka Sharma (<a href="https://twitter.com/PriyankaSh25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PriyankaSh25</a>) with the latest updates <a href="https://t.co/sDurSWkZAU">pic.twitter.com/sDurSWkZAU</a>
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He says he put Trump's name on the shoes because he "assaulted our people" and "sold Jerusalem to Israel". The Palestinian man wants an apology from the President, his American customers or the win of the Democratic candidate Joe Biden&nbsp;to remove Trump's name from the shoes. "The apology is for my people because the insult was against my people... and my Islamic nation," he said.

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Haj-Muhammad also has a sign outside his shop asking the American and French citizens to apologise for the statements and actions made by their leaders, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, before entering the shop. While his anger towards Macron will not go away easily, he claims he is ready to remove the American poster if Joe Biden wins the election and reverses Trump's decisions.

"I will not remove the demand for an apology from the Americans unless America's decisions (to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital) is cancelled," he said. "If Biden rescinds the decision, I will remove the sign and I will be happy."

The shoes with Trump's names are available in his shop for $50 (200 shekels) and are made from pure and genuine leather inside and outside, which he claims is "more genuine than him (Trump)."

Support for the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is growing in every part of the world, and the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump is taking a hit a few days before the upcoming US election.

Support for the Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is growing in every part of the world, and the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump is taking a hit a few days before the upcoming US election. In such a move to show support for Joe Biden, a Palestinian shoemaker is stamping Donald Trump's name in Arabic calligraphy on the footwear he produces and sells as an insult to the US President. The shoemaker is now quite popular among his Palestinian-American customers since he started making shoes with Trump's name on it. Also read| Donald Trump announces executive order to protect fracking at US election rally He says the footwear a person wears is one of the most important things in one's apparel and attracts a lot of eyes and speaks volumed about the person. "When you observe body language, the lowest thing is the shoe. So the best thing to do is to put... Trump on the shoes of Palestinians," said the 57-year-old Imad Haj-Muhammad. "Shoes touch the ground, dust and dirt. So if we write someone's name on them and that also gets dirty, then it shows... how you value that person," he continued. Watch | Palestinian shoemaker's unique protest against US President in which he has written #Trump's name on the shoes In Arab culture, writing a person's name on a shoe is considered as a demeaning gesture Priyanka Sharma (@PriyankaSh25) with the latest updates pic.twitter.com/sDurSWkZAU — WION (@WIONews) November 1, 2020 × He says he put Trump's name on the shoes because he "assaulted our people" and "sold Jerusalem to Israel". The Palestinian man wants an apology from the President, his American customers or the win of the Democratic candidate Joe Biden to remove Trump's name from the shoes. "The apology is for my people because the insult was against my people... and my Islamic nation," he said. Also read| On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments Haj-Muhammad also has a sign outside his shop asking the American and French citizens to apologise for the statements and actions made by their leaders, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, before entering the shop. While his anger towards Macron will not go away easily, he claims he is ready to remove the American poster if Joe Biden wins the election and reverses Trump's decisions. "I will not remove the demand for an apology from the Americans unless America's decisions (to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital) is cancelled," he said. "If Biden rescinds the decision, I will remove the sign and I will be happy." The shoes with Trump's names are available in his shop for $50 (200 shekels) and are made from pure and genuine leather inside and outside, which he claims is "more genuine than him (Trump)."

Days before US election 2020, shoes with Donald Trump's name appears in Palestine

US First Lady Melania Trump made her campaign appearance for President Donald Trump on Saturday in the battleground of Wisconsin, where she urged voters to let her husband return to the White house.

US Election 2020: First lady campaigns for Trump in battleground Wisconsin

Two days before Election Day, President Donald Trump on Sunday launched a campaign sprint across battleground states starting with Michigan that will be crucial to the outcome of the U.S. election in an effort to defy the polls and fend off Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

US Election 2020 could see record-high turnout

They may have differing opinions about whether Donald Trump deserves a second term in the White House but residents of this suburb of Detroit say they won't let politics divide the community.

US Election 2020: Nextdoor neighbours in Michigan have politics that are worlds apart

The Federal Reserve's policy setting committee meets this week at a turbulent time: one day after voters head to the polls in the deeply uncertain US presidential election.

But the body pointedly keeps itself out of politics, and analysts expect the policy-setting Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) will do little to rock the boat at its two-day meeting beginning Wednesday.

The Fed already zeroed out borrowing rates and offered massive credit facilities amid the coronavirus downturn, recently expanding them to reach more firms and nonprofit organizations.

"I think November's meeting is too soon for there to be a dramatic break," said David Wilcox, a former top economist at the Fed who is now with the Peterson Institute for International Economics.&nbsp;

"This is a sort of a placeholder meeting while they wait for those situations to clarify."

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Political uncertainty ahead of the vote comes amid continued worries about the world's largest economy amid the coronavirus crisis.

While the Fed moved quickly with new credit lines and the rate cut as the pandemic arrived, the initial momentum to get aid bills through Congress has petered out despite increasingly desperate pleas for more aid from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

John Mousseau, president and chief executive officer at Cumberland Advisors, said the central bank is likely to again encourage lawmakers to continue the push for new stimulus after the election in the final weeks before a new Congress is installed in January.

"The Fed has done their job," he said.&nbsp;

And as they call for more aid next week "the message will be delivered to a lame duck Congress that might actually act on what the Fed's doing."

No rate change

The FOMC meeting lacks any suspense over the benchmark lending rate after the central bank in August debuted a new policy keeping interest rates lower for longer to wait to inflation to rise and maximize employment.

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The coronavirus pandemic in the United States caused tens of millions of layoffs as well as a historic contraction in GDP, but recent data shows a recovery is underway.

GDP growth rebounded by 33.1 per cent annualized in the third quarter from its 31.4 per cent contraction in the quarter before, according to Commerce Department data.

But weekly applications for jobless benefits remain higher than the worst of the 2008-2010 global financial crisis, and nearly 23 million people continue to receive some form of government unemployment support.

The $2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package passed in March has helped spur rehiring and supported spending, but key provisions are expired and fears of a renewed economic malaise have increased.

Extending that aid is the job of Congress, but at the Fed, "They've got their accelerator foot down hard on the pedal... to sustain the economy as best as they can, using the tools at their disposal," Wilcox said

Swirling uncertainty

It's unclear if there how much more the Fed is willing or able to do.

Mousseau said they could begin buying different types of debt to ease the pressure on entities like local governments, particularly if no stimulus package is passed.

But that opens them up to thorny questions over whose debt to buy, and accusations of political preference could follow, the last thing the central bank desires.

"I think that's one reason why the Fed has passed some of this back of Congress. Rightfully so," Mousseau said.

It is a given that the FOMC meeting will be overshadowed by the election contest between President Donald Trump and his challenger Joe Biden set for the day before the meeting begins.

Powell is expected to steer well clear of political questions in his press conference Thursday.

"They're always fighting the fight against being put in a political position," Mousseau said. "To its credit, that's one thing Powell has stood up against. The Fed can't be a political vehicle."

The Federal Reserve's policy setting committee meets this week at a turbulent time: one day after voters head to the polls in the deeply uncertain US presidential election.

The Federal Reserve's policy setting committee meets this week at a turbulent time: one day after voters head to the polls in the deeply uncertain US presidential election. But the body pointedly keeps itself out of politics, and analysts expect the policy-setting Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) will do little to rock the boat at its two-day meeting beginning Wednesday. The Fed already zeroed out borrowing rates and offered massive credit facilities amid the coronavirus downturn, recently expanding them to reach more firms and nonprofit organizations. "I think November's meeting is too soon for there to be a dramatic break," said David Wilcox, a former top economist at the Fed who is now with the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "This is a sort of a placeholder meeting while they wait for those situations to clarify." Also read| On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments Political uncertainty ahead of the vote comes amid continued worries about the world's largest economy amid the coronavirus crisis. While the Fed moved quickly with new credit lines and the rate cut as the pandemic arrived, the initial momentum to get aid bills through Congress has petered out despite increasingly desperate pleas for more aid from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. John Mousseau, president and chief executive officer at Cumberland Advisors, said the central bank is likely to again encourage lawmakers to continue the push for new stimulus after the election in the final weeks before a new Congress is installed in January. "The Fed has done their job," he said. And as they call for more aid next week "the message will be delivered to a lame duck Congress that might actually act on what the Fed's doing." No rate change The FOMC meeting lacks any suspense over the benchmark lending rate after the central bank in August debuted a new policy keeping interest rates lower for longer to wait to inflation to rise and maximize employment. Also read| Trump announces executive order to protect fracking at US election rally The coronavirus pandemic in the United States caused tens of millions of layoffs as well as a historic contraction in GDP, but recent data shows a recovery is underway. GDP growth rebounded by 33.1 per cent annualized in the third quarter from its 31.4 per cent contraction in the quarter before, according to Commerce Department data. But weekly applications for jobless benefits remain higher than the worst of the 2008-2010 global financial crisis, and nearly 23 million people continue to receive some form of government unemployment support. The $2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package passed in March has helped spur rehiring and supported spending, but key provisions are expired and fears of a renewed economic malaise have increased. Extending that aid is the job of Congress, but at the Fed, "They've got their accelerator foot down hard on the pedal... to sustain the economy as best as they can, using the tools at their disposal," Wilcox said Swirling uncertainty It's unclear if there how much more the Fed is willing or able to do. Mousseau said they could begin buying different types of debt to ease the pressure on entities like local governments, particularly if no stimulus package is passed. But that opens them up to thorny questions over whose debt to buy, and accusations of political preference could follow, the last thing the central bank desires. "I think that's one reason why the Fed has passed some of this back of Congress. Rightfully so," Mousseau said. It is a given that the FOMC meeting will be overshadowed by the election contest between President Donald Trump and his challenger Joe Biden set for the day before the meeting begins. Powell is expected to steer well clear of political questions in his press conference Thursday. "They're always fighting the fight against being put in a political position," Mousseau said. "To its credit, that's one thing Powell has stood up against. The Fed can't be a political vehicle."

Fed in holding pattern amid tense US election

Less than three days are left for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election</a>,&nbsp;and the two leaders are campaigning in the last few key states urging people to vote early. The Americans are, this year, listening to their leaders —&nbsp;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;— are rushing to cast their ballots.

This is the first time in the history of American politics that the early voter count has reached 90 million. As per a tally posted by the US Elections Project at the University of Florida, more than 90 million Americans have already cast their ballots and the number is expected to grow as the residents still have two more days to vote.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-final-weekend-before-nov-3-vote-trump-and-biden-press-closing-arguments-339318">On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments</a>

The record-breaking number is about 65 per cent of the 2016 total turnout in which Donald Trump contested against Hillary Clinton. The new turnout shows the new interest of the Americans in the leadership of the country. it is also being understood as a cry for help by the Americans who are rushing to elect their choice of candidate to make sure their demands and ideologies are met.

This turnout can also be a direct result of the recent controversies such as the election of the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-pick-amy-coney-barrett-sworn-in-as-supreme-court-justice-at-white-house-338166&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj9pYzax-DsAhXm7XMBHaTFBNMQFjAEegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw25zQB5YD8TfbXViETR4UeX">Amy Coney Barrett</a> and social movements such as Black lives Matter that have divided the people of the United States, and the crisis of coronavirus pandemic which has taken several lives.

Experts are predicting that the total voter count can surpass 138 million with the&nbsp;2016 elections as a comparison model — a total of 47 million voters had cast their ballot four days before the elections in 2016.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-announces-executive-order-to-protect-fracking-at-us-election-rally-339339">Donald Trump announces executive order to protect fracking at US election rally</a>

The party registration data shows that in 20 states&nbsp;19.9 million registered Democrats have cast their vote, while only 13 million Republicans have chosen their leader till now. Nearly&nbsp;10.1 million with no party affiliation have also cast their ballots in these states.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are now wrapping up their election campaigns and hitting the key states to gain as many voters as possible in the last few days. As of now, Joe Biden is in the lead, but experts seem to believe that the opinion polls cannot be trusted as the number had seen a drastic change in 2016 too as many people ended up voting at the last day.

Less than three days are left for the US election, and the two leaders are campaigning in the last few key states urging people to vote early. The Americans are, this year, listening to their leaders — the current Republican candidate and President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden — are rushing to cast their ballots.

Less than three days are left for the US election, and the two leaders are campaigning in the last few key states urging people to vote early. The Americans are, this year, listening to their leaders — the current Republican candidate and President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden — are rushing to cast their ballots. This is the first time in the history of American politics that the early voter count has reached 90 million. As per a tally posted by the US Elections Project at the University of Florida, more than 90 million Americans have already cast their ballots and the number is expected to grow as the residents still have two more days to vote. Also read| On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments The record-breaking number is about 65 per cent of the 2016 total turnout in which Donald Trump contested against Hillary Clinton. The new turnout shows the new interest of the Americans in the leadership of the country. it is also being understood as a cry for help by the Americans who are rushing to elect their choice of candidate to make sure their demands and ideologies are met. This turnout can also be a direct result of the recent controversies such as the election of the Amy Coney Barrett and social movements such as Black lives Matter that have divided the people of the United States, and the crisis of coronavirus pandemic which has taken several lives. Experts are predicting that the total voter count can surpass 138 million with the 2016 elections as a comparison model — a total of 47 million voters had cast their ballot four days before the elections in 2016. Also read| Donald Trump announces executive order to protect fracking at US election rally The party registration data shows that in 20 states 19.9 million registered Democrats have cast their vote, while only 13 million Republicans have chosen their leader till now. Nearly 10.1 million with no party affiliation have also cast their ballots in these states. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are now wrapping up their election campaigns and hitting the key states to gain as many voters as possible in the last few days. As of now, Joe Biden is in the lead, but experts seem to believe that the opinion polls cannot be trusted as the number had seen a drastic change in 2016 too as many people ended up voting at the last day.

More than 90 million voters cast ballots two days before US election 2020

Healthcare is one of the most important services needed by any citizen and the Americans have often had to choose their leaders as per their future plans related to these basic necessities.&nbsp;

With the healthcare expense amounting to nearly 20 per cent of the US economy, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">elections</a> this year are no different. In this term of the Presidential election, the debate started with a choice between Obamacare and Trumpcare.

However, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, the Democratic candidate and the Former President who served under Barack Obama, is hoping to expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and re-launch it under his own name, if he wins the elections.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-trump-focused-on-feeding-his-ego-did-not-take-pandemic-seriously-obama-339438" hreflang="en">Trump focused on feeding his ego, did not take pandemic seriously: Obama</a>

On the other hand, the current President and the Republican candidate &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> wants to scrap the whole deal altogether. This has started a debate over which approach would be better for the economy.&nbsp;

Bidencare, as many are now labelling it, aims to either increase the federal spending on healthcare by at least $2 trillion (and more) over a period of nearly ten years. Trumpcare, on the other hand, wants to either reduce the funding or, in Trump’s ideal world, completely suspend the federal funding.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-trump-rallies-led-to-30000-covid-19-infections-700-deaths-stanford-study-339425">Trump rallies led to 30,000 Covid-19 infections, 700 deaths: Stanford study</a>

The United States had nearly 46.5 million people without health insurance in 2010. This was when Obama decided to help out his fellow Americans and introduced ACA to assist and provide pocket-friendly healthcare insurance. Now the count of Americans without health insurance has dropped down to nearly 30 million, and under Bidencare, the Democrat party expects to reduce this number by at least 15 to 20 million further. Trump, on the other hand, has revealed no such plan and has time and again focused on the need to suspend or decrease federal funding for ACA.

Bidencare, upto this point, does sound like a better plan. The question now is, how will Joe Biden pump in more money into the healthcare plan.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-leads-in-michigan-and-wisconsin-donald-trump-struggling-survey-339408">Joe Biden leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, Donald Trump struggling: Survey</a>

More people can be covered under the healthcare scheme by subsidising health insurance purchases through tax credits. Biden has announced that he will be raising this amount by charging tax from the wealthy taxpayers and will expand public insurance to make sure the medical costs do not skyrocket. However, the plan sounds easier said than done, and whether or not Biden will be able to raise such funds from charging the wealthy groups is a tale that only time can tell. However, if Biden succeeds, the minority groups will be benefitted the most as several pieces of research have shown that the minority groups in the US suffer more chronic diseases, including the novel coronavirus, in comparison to the White nationals.

One thing, however, that is very clear through Bidencare, up to this point, is that if Joe Biden is successful in implementing his health care plan, it will be more beneficial for the economy as uninsured patients, as per few studies, do get expensive treatments and then end up in a bad credit score or if they are unable to pay then it negatively affects the financial stability of the hospitals.

Also read|&nbsp;<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>

Trump’s backup

While the Democrats are fighting to make sure their candidate wins the Presidential elections, the Republican President is also fighting another battle in the US court — one with the aim to repeal the ACA.

Trump has been unsuccessful in dismantling Obama’s healthcare plan in his four-year-long term. However, he is now fighting a court battle to fulfil his dream. A Supreme Court hearing is scheduled a week after the US elections.&nbsp; 
However, if Trump wins the court hearing (which is not something the experts foresee), there is no specified backup plan to replace the insurance of the almost 21 million Americans who rely on Obamacare.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-final-weekend-before-nov-3-vote-trump-and-biden-press-closing-arguments-339318" hreflang="en">On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments</a>

Some seem to believe that the only backup plan Trump has right now is to distribute the ACA funds to respective state governments who can further assist people by buying private health insurance and provide better coverage even to low-income households, provided it is not misused by the states.

Which leader has a better healthcare plan is a tough decision because while Biden is simply amplifying his former President’s plan, the current President is not revealing his whole set of cards yet. So, whether or not Americans will be able to afford proper healthcare will now only be clear once the next President of the US elections is chosen after the November 03 elections.

Healthcare is one of the most important services needed by any citizen and the Americans have often had to choose their leaders as per their future plans related to these basic necessities.

Healthcare is one of the most important services needed by any citizen and the Americans have often had to choose their leaders as per their future plans related to these basic necessities. With the healthcare expense amounting to nearly 20 per cent of the US economy, the elections this year are no different. In this term of the Presidential election, the debate started with a choice between Obamacare and Trumpcare. However, Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate and the Former President who served under Barack Obama, is hoping to expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and re-launch it under his own name, if he wins the elections. Also read| Trump focused on feeding his ego, did not take pandemic seriously: Obama On the other hand, the current President and the Republican candidate Donald Trump wants to scrap the whole deal altogether. This has started a debate over which approach would be better for the economy. Bidencare, as many are now labelling it, aims to either increase the federal spending on healthcare by at least $2 trillion (and more) over a period of nearly ten years. Trumpcare, on the other hand, wants to either reduce the funding or, in Trump’s ideal world, completely suspend the federal funding. Also read| Trump rallies led to 30,000 Covid-19 infections, 700 deaths: Stanford study The United States had nearly 46.5 million people without health insurance in 2010. This was when Obama decided to help out his fellow Americans and introduced ACA to assist and provide pocket-friendly healthcare insurance. Now the count of Americans without health insurance has dropped down to nearly 30 million, and under Bidencare, the Democrat party expects to reduce this number by at least 15 to 20 million further. Trump, on the other hand, has revealed no such plan and has time and again focused on the need to suspend or decrease federal funding for ACA. Bidencare, upto this point, does sound like a better plan. The question now is, how will Joe Biden pump in more money into the healthcare plan. Also read| Joe Biden leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, Donald Trump struggling: Survey More people can be covered under the healthcare scheme by subsidising health insurance purchases through tax credits. Biden has announced that he will be raising this amount by charging tax from the wealthy taxpayers and will expand public insurance to make sure the medical costs do not skyrocket. However, the plan sounds easier said than done, and whether or not Biden will be able to raise such funds from charging the wealthy groups is a tale that only time can tell. However, if Biden succeeds, the minority groups will be benefitted the most as several pieces of research have shown that the minority groups in the US suffer more chronic diseases, including the novel coronavirus, in comparison to the White nationals. One thing, however, that is very clear through Bidencare, up to this point, is that if Joe Biden is successful in implementing his health care plan, it will be more beneficial for the economy as uninsured patients, as per few studies, do get expensive treatments and then end up in a bad credit score or if they are unable to pay then it negatively affects the financial stability of the hospitals. Also read| Joe Biden leading in US Election 2020 against Donald Trump: Survey Trump’s backup While the Democrats are fighting to make sure their candidate wins the Presidential elections, the Republican President is also fighting another battle in the US court — one with the aim to repeal the ACA. Trump has been unsuccessful in dismantling Obama’s healthcare plan in his four-year-long term. However, he is now fighting a court battle to fulfil his dream. A Supreme Court hearing is scheduled a week after the US elections. However, if Trump wins the court hearing (which is not something the experts foresee), there is no specified backup plan to replace the insurance of the almost 21 million Americans who rely on Obamacare. Also read| On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments Some seem to believe that the only backup plan Trump has right now is to distribute the ACA funds to respective state governments who can further assist people by buying private health insurance and provide better coverage even to low-income households, provided it is not misused by the states. Which leader has a better healthcare plan is a tough decision because while Biden is simply amplifying his former President’s plan, the current President is not revealing his whole set of cards yet. So, whether or not Americans will be able to afford proper healthcare will now only be clear once the next President of the US elections is chosen after the November 03 elections.

US Election 2020: Trumpcare or Bidencare? Americans vote for affordable healthcare

With two days left for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US election</a>&nbsp;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;are now wrapping up their rallies and bidding farewell to their supporters for a few days.

During on of these rallies in Montoursville,&nbsp;Pennsylvania, Trump made an announcement that he signed an executive order to protect fracking earlier in the day — which has been a controversial topic between the two political parties.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-final-weekend-before-nov-3-vote-trump-and-biden-press-closing-arguments-339318" hreflang="en">On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments</a>

Fracking, also known as&nbsp;Hydraulic fracturing,&nbsp;is the process of drilling a hole in the Earth to releae the gas inside. The procedure has been subjject to controversies as it can be harmful for the quality of groundwater and can pollute the surface water and threaten wildfire if proper guidelines are not followed.

The local media had reported a few days ago that Donald trump was to collect information from the&nbsp;Office of the US Trade Representative and the Treasury Department about the benefits and side effects of fracking on the US economy and trade.

"Moments ago I signed an executive order to protect Pennsylvania fracking and block any effort to undermine energy production in your state,"&nbsp;Trump told the crowd on Saturday.&nbsp;

"So if one of these maniacs come along say end fracking, I signed it on the beautiful Marine One,"&nbsp;he said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-runs-off-stage-as-rain-interrupts-florida-rally-339302" hreflang="en">Joe Biden runs off-stage as rain interrupts Florida rally</a>

This has come as a big hit to the Democratic candidate as Trump has often grilled Biden over his one-day statement of him agreeing to banning fracking, which Biden declines. Biden has been subjected to an array of questions by his rivals on the topic of banning fracking, and he has time and again clarified that he would not be banning it, which the Republic Party claims is not rue and has provided audio-visual proof for their claim.

The announcement by Trump has comes a masterstroke at the end of the election campaigns, with some experts calling it an ace card played a few days before the elections. This is being considered as a positive move for Trump as it sends the message of him being a 'get work done' guy, which Biden has not been able to establish.

It was also reported that Trump would be asking officials from the Energy Department and Interior Department to advise him on how the technology and land management can be utilised to increase the use and benefits of fracking, without harming the envorinment.

The details of the same have not been officially announced yet.

With two days left for the US election the current Republican candidate and President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden are now wrapping up their rallies and bidding farewell to their supporters for a few days.

With two days left for the US election the current Republican candidate and President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden are now wrapping up their rallies and bidding farewell to their supporters for a few days. During on of these rallies in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, Trump made an announcement that he signed an executive order to protect fracking earlier in the day — which has been a controversial topic between the two political parties. Also read| On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments Fracking, also known as Hydraulic fracturing, is the process of drilling a hole in the Earth to releae the gas inside. The procedure has been subjject to controversies as it can be harmful for the quality of groundwater and can pollute the surface water and threaten wildfire if proper guidelines are not followed. The local media had reported a few days ago that Donald trump was to collect information from the Office of the US Trade Representative and the Treasury Department about the benefits and side effects of fracking on the US economy and trade. "Moments ago I signed an executive order to protect Pennsylvania fracking and block any effort to undermine energy production in your state," Trump told the crowd on Saturday. "So if one of these maniacs come along say end fracking, I signed it on the beautiful Marine One," he said. Also read| Joe Biden runs off-stage as rain interrupts Florida rally This has come as a big hit to the Democratic candidate as Trump has often grilled Biden over his one-day statement of him agreeing to banning fracking, which Biden declines. Biden has been subjected to an array of questions by his rivals on the topic of banning fracking, and he has time and again clarified that he would not be banning it, which the Republic Party claims is not rue and has provided audio-visual proof for their claim. The announcement by Trump has comes a masterstroke at the end of the election campaigns, with some experts calling it an ace card played a few days before the elections. This is being considered as a positive move for Trump as it sends the message of him being a 'get work done' guy, which Biden has not been able to establish. It was also reported that Trump would be asking officials from the Energy Department and Interior Department to advise him on how the technology and land management can be utilised to increase the use and benefits of fracking, without harming the envorinment. The details of the same have not been officially announced yet.

Donald Trump announces executive order to protect fracking at US election rally

The second weekend in October was “citizenship weekend” at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.

“Up and down the ballot, there are two very different visions for our nation, and every one of us need to vote biblical principles,” the Rev. Jack Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisers, told the congregation. The 45,000-member church has a committee urging members to be “actively involved in our government,” including by running for office. At one point, Graham told the congregation, 23 members of the church held some kind of elected office. Graham invited four to the stage that Sunday, all Republicans.

But Graham does not see it as his job to tell members how to fill out their ballots. “You preach on the issues; you don’t insult people by telling them how to vote,” Graham said in an interview. “People will figure out how to vote if you guide them from Scripture.” On Oct. 25, he preached on the importance of religious liberty.

Decades after the rise of the Christian right as a political influence, conservative evangelicals have a reputation for political activism. That reputation has only intensified in the Trump era. White evangelicals voted for Trump overwhelmingly in 2016 and have remained his most dependable supporters. The president himself, who is not a frequent churchgoer, has indicated that he assumes conservative evangelical pastors would be eager to speak even more directly — perhaps to endorse him — if freed by tax law to do so.

In 2017, he signed an executive order intended to loosen enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, the provision that forbids pastors at tax-exempt churches to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit. “We are giving churches their voices back,” he said at a Rose Garden signing ceremony, framing the change as a gift to religious conservatives.

But tuning into conservative evangelical sermons across the country in the weeks leading up to a hotly contested election reveals a complex relationship between the pulpit and politics. Some pastors grappled directly with the question of a Christian’s political obligations. Others edged close to an endorsement. But many barely hinted at political themes, perhaps gesturing broadly to “unity” or “justice.”

Compared with other Christian traditions, white conservative Protestant churches are notably unenthusiastic about engaging directly in some kinds of traditional political activities. If tax law changed, 45% of self-described liberal congregations would endorse specific candidates, compared with 11% of self-described conservative congregations, according to a forthcoming paper analyzing data from the National Congregations Study, an ongoing nationally representative survey of about 1,200 leaders of religious congregations. Black churches, whose members are often theologically conservative and vote Democratic, are the most politically engaged.

But surveys about voter registration or lobbying — activities that liberal churches are likelier to engage in — do not capture the full portrait of churches’ political messaging. “There’s a lot more political signaling going on than we pick up with these explicit collective actions,” said Mark Chaves, director of the National Congregations Study and a professor at Duke University.

Surveys do not capture, for example, an American flag displayed at the front of the church, prayers offered for police officers but not protesters (or vice versa), or passing references to “life” or “freedom” in a sermon.

As a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, Keith Mannes would have said for most of his career that he did not preach about politics. He calls himself “a pretty conservative guy,” and he occasionally addressed abortion or homosexuality in his sermons, but he saw those topics as biblical, not political.

But in 2015 something changed when Mannes watched Trump slowly descend a gleaming escalator at Trump Tower to start his presidential bid. The gaudiness struck him as grotesque; the biblical term “mammon” came to mind.

After Trump became president, Mannes increasingly felt called to speak directly about what he saw as an ungodly alliance between white conservative Christians and Trump. But for several years, he tried to stay quiet. “It’s just in our bones that we don’t make trouble about politics,” Mannes said. “We don’t talk about that stuff from the pulpit.”

He delivered his last sermon at East Saugatuck Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, on Oct. 11. After years of trying to “avoid politics” in the pulpit to keep peace in the congregation, he approached church leadership to suggest it was time to part ways. “You realize you’re extending all this energy just to make sure people don’t get upset,” he said. “I wanted to be able to speak openly in the world about what I believe.”

Pastors whose own political beliefs are in line with their congregations’ tend to feel more empowered to speak. In Apex, North Carolina, another evangelical pastor had watched in a very different mood as Trump descended the escalator at Trump Tower. “When he came down the escalator, I didn’t know much about him but I turned to my wife and said, ‘Honey, that guy’s going to win,’” Rodney Finch recalled. Finch, the Black pastor of a large multiracial church he founded in 1995, said he had not been strongly engaged in politics before, but the moment was electrifying.

This election cycle, Finch is all in. On Oct. 4, he preached a Sunday sermon on voting. “The Bible is a voter’s guide,” he told the congregation. Without explicitly telling members how to fill out their ballots, he ticked off God’s priorities, in his view: abortion, support for Israel, religious freedom.

Finch is not alone in his awakening. Just 1% of Protestant pastors say they have endorsed a candidate from the pulpit this year, according to a survey conducted this fall by LifeWay Research, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. That number is unchanged since 2016. But 32% of Protestant pastors said they have endorsed a political candidate away from the pulpit, ostensibly outside of their role as a pastor. That is a 10 percentage point increase since the last presidential election cycle. Pastors who say they are voting for Trump are more likely to say they have made an endorsement.

Still, in many white conservative churches, “there’s a fear of being labeled ‘political,’” said Kaitlyn Schiess, the author of “The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor,” a book urging evangelicals to engage more intentionally with politics. “As Christians, we’re supposed to be above that.”

An analysis by the Pew Research Center of 50,000 sermons streamed online last year found that 4% of Christian sermons even mentioned abortion, and those that did rarely focused entirely on the topic. Smaller congregations were more likely than larger ones to hear discussion of abortion in sermons.

At many evangelical churches, there have been almost no hints from the pulpit in recent weeks of the divisive election on the way.

“My job is to articulate to the members of our congregation a traditional, orthodox Christian worldview,” said Tim Breen, pastor of First Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa, a congregation he described as “center right.” “I don’t feel a call to recommend who to vote for or even necessarily how to vote.” Most of his congregation, he said, would not be able to guess whom he is voting for.

At Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, churchgoers can participate in a class titled “The Bible, the Church and Politics” on Wednesday evenings leading up to the election. One session listed biblical priorities including a safety net for the poor, fair wages, “creation stewardship,” personal responsibility and “protection of the unborn.”

“The church is trying to balance, ‘How do we engage faithfully with social issues, but how do we not get swallowed up?’” said Trinity’s pastor, Walter Kim, the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, referring to the American church in general.

Kim describes his university-town congregation as “conservative theologically but mixed politically.” “There’s a bit of a tension,” he said. “Some people come to church with a deep desire to understand their world. Some come to church to find a reprieve from the world.”

Kim tries to navigate that tension by focusing on larger moral principles rather than partisan politics from the pulpit. On Oct. 25, he preached from the New Testament book of James, a sermon that focused on humility, repentance and the ultimate folly of many disputes. He did not mention Joe Biden, Trump or the upcoming election. “From the perspective of eternity,” he told his congregation, “we’re going to regret a lot of our fights.”

The second weekend in October was “citizenship weekend” at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. “Up and down the ballot, there are two very different visions for our nation, and every one of us need to vote biblical principles,” the Rev.

The second weekend in October was “citizenship weekend” at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. “Up and down the ballot, there are two very different visions for our nation, and every one of us need to vote biblical principles,” the Rev. Jack Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisers, told the congregation. The 45,000-member church has a committee urging members to be “actively involved in our government,” including by running for office. At one point, Graham told the congregation, 23 members of the church held some kind of elected office. Graham invited four to the stage that Sunday, all Republicans. But Graham does not see it as his job to tell members how to fill out their ballots. “You preach on the issues; you don’t insult people by telling them how to vote,” Graham said in an interview. “People will figure out how to vote if you guide them from Scripture.” On Oct. 25, he preached on the importance of religious liberty. Decades after the rise of the Christian right as a political influence, conservative evangelicals have a reputation for political activism. That reputation has only intensified in the Trump era. White evangelicals voted for Trump overwhelmingly in 2016 and have remained his most dependable supporters. The president himself, who is not a frequent churchgoer, has indicated that he assumes conservative evangelical pastors would be eager to speak even more directly — perhaps to endorse him — if freed by tax law to do so. In 2017, he signed an executive order intended to loosen enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, the provision that forbids pastors at tax-exempt churches to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit. “We are giving churches their voices back,” he said at a Rose Garden signing ceremony, framing the change as a gift to religious conservatives. But tuning into conservative evangelical sermons across the country in the weeks leading up to a hotly contested election reveals a complex relationship between the pulpit and politics. Some pastors grappled directly with the question of a Christian’s political obligations. Others edged close to an endorsement. But many barely hinted at political themes, perhaps gesturing broadly to “unity” or “justice.” Compared with other Christian traditions, white conservative Protestant churches are notably unenthusiastic about engaging directly in some kinds of traditional political activities. If tax law changed, 45% of self-described liberal congregations would endorse specific candidates, compared with 11% of self-described conservative congregations, according to a forthcoming paper analyzing data from the National Congregations Study, an ongoing nationally representative survey of about 1,200 leaders of religious congregations. Black churches, whose members are often theologically conservative and vote Democratic, are the most politically engaged. But surveys about voter registration or lobbying — activities that liberal churches are likelier to engage in — do not capture the full portrait of churches’ political messaging. “There’s a lot more political signaling going on than we pick up with these explicit collective actions,” said Mark Chaves, director of the National Congregations Study and a professor at Duke University. Surveys do not capture, for example, an American flag displayed at the front of the church, prayers offered for police officers but not protesters (or vice versa), or passing references to “life” or “freedom” in a sermon. As a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, Keith Mannes would have said for most of his career that he did not preach about politics. He calls himself “a pretty conservative guy,” and he occasionally addressed abortion or homosexuality in his sermons, but he saw those topics as biblical, not political. But in 2015 something changed when Mannes watched Trump slowly descend a gleaming escalator at Trump Tower to start his presidential bid. The gaudiness struck him as grotesque; the biblical term “mammon” came to mind. After Trump became president, Mannes increasingly felt called to speak directly about what he saw as an ungodly alliance between white conservative Christians and Trump. But for several years, he tried to stay quiet. “It’s just in our bones that we don’t make trouble about politics,” Mannes said. “We don’t talk about that stuff from the pulpit.” He delivered his last sermon at East Saugatuck Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, on Oct. 11. After years of trying to “avoid politics” in the pulpit to keep peace in the congregation, he approached church leadership to suggest it was time to part ways. “You realize you’re extending all this energy just to make sure people don’t get upset,” he said. “I wanted to be able to speak openly in the world about what I believe.” Pastors whose own political beliefs are in line with their congregations’ tend to feel more empowered to speak. In Apex, North Carolina, another evangelical pastor had watched in a very different mood as Trump descended the escalator at Trump Tower. “When he came down the escalator, I didn’t know much about him but I turned to my wife and said, ‘Honey, that guy’s going to win,’” Rodney Finch recalled. Finch, the Black pastor of a large multiracial church he founded in 1995, said he had not been strongly engaged in politics before, but the moment was electrifying. This election cycle, Finch is all in. On Oct. 4, he preached a Sunday sermon on voting. “The Bible is a voter’s guide,” he told the congregation. Without explicitly telling members how to fill out their ballots, he ticked off God’s priorities, in his view: abortion, support for Israel, religious freedom. Finch is not alone in his awakening. Just 1% of Protestant pastors say they have endorsed a candidate from the pulpit this year, according to a survey conducted this fall by LifeWay Research, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. That number is unchanged since 2016. But 32% of Protestant pastors said they have endorsed a political candidate away from the pulpit, ostensibly outside of their role as a pastor. That is a 10 percentage point increase since the last presidential election cycle. Pastors who say they are voting for Trump are more likely to say they have made an endorsement. Still, in many white conservative churches, “there’s a fear of being labeled ‘political,’” said Kaitlyn Schiess, the author of “The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor,” a book urging evangelicals to engage more intentionally with politics. “As Christians, we’re supposed to be above that.” An analysis by the Pew Research Center of 50,000 sermons streamed online last year found that 4% of Christian sermons even mentioned abortion, and those that did rarely focused entirely on the topic. Smaller congregations were more likely than larger ones to hear discussion of abortion in sermons. At many evangelical churches, there have been almost no hints from the pulpit in recent weeks of the divisive election on the way. “My job is to articulate to the members of our congregation a traditional, orthodox Christian worldview,” said Tim Breen, pastor of First Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa, a congregation he described as “center right.” “I don’t feel a call to recommend who to vote for or even necessarily how to vote.” Most of his congregation, he said, would not be able to guess whom he is voting for. At Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, churchgoers can participate in a class titled “The Bible, the Church and Politics” on Wednesday evenings leading up to the election. One session listed biblical priorities including a safety net for the poor, fair wages, “creation stewardship,” personal responsibility and “protection of the unborn.” “The church is trying to balance, ‘How do we engage faithfully with social issues, but how do we not get swallowed up?’” said Trinity’s pastor, Walter Kim, the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, referring to the American church in general. Kim describes his university-town congregation as “conservative theologically but mixed politically.” “There’s a bit of a tension,” he said. “Some people come to church with a deep desire to understand their world. Some come to church to find a reprieve from the world.” Kim tries to navigate that tension by focusing on larger moral principles rather than partisan politics from the pulpit. On Oct. 25, he preached from the New Testament book of James, a sermon that focused on humility, repentance and the ultimate folly of many disputes. He did not mention Joe Biden, Trump or the upcoming election. “From the perspective of eternity,” he told his congregation, “we’re going to regret a lot of our fights.”

Preaching or avoiding politics, conservative churches walk a delicate line

President Donald Trump predicted “bedlam” and a lack of clarity about the presidential results until weeks after Election Day as he barnstormed Pennsylvania, while former Vice President Joe Biden made his first joint appearance with former President Barack Obama at an event in Michigan.

The last Saturday before Election Day offered traditional last-minute frantic campaigning in battleground states played against the backdrop of the extraordinary rancor, high stakes and sense of disruption reflecting a pandemic, an economic downturn and recurring protests and unrest at the close of Trump’s first term.

The dueling schedules showed the intensity with which the two campaigns are approaching the final days of the election and illustrated differences once again in their basic approach to the worst public health crisis in a century.

Biden talked about taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously, while Trump mocked his opponent for his focus on the virus and falsely accused him of favoring “deadly” lockdowns.

In remarks in Newtown and Reading, Pennsylvania, Trump stoked fears of an election left unsettled after voting closes on Nov. 3 and about the prospects that ballots would not count.

“You’re going to be waiting for weeks” as votes are counted, Trump declared in Newtown.

“Many, many days,” he went on. “So you’re going to be watching on Nov. 3. I think it’s highly likely you’re not going to have a decision, because Pennsylvania’s very big. We’re going to be waiting. Nov. 3 is going to come and go, and we’re not going to know. And you’re going to have bedlam in our country.”

At his next stop, in Reading, Trump derided a Supreme Court decision rejecting a request from Pennsylvania Republicans to decide whether the state could continue accepting ballots for three days after Nov. 3.

“You see what’s going on, right?” Trump said of Democrats. “Somebody’s going to play games, and they just got an extension. What’s the extension all about? Wouldn’t you like to hear, Nov. 3, we win, we lose? We win, we lose. Whatever.”

The president called the decision “disappointing” and added, “Many, many disappointing opinions from the Supreme Court. They talk about we control the Supreme — well we don’t control the Supreme Court. That was a terrible decision.”

The question of how long ballots can be accepted in battleground states has been a dominant one as Nov. 3 approaches. So has the question of whether Trump will try to declare victory if he is leading in specific states on Election Day, regardless of whether they have been called in his favor.

Trump barely addressed the coronavirus pandemic at his first two stops, other than to praise his administration, complain about Biden’s focus on the pandemic and to falsely claim once again that the country was “rounding the turn” as the number of daily new cases nationally has spiked to almost 100,000.

Obama, appearing with Biden at a drive-in rally in Flint, Michigan, for their first stop of the day, mocked Trump as heartless.

Noting Trump’s baseless claim a day earlier that doctors were profiting from coronavirus deaths, Obama said, “He cannot fathom — he does not understand — the notion that somebody would risk their life to save others without trying to make a buck.”

Trump is continuing to hold crowded rallies as the pandemic rages, and Obama ridiculed him for his fixation on crowd sizes, asking: “Did no one come to his birthday party when he was a kid? Was he traumatized?”

In the past two weeks, Obama campaigned solo for Biden in Pennsylvania and Florida, but Saturday was the first time in the general election that he and Biden had campaigned together in person.

At the event in Flint, Biden praised Obama and ripped Trump over the pandemic. He too invoked Trump’s baseless statement made at a rally Friday about doctors and coronavirus-related fatalities.

“What in the hell is wrong with this man?” Biden asked. “Excuse my language, but think about it. It’s perverted. He may believe it because he doesn’t do anything other than for money.”

And he spoke of the stakes for the nation in this year’s vote.

“I don’t care how hard Donald Trump tries,” Biden told the crowd. “There’s nothing — let me say it again — there’s nothing that he can do to stop the people of this nation from voting in overwhelming numbers and taking back this democracy.”

Where both Trump and Biden campaigned Saturday was as revealing as what both men said.

The two states were part of the so-called Blue Wall — Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which have leaned Democratic in recent national elections but which were crucial to Trump’s victory in 2016 over Hillary Clinton.

Trump has struggled in all three states throughout the 2020 campaign and is pressing to keep at least one of the three as part of his map this year, in an election cycle marked by a pandemic and an economic recession. Pennsylvania is seen by Trump’s advisers as the likeliest state among the three for him to win.

In Newtown in Bucks County, Trump delivered a subdued speech, speaking from the teleprompter at first, to several hundred people seated in folding chairs arrayed in a field in front of a stage and a podium.

The speech took place in front of the farmhouse where George Washington planned the crossing of the Delaware River. The small crowd sat close together, mostly unmasked. Unlike it has done at his other rallies, Trump’s campaign did not position energetic supporters in a stand behind him.

The president criticized Biden’s record on trade in a state hit hard in recent years by job losses, and he criticized Biden’s comments about restricting the practice of fracking. He also defended his record on the coronavirus.

“We have done an incredible job. At some point they are going to recognize that,” Trump said after mocking Biden for focusing too much on the virus. “We’ve done an A-plus job. I give ourselves a D, or maybe an F, in terms of public relations.”

After his third rally, in Butler, Pennsylvania, a CNN reporter posted on Twitter photos of crowds searching for buses to leave the event in 41-degree weather, an echo of the debacle in Omaha, Nebraska, this past week when the campaign’s outdoor rally ended and the buses were nowhere to be found on a frigid night.

A Trump campaign official on Saturday insisted there were dozens of buses and that it was simply taking awhile for the line to move.

Ending his day with a rally in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, Trump cackled about his supporters “taunting” Biden at his outdoor events by driving by and honking horns, and then cheered on his supporters who surrounded a Biden campaign bus in Texas. Biden campaign officials said they had to cancel a planned event because the Trump supporters tried to force the bus off the road.

“Anybody see the picture of their crazy bus driving down the highway; they are surrounded by hundreds of cars, they are all Trump flags all over the place,” Trump said, chuckling.

And he tried to sow doubt about the safety of voting in Philadelphia, a city with a large Black population, similar to what he did in 2016.

“Are they going to mysteriously find more ballots” after polls close, he asked. “Strange things have been known to happen, especially in Philadelphia.”

Biden and Obama ended with a drive-in rally in Detroit, where hundreds of people waited in cars to see them on Belle Isle, a state park on an island in the middle of the Detroit River with expansive views of the skylines of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

Stevie Wonder performed before they addressed the crowd. In his speech, Obama added another jab as he talked about Trump’s “obsession with crowds,” asking, “Is Fox News not giving him enough attention?”

Biden mocked Trump for having written off as business expenses more than $70,000 paid to style his hair during “The Apprentice.”

“I tell you what, man,” Biden said. “I hardly have any hair, but I’d rather have what I have.”

For many drawn to the rally, it was time for a change.

“The last four years have been hell,” said Miriam Pizana, who came to the event with her daughter Kristen. “We never knew what the chief of staff or communications directors’ names were before, and now we know them all, and not for anything good.”

President Donald Trump predicted “bedlam” and a lack of clarity about the presidential results until weeks after Election Day as he barnstormed Pennsylvania, while former Vice President Joe Biden made his first joint appearance with former President Barack Obama at an event in Michigan.

President Donald Trump predicted “bedlam” and a lack of clarity about the presidential results until weeks after Election Day as he barnstormed Pennsylvania, while former Vice President Joe Biden made his first joint appearance with former President Barack Obama at an event in Michigan. The last Saturday before Election Day offered traditional last-minute frantic campaigning in battleground states played against the backdrop of the extraordinary rancor, high stakes and sense of disruption reflecting a pandemic, an economic downturn and recurring protests and unrest at the close of Trump’s first term. The dueling schedules showed the intensity with which the two campaigns are approaching the final days of the election and illustrated differences once again in their basic approach to the worst public health crisis in a century. Biden talked about taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously, while Trump mocked his opponent for his focus on the virus and falsely accused him of favoring “deadly” lockdowns. In remarks in Newtown and Reading, Pennsylvania, Trump stoked fears of an election left unsettled after voting closes on Nov. 3 and about the prospects that ballots would not count. “You’re going to be waiting for weeks” as votes are counted, Trump declared in Newtown. “Many, many days,” he went on. “So you’re going to be watching on Nov. 3. I think it’s highly likely you’re not going to have a decision, because Pennsylvania’s very big. We’re going to be waiting. Nov. 3 is going to come and go, and we’re not going to know. And you’re going to have bedlam in our country.” At his next stop, in Reading, Trump derided a Supreme Court decision rejecting a request from Pennsylvania Republicans to decide whether the state could continue accepting ballots for three days after Nov. 3. “You see what’s going on, right?” Trump said of Democrats. “Somebody’s going to play games, and they just got an extension. What’s the extension all about? Wouldn’t you like to hear, Nov. 3, we win, we lose? We win, we lose. Whatever.” The president called the decision “disappointing” and added, “Many, many disappointing opinions from the Supreme Court. They talk about we control the Supreme — well we don’t control the Supreme Court. That was a terrible decision.” The question of how long ballots can be accepted in battleground states has been a dominant one as Nov. 3 approaches. So has the question of whether Trump will try to declare victory if he is leading in specific states on Election Day, regardless of whether they have been called in his favor. Trump barely addressed the coronavirus pandemic at his first two stops, other than to praise his administration, complain about Biden’s focus on the pandemic and to falsely claim once again that the country was “rounding the turn” as the number of daily new cases nationally has spiked to almost 100,000. Obama, appearing with Biden at a drive-in rally in Flint, Michigan, for their first stop of the day, mocked Trump as heartless. Noting Trump’s baseless claim a day earlier that doctors were profiting from coronavirus deaths, Obama said, “He cannot fathom — he does not understand — the notion that somebody would risk their life to save others without trying to make a buck.” Trump is continuing to hold crowded rallies as the pandemic rages, and Obama ridiculed him for his fixation on crowd sizes, asking: “Did no one come to his birthday party when he was a kid? Was he traumatized?” In the past two weeks, Obama campaigned solo for Biden in Pennsylvania and Florida, but Saturday was the first time in the general election that he and Biden had campaigned together in person. At the event in Flint, Biden praised Obama and ripped Trump over the pandemic. He too invoked Trump’s baseless statement made at a rally Friday about doctors and coronavirus-related fatalities. “What in the hell is wrong with this man?” Biden asked. “Excuse my language, but think about it. It’s perverted. He may believe it because he doesn’t do anything other than for money.” And he spoke of the stakes for the nation in this year’s vote. “I don’t care how hard Donald Trump tries,” Biden told the crowd. “There’s nothing — let me say it again — there’s nothing that he can do to stop the people of this nation from voting in overwhelming numbers and taking back this democracy.” Where both Trump and Biden campaigned Saturday was as revealing as what both men said. The two states were part of the so-called Blue Wall — Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which have leaned Democratic in recent national elections but which were crucial to Trump’s victory in 2016 over Hillary Clinton. Trump has struggled in all three states throughout the 2020 campaign and is pressing to keep at least one of the three as part of his map this year, in an election cycle marked by a pandemic and an economic recession. Pennsylvania is seen by Trump’s advisers as the likeliest state among the three for him to win. In Newtown in Bucks County, Trump delivered a subdued speech, speaking from the teleprompter at first, to several hundred people seated in folding chairs arrayed in a field in front of a stage and a podium. The speech took place in front of the farmhouse where George Washington planned the crossing of the Delaware River. The small crowd sat close together, mostly unmasked. Unlike it has done at his other rallies, Trump’s campaign did not position energetic supporters in a stand behind him. The president criticized Biden’s record on trade in a state hit hard in recent years by job losses, and he criticized Biden’s comments about restricting the practice of fracking. He also defended his record on the coronavirus. “We have done an incredible job. At some point they are going to recognize that,” Trump said after mocking Biden for focusing too much on the virus. “We’ve done an A-plus job. I give ourselves a D, or maybe an F, in terms of public relations.” After his third rally, in Butler, Pennsylvania, a CNN reporter posted on Twitter photos of crowds searching for buses to leave the event in 41-degree weather, an echo of the debacle in Omaha, Nebraska, this past week when the campaign’s outdoor rally ended and the buses were nowhere to be found on a frigid night. A Trump campaign official on Saturday insisted there were dozens of buses and that it was simply taking awhile for the line to move. Ending his day with a rally in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, Trump cackled about his supporters “taunting” Biden at his outdoor events by driving by and honking horns, and then cheered on his supporters who surrounded a Biden campaign bus in Texas. Biden campaign officials said they had to cancel a planned event because the Trump supporters tried to force the bus off the road. “Anybody see the picture of their crazy bus driving down the highway; they are surrounded by hundreds of cars, they are all Trump flags all over the place,” Trump said, chuckling. And he tried to sow doubt about the safety of voting in Philadelphia, a city with a large Black population, similar to what he did in 2016. “Are they going to mysteriously find more ballots” after polls close, he asked. “Strange things have been known to happen, especially in Philadelphia.” Biden and Obama ended with a drive-in rally in Detroit, where hundreds of people waited in cars to see them on Belle Isle, a state park on an island in the middle of the Detroit River with expansive views of the skylines of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Stevie Wonder performed before they addressed the crowd. In his speech, Obama added another jab as he talked about Trump’s “obsession with crowds,” asking, “Is Fox News not giving him enough attention?” Biden mocked Trump for having written off as business expenses more than $70,000 paid to style his hair during “The Apprentice.” “I tell you what, man,” Biden said. “I hardly have any hair, but I’d rather have what I have.” For many drawn to the rally, it was time for a change. “The last four years have been hell,” said Miriam Pizana, who came to the event with her daughter Kristen. “We never knew what the chief of staff or communications directors’ names were before, and now we know them all, and not for anything good.”

Final weekend campaigning reflects both traditional barnstorming and 2020 chaos

The campaign for the November 3 vote in the United States -- largely muted by the pandemic -- is drawing to a close. And quite understanding the gravity of the election, a record 90 million people have already cast their early votes.

US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are making a late push for their respective campaigns, pressing closing arguments in a frantic sprint days ahead of the presidential election.

Biden has taken the offensive, pushing Trump onto the back foot in unexpected battlegrounds like Texas, a large, traditionally conservative bastion now seen as a toss-up.

Trump and Biden whisked through crucial states in the industrial Midwest and coastal southeast on Saturday.

Trump did what he has been doing -- warned of "bedlam in our country" if no clear winner emerges quickly in Tuesday's election, saying, without evidence, that it could take weeks to sort out a result and that "very bad things" could happen in the interim.

Biden meantime told backers it was "time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home."

The election takes place in a deeply divided country, with feelings so raw that gun sales have surged in some areas. Businesses in some cities, including Washington, are protectively boarding windows, and police are preparing for the possibility of violence.

Trump Saturday focussed on the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, while Biden made his first joint appearance of the campaign with his former boss Barack Obama -- probably the most popular Democrat in the country -- in Flint, Michigan as they scramble to boost turnout in a state Trump carried by a razor-thin margin in 2016.

Trump is spending the closing days of his re-election campaign criticising public officials and medical professionals who are trying to combat the coronavirus pandemic even as it surges back across the United States.

At a small, in-person rally in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Trump mocked his opponent for his criticism of the administration's record of fighting COVID-19, which has killed more people in the United States than in any other country.

"I watched Joe Biden speak yesterday. All he talks about is COVID, COVID. He`s got nothing else to say. COVID, COVID," Trump told the crowd, some of whom did not wear masks.

He said the United States was "just weeks away" from mass distribution of a safe vaccine against COVID-19, which is pushing hospitals to capacity and killing up to 1,000 people in the United States each day. Trump gave no details to back up his remarks about an imminent vaccine.

Vice-President Mike Pence meanwhile campaigned in narrowly divided North Carolina as Biden's running mate Kamala Harris was in Florida, another vitally important swing state.

In Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump arrived at the biggest rally of the day so far with well over 5,000 people crammed in -- few in masks but many wearing red Trump hats.

In remarks at an event in Bucks County, Trump lashed out at Biden, saying he would shut down the state's fossil-fuel industry.

The president claimed credit for creating the "greatest economy in the history of this country -- the history of the world" -- while "foreign nations are in freefall."

Despite recent signs of recovery from the virus-induced economic pain, however, millions remain jobless.

In stark contrast, Biden and Obama appeared Saturday before a socially distanced drive-in rally in Flint, and made an unannounced stop in suburban Bloomfield Hills before heading to Detroit, where they were joined by superstar singer Stevie Wonder.

Obama pulled few punches in Flint and Detroit, saying 140,000 American lives would have been saved if the president had taken an approach to the pandemic similar to Canada's.&nbsp;

"This is not a contest of just calling each other names," Obama said.

"This isn't a sporting event. This is life or death."

Biden said "we're done with the chaos, the tweets, the anger, the failure, the refusal to take any responsibility."

Biden's campaign announced he will address the nation on election night from his home base of Wilmington, after a vote that will undoubtedly leave millions bitterly disappointed, no matter who wins.

Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that mail-in ballots are susceptible to fraud and has more recently argued that only the results available on election night should count. In a flurry of legal motions, his campaign has sought to restrict absentee balloting.

"I don’t care how hard Donald Trump tries. There’s nothing – let me say that again – there’s nothing that he can do to stop the people of this nation from voting in overwhelming numbers and taking back this democracy,” Biden said.

In his closing arguments, Biden has accused Trump of being a bully, criticised his lack of a strategy to control the pandemic, which has killed nearly 229,000 Americans; his efforts to repeal the Obamacare healthcare law; and his disregard for science on climate change.

He has offered his own made-in-America economic platform, a contrast with Trump's "America First" approach, saying he will get the wealthy to pay their fair share and make sure earnings are distributed more equitably.

Opinion polls show Trump trailing former Vice President Biden nationally, but with a closer contest in the most competitive states that will decide the election. Voters say the coronavirus is their top concern.

STANFORD REPORT

Meanwhile, Stanford University economists on Saturday released an estimate that Trump rallies held from June to September led to more than 30,000 additional COVID-19 infections and possibly as many as 700 deaths. The study was based on a statistical model and not actual investigations of coronavirus cases. The paper, which did not cite disease experts among its authors, has not been peer-reviewed.

Public health officials have repeatedly warned that Trump campaign events could hasten the spread of the virus, particularly those held in places where infection rates were already on the rise. Determining the actual impact of those rallies on infection rates has been difficult due to the lack of robust contact tracing in many US states.

(with inputs from agencies)

The campaign for the November 3 vote in the United States -- largely muted by the pandemic -- is drawing to a close. And quite understanding the gravity of the election, a record 90 million people have already cast their early votes.

The campaign for the November 3 vote in the United States -- largely muted by the pandemic -- is drawing to a close. And quite understanding the gravity of the election, a record 90 million people have already cast their early votes. US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are making a late push for their respective campaigns, pressing closing arguments in a frantic sprint days ahead of the presidential election. Biden has taken the offensive, pushing Trump onto the back foot in unexpected battlegrounds like Texas, a large, traditionally conservative bastion now seen as a toss-up. Trump and Biden whisked through crucial states in the industrial Midwest and coastal southeast on Saturday. Trump did what he has been doing -- warned of "bedlam in our country" if no clear winner emerges quickly in Tuesday's election, saying, without evidence, that it could take weeks to sort out a result and that "very bad things" could happen in the interim. Biden meantime told backers it was "time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home." The election takes place in a deeply divided country, with feelings so raw that gun sales have surged in some areas. Businesses in some cities, including Washington, are protectively boarding windows, and police are preparing for the possibility of violence. Trump Saturday focussed on the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, while Biden made his first joint appearance of the campaign with his former boss Barack Obama -- probably the most popular Democrat in the country -- in Flint, Michigan as they scramble to boost turnout in a state Trump carried by a razor-thin margin in 2016. Trump is spending the closing days of his re-election campaign criticising public officials and medical professionals who are trying to combat the coronavirus pandemic even as it surges back across the United States. At a small, in-person rally in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Trump mocked his opponent for his criticism of the administration's record of fighting COVID-19, which has killed more people in the United States than in any other country. "I watched Joe Biden speak yesterday. All he talks about is COVID, COVID. He`s got nothing else to say. COVID, COVID," Trump told the crowd, some of whom did not wear masks. He said the United States was "just weeks away" from mass distribution of a safe vaccine against COVID-19, which is pushing hospitals to capacity and killing up to 1,000 people in the United States each day. Trump gave no details to back up his remarks about an imminent vaccine. Vice-President Mike Pence meanwhile campaigned in narrowly divided North Carolina as Biden's running mate Kamala Harris was in Florida, another vitally important swing state. In Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump arrived at the biggest rally of the day so far with well over 5,000 people crammed in -- few in masks but many wearing red Trump hats. In remarks at an event in Bucks County, Trump lashed out at Biden, saying he would shut down the state's fossil-fuel industry. The president claimed credit for creating the "greatest economy in the history of this country -- the history of the world" -- while "foreign nations are in freefall." Despite recent signs of recovery from the virus-induced economic pain, however, millions remain jobless. In stark contrast, Biden and Obama appeared Saturday before a socially distanced drive-in rally in Flint, and made an unannounced stop in suburban Bloomfield Hills before heading to Detroit, where they were joined by superstar singer Stevie Wonder. Obama pulled few punches in Flint and Detroit, saying 140,000 American lives would have been saved if the president had taken an approach to the pandemic similar to Canada's. "This is not a contest of just calling each other names," Obama said. "This isn't a sporting event. This is life or death." Biden said "we're done with the chaos, the tweets, the anger, the failure, the refusal to take any responsibility." Biden's campaign announced he will address the nation on election night from his home base of Wilmington, after a vote that will undoubtedly leave millions bitterly disappointed, no matter who wins. Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that mail-in ballots are susceptible to fraud and has more recently argued that only the results available on election night should count. In a flurry of legal motions, his campaign has sought to restrict absentee balloting. "I don’t care how hard Donald Trump tries. There’s nothing – let me say that again – there’s nothing that he can do to stop the people of this nation from voting in overwhelming numbers and taking back this democracy,” Biden said. In his closing arguments, Biden has accused Trump of being a bully, criticised his lack of a strategy to control the pandemic, which has killed nearly 229,000 Americans; his efforts to repeal the Obamacare healthcare law; and his disregard for science on climate change. He has offered his own made-in-America economic platform, a contrast with Trump's "America First" approach, saying he will get the wealthy to pay their fair share and make sure earnings are distributed more equitably. Opinion polls show Trump trailing former Vice President Biden nationally, but with a closer contest in the most competitive states that will decide the election. Voters say the coronavirus is their top concern. STANFORD REPORT Meanwhile, Stanford University economists on Saturday released an estimate that Trump rallies held from June to September led to more than 30,000 additional COVID-19 infections and possibly as many as 700 deaths. The study was based on a statistical model and not actual investigations of coronavirus cases. The paper, which did not cite disease experts among its authors, has not been peer-reviewed. Public health officials have repeatedly warned that Trump campaign events could hasten the spread of the virus, particularly those held in places where infection rates were already on the rise. Determining the actual impact of those rallies on infection rates has been difficult due to the lack of robust contact tracing in many US states. (with inputs from agencies)

On final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments

A record 90 million Americans have voted early in the U.S. presidential election, data on Saturday (October 31) showed, as President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden campaigned across the country to try to sway the few remaining undecided voters.

US early voting surges as Trump, Biden make late push

When former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, launched the Carter Center in 1986, one objective was promoting peace and democracy around the globe.

Carter Center works to educate US voters

President Donald Trump’s campaign is raising money for a prolonged political and legal fight long after Nov. 3 and recently began automatically checking a box to withdraw additional weekly contributions from online donors through mid-December — nearly six weeks after Election Day.

Predicting “FRAUD like you’ve never seen,” the language on Trump’s website opts contributors into making the weekly postelection donations “to ensure we have the resources to protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.” Users must proactively click to avoid making multiple contributions.

The unusual postelection revenue stream would help Trump pay off any bills that his campaign accumulates before Tuesday — a campaign spokesperson said no such debts had been incurred — and could help fund a lengthy legal fight if the results are contested.

“This race will be very close, and it is possible that multiple states will require recounts and potential additional spending from our campaign,” said Tim Murtaugh, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign. “The election process this year is under extraordinary circumstances, and we are also anticipating that Silicon Valley will attempt to interfere with our online fundraising efforts postelection.”

Democrats said automatically opting contributors into postelection giving was a misleading tactic.

“They’re inventing new deceptive tactics to essentially steal money from people,” said Mike Nellis, a Democratic digital strategist with expertise in fundraising. “They’re going completely and totally scorched earth on their own supporters.”

Murtaugh said that no one would receive a “recurring charge without their knowledge” and that donors could opt out of recurring contributions. “Three days before each recurring charge, donors are emailed a reminder that the charge is about to occur,” he said. “There is a one-click link inside this email for donors to cancel if they wish. Our process is extremely transparent.”

“When the recount or litigation process ends,” Murtaugh added, “the recurring payments will end."

The extra donations are the latest tactic employed by the Trump operation as it struggles to keep up financially with Joe Biden’s campaign. On Friday, the campaign promised supporters that their contributions would be matched “1000%,” after months of ratcheting up the levels of matches that campaign experts said almost surely do not actually exist.

President Donald Trump’s campaign is raising money for a prolonged political and legal fight long after Nov. 3 and recently began automatically checking a box to withdraw additional weekly contributions from online donors through mid-December — nearly six weeks after Election Day.

President Donald Trump’s campaign is raising money for a prolonged political and legal fight long after Nov. 3 and recently began automatically checking a box to withdraw additional weekly contributions from online donors through mid-December — nearly six weeks after Election Day. Predicting “FRAUD like you’ve never seen,” the language on Trump’s website opts contributors into making the weekly postelection donations “to ensure we have the resources to protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.” Users must proactively click to avoid making multiple contributions. The unusual postelection revenue stream would help Trump pay off any bills that his campaign accumulates before Tuesday — a campaign spokesperson said no such debts had been incurred — and could help fund a lengthy legal fight if the results are contested. “This race will be very close, and it is possible that multiple states will require recounts and potential additional spending from our campaign,” said Tim Murtaugh, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign. “The election process this year is under extraordinary circumstances, and we are also anticipating that Silicon Valley will attempt to interfere with our online fundraising efforts postelection.” Democrats said automatically opting contributors into postelection giving was a misleading tactic. “They’re inventing new deceptive tactics to essentially steal money from people,” said Mike Nellis, a Democratic digital strategist with expertise in fundraising. “They’re going completely and totally scorched earth on their own supporters.” Murtaugh said that no one would receive a “recurring charge without their knowledge” and that donors could opt out of recurring contributions. “Three days before each recurring charge, donors are emailed a reminder that the charge is about to occur,” he said. “There is a one-click link inside this email for donors to cancel if they wish. Our process is extremely transparent.” “When the recount or litigation process ends,” Murtaugh added, “the recurring payments will end." The extra donations are the latest tactic employed by the Trump operation as it struggles to keep up financially with Joe Biden’s campaign. On Friday, the campaign promised supporters that their contributions would be matched “1000%,” after months of ratcheting up the levels of matches that campaign experts said almost surely do not actually exist.

Trump camp uses online gimmick to fuel donations into December

Data leaked from Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has revealed some damning information that may hit his father's image as he attempts to challenge US President Donald Trump in November 3 presidential elections. As per a Daily Mail report, Hunter Biden spent USD 11,400 in a strip club in a single night and also paid USD 21,000 for live feed from a porn website.

Hunter Biden is known for his depravities. But the extent of his activities has now come out in the open through his abandoned laptop. Daily Mail says that the laptop contains thousands of documents and photographs in which Hunter Biden can be seen taking drugs and engaging in sexual acts with women.

The report quoted sources to say that Hunter Biden's spending on porn sites was "staggering". So much so that his credit card was rejected several times because he had spent all funds.

The contents of the laptop are understood to have been poorly secured. That means that Hunter Biden has been open to blackmail for all these years.

Hunter Biden's bad reputation precedes him, but the recent leak has come just days before the US Presidential Election 2020 voting day. The data leak has potential to hurt Hunter's father Joe Biden's chances of winning the president's office.

Data leaked from Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has revealed some damning information that may hit his father's image as he attempts to challenge US President Donald Trump in November 3 presidential elections.

Data leaked from Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has revealed some damning information that may hit his father's image as he attempts to challenge US President Donald Trump in November 3 presidential elections. As per a Daily Mail report, Hunter Biden spent USD 11,400 in a strip club in a single night and also paid USD 21,000 for live feed from a porn website. Hunter Biden is known for his depravities. But the extent of his activities has now come out in the open through his abandoned laptop. Daily Mail says that the laptop contains thousands of documents and photographs in which Hunter Biden can be seen taking drugs and engaging in sexual acts with women. The report quoted sources to say that Hunter Biden's spending on porn sites was "staggering". So much so that his credit card was rejected several times because he had spent all funds. The contents of the laptop are understood to have been poorly secured. That means that Hunter Biden has been open to blackmail for all these years. Hunter Biden's bad reputation precedes him, but the recent leak has come just days before the US Presidential Election 2020 voting day. The data leak has potential to hurt Hunter's father Joe Biden's chances of winning the president's office.

Joe Biden's son Hunter spent thousands on strip club and adult sites, reveals data leak

US President Donald Trump's eighteen election rallies held from June to September are estimated to have led to 700 deaths, a study by Stanford University researchers said. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-final-weekend-before-nov-3-vote-trump-and-biden-press-closing-arguments-339318">Also read: On the final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments</a> 
 
According to the report, the communities where Trump rallies took place paid a high price in terms of disease and death.

In the study titled ‘The Effects of Large Group Meetings on the Spread of COVID-19: The Case of Trump Rallies', researchers concluded 18 rallies by Trump held between June 20 and September 22 "ultimately resulted in more than 30,000 incremental confirmed cases of COVID-19 and likely led to more than 700 deaths, which may not necessarily have been among attendees. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-leads-in-michigan-and-wisconsin-donald-trump-struggling-survey-339408">Also read | Joe Biden leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, Donald Trump struggling: Survey</a> 
 
Public health officials have repeatedly warned that Trump campaign events could hasten the spread of the virus, particularly those held in places where infection rates were already on the rise. Determining the actual impact of those rallies on infection rates has been difficult due to the lack of robust contact tracing in many US states.

Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, described the report as "suggestive."

“I would just say it’s suggestive but hard to completely isolate the specific impact of one event without robust contact trace data from the cases,” Adalja said.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump's eighteen election rallies held from June to September are estimated to have led to 700 deaths, a study by Stanford University researchers said.

US President Donald Trump's eighteen election rallies held from June to September are estimated to have led to 700 deaths, a study by Stanford University researchers said. Also read: On the final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments According to the report, the communities where Trump rallies took place paid a high price in terms of disease and death. In the study titled ‘The Effects of Large Group Meetings on the Spread of COVID-19: The Case of Trump Rallies', researchers concluded 18 rallies by Trump held between June 20 and September 22 "ultimately resulted in more than 30,000 incremental confirmed cases of COVID-19 and likely led to more than 700 deaths, which may not necessarily have been among attendees. Also read | Joe Biden leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, Donald Trump struggling: Survey Public health officials have repeatedly warned that Trump campaign events could hasten the spread of the virus, particularly those held in places where infection rates were already on the rise. Determining the actual impact of those rallies on infection rates has been difficult due to the lack of robust contact tracing in many US states. Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, described the report as "suggestive." “I would just say it’s suggestive but hard to completely isolate the specific impact of one event without robust contact trace data from the cases,” Adalja said. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump rallies led to 30,000 Covid-19 infections, 700 deaths: Stanford study

Launching a scathing attack on his successor at the White House, Former US president Barack Obama has accused Donald Trump of focusing on feeding his ego, saying he did not take the significant problem of the coronavirus pandemic seriously and had time to worry about other things. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-rallies-led-to-30000-covid-19-infections-700-deaths-stanford-study-339425">Also read: Trump rallies led to 30,000 Covid-19 infections, 700 deaths: Stanford study</a> 
 
Obama's remarks included blistering rebukes of Trump -- including mocking his focus on crowd sizes and belittling his economic achievements -- but the events stood out from earlier Obama appearances because of the way the former President touted Biden's character. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-final-weekend-before-nov-3-vote-trump-and-biden-press-closing-arguments-339318">Also read: On the final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments</a>

"President Trump is focused on feeding his ego, while the Democratic presidential candidate Biden focused on decency and empathy," Obama said. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-joe-biden-leads-in-michigan-and-wisconsin-donald-trump-struggling-survey-339408">Also read | Joe Biden leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, Donald Trump struggling: Survey</a>

Obama, who was the 44th US president, blasted Trump for his policies and rhetoric.

"He hasn't shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself or his friends or treating the presidency as anything more than a reality show to give him the attention that he craves. But unfortunately, the rest of us have to live with the consequences," he said.

According to a new study by Stanford University researchers, about 18 election rallies by Donald Trump are estimated to have led to more than 30,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and likely claimed over 700 lives, stressing that the communities where the US President's rallies took place "paid a high price in terms of disease and death.”

Earlier on October 25, Claiming that Trump has no empathy and no concern for average Americans, Obama had said that the US president was seeking a second term only "to help himself" and his wealthy friends.

On the other hand, Biden and Harris are going to be in the fight, not for themselves, "but for you and us", he had said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Launching a scathing attack on his successor at the White House, Former US president Barack Obama has accused Donald Trump of focusing on feeding his ego, saying he did not take the significant problem of the coronavirus pandemic seriously and had time to worry about other things.

Launching a scathing attack on his successor at the White House, Former US president Barack Obama has accused Donald Trump of focusing on feeding his ego, saying he did not take the significant problem of the coronavirus pandemic seriously and had time to worry about other things. Also read: Trump rallies led to 30,000 Covid-19 infections, 700 deaths: Stanford study Obama's remarks included blistering rebukes of Trump -- including mocking his focus on crowd sizes and belittling his economic achievements -- but the events stood out from earlier Obama appearances because of the way the former President touted Biden's character. Also read: On the final weekend before Nov 3 vote, Trump and Biden press closing arguments "President Trump is focused on feeding his ego, while the Democratic presidential candidate Biden focused on decency and empathy," Obama said. Also read | Joe Biden leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, Donald Trump struggling: Survey Obama, who was the 44th US president, blasted Trump for his policies and rhetoric. "He hasn't shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself or his friends or treating the presidency as anything more than a reality show to give him the attention that he craves. But unfortunately, the rest of us have to live with the consequences," he said. According to a new study by Stanford University researchers, about 18 election rallies by Donald Trump are estimated to have led to more than 30,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and likely claimed over 700 lives, stressing that the communities where the US President's rallies took place "paid a high price in terms of disease and death.” Earlier on October 25, Claiming that Trump has no empathy and no concern for average Americans, Obama had said that the US president was seeking a second term only "to help himself" and his wealthy friends. On the other hand, Biden and Harris are going to be in the fight, not for themselves, "but for you and us", he had said. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump focused on feeding his ego, did not take pandemic seriously: Obama

Protesters in Mexico burned effigies of US President Donald Trump and a border patrol agent on the US border on Saturday, urging Americans to reject him at the ballot box on Tuesday.

They were agitated over the Trump administration's migration policies.

A few dozen migrant activists marched to the beach fence separating Mexico from the United States at the border city of Tijuana chanting, "Trump, we won't pay for your wall," then set fire to a crude, besuited effigy of the president on a stick.

Protesters said Democratic challenger Joe Biden has promised them a humanitarian migration reform.

Alongside the Trump effigy, the demonstrators torched a pinata of a border patrol agent, a week after a Mexican man was killed in an altercation with US officials attempting to cross into the United States on the Tijuana-San Diego border.

Trump is seeking re-election as president four years after he won office pledging to stop illegal immigration from Mexico, which he has accused of sending rapists and murderers north.

Insisting Mexico will pay for the border wall he is building between the two countries, Trump has pushed and threatened President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador into tightening up Mexico`s borders against migrants from Central America.

Protesters in Mexico burned effigies of US President Donald Trump and a border patrol agent on the US border on Saturday, urging Americans to reject him at the ballot box on Tuesday.

Protesters in Mexico burned effigies of US President Donald Trump and a border patrol agent on the US border on Saturday, urging Americans to reject him at the ballot box on Tuesday. They were agitated over the Trump administration's migration policies. A few dozen migrant activists marched to the beach fence separating Mexico from the United States at the border city of Tijuana chanting, "Trump, we won't pay for your wall," then set fire to a crude, besuited effigy of the president on a stick. Protesters said Democratic challenger Joe Biden has promised them a humanitarian migration reform. Alongside the Trump effigy, the demonstrators torched a pinata of a border patrol agent, a week after a Mexican man was killed in an altercation with US officials attempting to cross into the United States on the Tijuana-San Diego border. Trump is seeking re-election as president four years after he won office pledging to stop illegal immigration from Mexico, which he has accused of sending rapists and murderers north. Insisting Mexico will pay for the border wall he is building between the two countries, Trump has pushed and threatened President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador into tightening up Mexico`s borders against migrants from Central America.

Protesters in Mexico burn Trump effigy, slam US border policy

The United States voters are making history as more than 90 million people have already voted for the&nbsp;candidates of their choice— among&nbsp;the Republican candidate and current 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;— with less than three days before the election day.

To support and encourage the people opting to vote early, the 'Ant Man'&nbsp;star Paul Rudd took to streets with blueberry-and-cream cookies in hand and offered to the voters standing in long queues waiting for their turn to cast ballots.

"I want to say thank you for coming out and doing your part and voting," he can be heard saying in one of the videos posted on the social media platform, Twitter. The video started surfacing after an American drummer&nbsp;Brian Rosenworcel posted a video of Rudd offering cookies to voters.&nbsp;

Rosenworel said he assumed Rudd was there to cast his ballot, but then Rudd started handing out cookies and he said everyone was shocked as well as excited to see him handing out cookies to people who were waiting in the queue to vote in rains. "I&nbsp;was standing in line and I thought Paul was just there to vote, but then he starts handing out cookies to people in line. And he waited to greet people as they exited to say thanks for voting in the rain,"&nbsp;Rosenworel told reporters.

His tweet was also spotted by Ellen DeGeneres who commented, "He might actually be the world’s most perfect man."

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He might actually be the world’s most perfect man.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1321957831545745408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Rosenworel also joked about how Rudd made sure everyone was happy with the cookie offered to them. "He looked me in the eye and made sure I was cool with my cookie choice before he moved on," he jokingly commented.

Several other onlookers posted images and videos on Twitter. Here are a few of them:

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i love paul rudd with my entire heart and soul. <a href="https://t.co/sUdnchNe7l">pic.twitter.com/sUdnchNe7l</a>
— marti loves paul. ⎊ (@IR0NLANG) <a href="https://twitter.com/IR0NLANG/status/1321902748124745728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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This morning I voted early for <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/barclayscenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@barclayscenter</a> in Brooklyn and then Paul Rudd gave me a cookie. He tried to trick me into choosing a corn cookie over a blueberry cookie (no dice). Otherwise a very nice guy! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoteEarly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VoteEarly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BidenHarris2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BidenHarris2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/6rvdTKa34J">pic.twitter.com/6rvdTKa34J</a>
— Mary Jane Skelly (@jarymane) <a href="https://twitter.com/jarymane/status/1321868299068674049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Paul Rudd is handing out cookies to early voters voting in the rain @ Barclay's Center. I like him x100 more. Go <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VOTE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VOTE</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoteEarly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VoteEarly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoteHimOut2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VoteHimOut2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/6eesxhi1Um">pic.twitter.com/6eesxhi1Um</a>
— dremoney (@onjrayuh) <a href="https://twitter.com/onjrayuh/status/1321846141416361985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Barclays Center also tweeted out pictures from their voting centre where Rudd was seen gracing his fans with photos. "Hey, look at us, who would’ve thought.. we’d be enjoying cookies with Paul Rudd after voting in BK," the tweet read.

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Hey, look at us, who would’ve thought.. we’d be enjoying cookies with Paul Rudd after voting in BK😎 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MakeHistoryHere?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MakeHistoryHere</a> <a href="https://t.co/WyJfbKvwFT">pic.twitter.com/WyJfbKvwFT</a>
— Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/barclayscenter/status/1321901840095682563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The United States voters are making history as more than 90 million people have already voted for the candidates of their choice— among the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden — with less than three days before the election day.

The United States voters are making history as more than 90 million people have already voted for the candidates of their choice— among the Republican candidate and current President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival and former Vice President Joe Biden — with less than three days before the election day. To support and encourage the people opting to vote early, the 'Ant Man' star Paul Rudd took to streets with blueberry-and-cream cookies in hand and offered to the voters standing in long queues waiting for their turn to cast ballots. "I want to say thank you for coming out and doing your part and voting," he can be heard saying in one of the videos posted on the social media platform, Twitter. The video started surfacing after an American drummer Brian Rosenworcel posted a video of Rudd offering cookies to voters. Rosenworel said he assumed Rudd was there to cast his ballot, but then Rudd started handing out cookies and he said everyone was shocked as well as excited to see him handing out cookies to people who were waiting in the queue to vote in rains. "I was standing in line and I thought Paul was just there to vote, but then he starts handing out cookies to people in line. And he waited to greet people as they exited to say thanks for voting in the rain," Rosenworel told reporters. His tweet was also spotted by Ellen DeGeneres who commented, "He might actually be the world’s most perfect man." He might actually be the world’s most perfect man. — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 29, 2020 × Rosenworel also joked about how Rudd made sure everyone was happy with the cookie offered to them. "He looked me in the eye and made sure I was cool with my cookie choice before he moved on," he jokingly commented. Several other onlookers posted images and videos on Twitter. Here are a few of them: i love paul rudd with my entire heart and soul. pic.twitter.com/sUdnchNe7l — marti loves paul. ⎊ (@IR0NLANG) October 29, 2020 × This morning I voted early for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris at @barclayscenter in Brooklyn and then Paul Rudd gave me a cookie. He tried to trick me into choosing a corn cookie over a blueberry cookie (no dice). Otherwise a very nice guy! #VoteEarly #BidenHarris2020 pic.twitter.com/6rvdTKa34J — Mary Jane Skelly (@jarymane) October 29, 2020 × Paul Rudd is handing out cookies to early voters voting in the rain @ Barclay's Center. I like him x100 more. Go #VOTE! #VoteEarly #VoteHimOut2020 pic.twitter.com/6eesxhi1Um — dremoney (@onjrayuh) October 29, 2020 × Barclays Center also tweeted out pictures from their voting centre where Rudd was seen gracing his fans with photos. "Hey, look at us, who would’ve thought.. we’d be enjoying cookies with Paul Rudd after voting in BK," the tweet read. Hey, look at us, who would’ve thought.. we’d be enjoying cookies with Paul Rudd after voting in BK😎 #MakeHistoryHere pic.twitter.com/WyJfbKvwFT — Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) October 29, 2020 ×

Watch: Ant Man star Paul Rudd offers cookies to early voters of US election

Watch this special episode of WION-VOA Co-Production over US Election 2020: Record voter turnout amid pandemic.

US Election 2020: Record voter turnout amid pandemic | WION-VOA Co-Production

United States President Donald Trump has falsely accused doctors of profitting from COVID-19 cases, saying doctors are somehow incentivised to drive up the death count -- even as cases, hospitalisations and deaths surge across the country.

"Our doctors get more money if someone dies from Covid. You know that, right? I mean our doctors are very smart people. So what they do is they say 'I'm sorry but everybody dies of Covid,' " Trump said at a rally in Waterford Township, Michigan.

There is undeniably no evidence for the president's claim as the country faces its worst public health emergency in more than 100 years.&nbsp;

The US recorded over 94,000 coronavirus cases on Friday, taking its Covid tally to more than 9 million.

In fact, according to a new research published this month, there were 20 per cent more deaths from March 1 through August 1 than normally would be expected.

At the rally, Trump claimed that other countries attribute deaths among coronavirus patients with underlying conditions to other factors, but in the United States, doctors choose Covid-19 because they get additional funds.

"In Germany and other places, if you have a heart attack, or if you have cancer, you're terminally ill, you catch Covid, they say you die of cancer, you died of heart attack. With us, when in doubt choose Covid. It's true, no, it's true. Now they'll say 'oh that's terrible what he said,' but that's true. It's like $2,000 more so you get more money," Trump said.

There is no evidence to this statement either.

The American Medical Association, without naming Trump, condemned claims that physicians inflate the number of Covid-19 patients they treat -- calling such rumors "malicious, outrageous, and completely misguided."

It's, however, not the first time that Trump has made such a stunning remark on the coronavirus situation in the US.

"We report them and you know -- doctors get more money, and hospitals get more money. Think of this incentive," Trump said last Saturday.

"This country and their reporting systems are really not doing it right."

At the rally, Trump also criticised Democratic governors who have imposed restrictions that aim to slow the virus's spread.

"You've got to open up your state and you've got to do it fast!" Trump said at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with just four days to go before the election.

At a later event in Rochester, Minnesota, he greeted hundreds of supporters who were locked out of a rally that was limited to 250 participants by state authorities.

Trump, who recovered from COVID-19 weeks ago, has played down the health crisis for months, telling supporters in recent weeks that the country is "turning the corner" even as cases surge.

Democratic challenger Joe Biden leads Trump 52% to 42% in Reuters/IPSOS national opinion polling, partly because of widespread disapproval of his handling of the pandemic.&nbsp;Opinion polls show a closer contest in the most competitive states that will decide the election.

Biden leads Trump by 9 percentage points in Michigan and Wisconsin and 5 points in Pennsylvania, according to Reuters/IPSOS polling.

Meanwhile, the pandemic and an extraordinary level of enthusiasm have prompted Americans to vote early in unprecedented numbers.

More than 86 million votes have been cast either by mail or in person, roughly 63% of the total number of votes in the entire 2016 election, according to the US Elections Project at the University of Florida.

Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that mail-in ballots are susceptible to fraud, and has more recently argued that only the results available on election night should count.

Early voting data show that far more Democrats have voted by mail, while Republicans are expected to turn out in greater numbers on Tuesday.

(with inputs)

United States President Donald Trump has falsely accused doctors of profitting from COVID-19 cases, saying doctors are somehow incentivised to drive up the death count -- even as cases, hospitalisations and deaths surge across the country.

United States President Donald Trump has falsely accused doctors of profitting from COVID-19 cases, saying doctors are somehow incentivised to drive up the death count -- even as cases, hospitalisations and deaths surge across the country. "Our doctors get more money if someone dies from Covid. You know that, right? I mean our doctors are very smart people. So what they do is they say 'I'm sorry but everybody dies of Covid,' " Trump said at a rally in Waterford Township, Michigan. There is undeniably no evidence for the president's claim as the country faces its worst public health emergency in more than 100 years. The US recorded over 94,000 coronavirus cases on Friday, taking its Covid tally to more than 9 million. In fact, according to a new research published this month, there were 20 per cent more deaths from March 1 through August 1 than normally would be expected. At the rally, Trump claimed that other countries attribute deaths among coronavirus patients with underlying conditions to other factors, but in the United States, doctors choose Covid-19 because they get additional funds. "In Germany and other places, if you have a heart attack, or if you have cancer, you're terminally ill, you catch Covid, they say you die of cancer, you died of heart attack. With us, when in doubt choose Covid. It's true, no, it's true. Now they'll say 'oh that's terrible what he said,' but that's true. It's like $2,000 more so you get more money," Trump said. There is no evidence to this statement either. The American Medical Association, without naming Trump, condemned claims that physicians inflate the number of Covid-19 patients they treat -- calling such rumors "malicious, outrageous, and completely misguided." It's, however, not the first time that Trump has made such a stunning remark on the coronavirus situation in the US. "We report them and you know -- doctors get more money, and hospitals get more money. Think of this incentive," Trump said last Saturday. "This country and their reporting systems are really not doing it right." At the rally, Trump also criticised Democratic governors who have imposed restrictions that aim to slow the virus's spread. "You've got to open up your state and you've got to do it fast!" Trump said at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with just four days to go before the election. At a later event in Rochester, Minnesota, he greeted hundreds of supporters who were locked out of a rally that was limited to 250 participants by state authorities. Trump, who recovered from COVID-19 weeks ago, has played down the health crisis for months, telling supporters in recent weeks that the country is "turning the corner" even as cases surge. Democratic challenger Joe Biden leads Trump 52% to 42% in Reuters/IPSOS national opinion polling, partly because of widespread disapproval of his handling of the pandemic. Opinion polls show a closer contest in the most competitive states that will decide the election. Biden leads Trump by 9 percentage points in Michigan and Wisconsin and 5 points in Pennsylvania, according to Reuters/IPSOS polling. Meanwhile, the pandemic and an extraordinary level of enthusiasm have prompted Americans to vote early in unprecedented numbers. More than 86 million votes have been cast either by mail or in person, roughly 63% of the total number of votes in the entire 2016 election, according to the US Elections Project at the University of Florida. Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that mail-in ballots are susceptible to fraud, and has more recently argued that only the results available on election night should count. Early voting data show that far more Democrats have voted by mail, while Republicans are expected to turn out in greater numbers on Tuesday. (with inputs)

Trump derides medical system, says doctors are inflating coronavirus death counts

As the last weekend before the US Presidential Election 2020 started, US President Donald Trump and his Democratic Party challenger Joe Biden were barrelling through crucial states of Michigan and Pennsylvania on Saturday.

In Michigan, Joe Biden will be joined on stage by former US President Barack Obama. They will hold drive-in rallies in Flint and Detroit. Stevie Wonder, who is a Detroit native, is expected to be the musical guest there.

In the 2016 US Presidential Election, Donald Trump had won Michigan with a narrow margin of 0.2 points. However, he is trailing Joe Biden by nearly 7 points in polls, as per Real Clear Politics average of polls. Michigan has 16 electoral votes.

For the past week, Obama has put his popularity at the service of his former vice president, hosting several rallies at which he repeatedly slammed Trump's response to the pandemic, notably in the crucially important states of Florida and Pennsylvania.

Trump, however, has dismissed Obama's rallies as much smaller than his own. Trump will go to Pennsylvania on Saturday.

He won Pennsylvania, where Biden was born, by a razor-thin margin against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Every ballot will therefore count on 
November 3 if he hopes to claim its 20 electoral votes once more.

Biden will follow suit there both Sunday and Monday in a clear sign that his campaign also sees the Keystone State as absolutely crucial to victory.

The election takes place in a deeply divided country, with feelings so raw and polarization so pronounced that gun sales have surged in some areas and law enforcement agencies have made contingency plans for possible violence.

Chasing every vote

On Friday the two candidates carried their battle to the American Midwest, barnstorming three heartland states each as they chased every last 
vote in a region that propelled the Republican to victory in 2016.

The race has been overshadowed by the pandemic, with infections spiking across the country. Morethan 94,000 new infections were recorded 
Friday -- a new high for the second day running -- and total cases passed nine million.

Nevertheless, Trump, who has long said the virus will "disappear," remained defiant at rallies in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

"We just want normal," he told supporters -- many of them unmasked -- at an outdoor rally near Detroit as he pushed states to relax public health 
restrictions and resume daily life.

He again downplayed the threat of the coronavirus, saying, "If you get it, you're going to get better, and then you're going to be immune."

The virus has killed nearly 230,000 Americans.

US hospitals are bracing as infections soar in nearly every state, with winter flu season looming.

The outbreak has ravaged the economy,and while there have been signs of recovery, millions remain jobless.

Trump has touted the economic successes of his presidency, including positive GDP figures Thursday. But US stocks closed out their worst week 
since March, highlighting concerns about a shaky recovery.

'Turn Texas blue?'

After a campaign largely muted by the pandemic, Biden is on the offensive, pushing Trump onto the back foot in unexpected battlegrounds like 
Texas,a large, traditionally conservative bastion now rated a toss-up by multiple analysts.

On Friday, the state reported that a staggering nine million residents had already voted, surpassing its 2016 total. 
Biden's running mate Kamala Harris visited Texas Friday in a bid to turn the state Democratic for the first timesinceJimmyCarter won therein 
1976.

A Biden victory there would be a major blow to Trump, but the president dismissed the notion, saying: "Texas, we're doing very well."

Biden also stumped Friday in Wisconsin and in Minnesota, where he sharpened his attacks on the president on everything from Trump seeking to dismantle Obama-era health care protections and keeping his taxes secret to climate change and trade policy with China.

"We cannot afford four more years of Donald Trump," the Democrat said at a socially distanced drive-in rally in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"So honk your horn if you want America to lead again!" he said, embracing the awkward pandemic-campaign trend of rallying supporters in 
their vehicles.

(With Reuters inputs)

As the last weekend before the US Presidential Election 2020 started, US President Donald Trump and his Democratic Party challenger Joe Biden were barrelling through crucial states of Michigan and Pennsylvania on Saturday.

As the last weekend before the US Presidential Election 2020 started, US President Donald Trump and his Democratic Party challenger Joe Biden were barrelling through crucial states of Michigan and Pennsylvania on Saturday. In Michigan, Joe Biden will be joined on stage by former US President Barack Obama. They will hold drive-in rallies in Flint and Detroit. Stevie Wonder, who is a Detroit native, is expected to be the musical guest there. In the 2016 US Presidential Election, Donald Trump had won Michigan with a narrow margin of 0.2 points. However, he is trailing Joe Biden by nearly 7 points in polls, as per Real Clear Politics average of polls. Michigan has 16 electoral votes. For the past week, Obama has put his popularity at the service of his former vice president, hosting several rallies at which he repeatedly slammed Trump's response to the pandemic, notably in the crucially important states of Florida and Pennsylvania. Trump, however, has dismissed Obama's rallies as much smaller than his own. Trump will go to Pennsylvania on Saturday. He won Pennsylvania, where Biden was born, by a razor-thin margin against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Every ballot will therefore count on November 3 if he hopes to claim its 20 electoral votes once more. Biden will follow suit there both Sunday and Monday in a clear sign that his campaign also sees the Keystone State as absolutely crucial to victory. The election takes place in a deeply divided country, with feelings so raw and polarization so pronounced that gun sales have surged in some areas and law enforcement agencies have made contingency plans for possible violence. Chasing every vote On Friday the two candidates carried their battle to the American Midwest, barnstorming three heartland states each as they chased every last vote in a region that propelled the Republican to victory in 2016. The race has been overshadowed by the pandemic, with infections spiking across the country. Morethan 94,000 new infections were recorded Friday -- a new high for the second day running -- and total cases passed nine million. Nevertheless, Trump, who has long said the virus will "disappear," remained defiant at rallies in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. "We just want normal," he told supporters -- many of them unmasked -- at an outdoor rally near Detroit as he pushed states to relax public health restrictions and resume daily life. He again downplayed the threat of the coronavirus, saying, "If you get it, you're going to get better, and then you're going to be immune." The virus has killed nearly 230,000 Americans. US hospitals are bracing as infections soar in nearly every state, with winter flu season looming. The outbreak has ravaged the economy,and while there have been signs of recovery, millions remain jobless. Trump has touted the economic successes of his presidency, including positive GDP figures Thursday. But US stocks closed out their worst week since March, highlighting concerns about a shaky recovery. 'Turn Texas blue?' After a campaign largely muted by the pandemic, Biden is on the offensive, pushing Trump onto the back foot in unexpected battlegrounds like Texas,a large, traditionally conservative bastion now rated a toss-up by multiple analysts. On Friday, the state reported that a staggering nine million residents had already voted, surpassing its 2016 total. Biden's running mate Kamala Harris visited Texas Friday in a bid to turn the state Democratic for the first timesinceJimmyCarter won therein 1976. A Biden victory there would be a major blow to Trump, but the president dismissed the notion, saying: "Texas, we're doing very well." Biden also stumped Friday in Wisconsin and in Minnesota, where he sharpened his attacks on the president on everything from Trump seeking to dismantle Obama-era health care protections and keeping his taxes secret to climate change and trade policy with China. "We cannot afford four more years of Donald Trump," the Democrat said at a socially distanced drive-in rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. "So honk your horn if you want America to lead again!" he said, embracing the awkward pandemic-campaign trend of rallying supporters in their vehicles. (With Reuters inputs)

Trump, Biden to hold rallies in key states on final weekend before election

Less than a week before the US elections, the state of Minnesota has decided not to bring in emergency intervention from the Supreme Court over an appeals ruling that questions legality of their decision to allow mail-in ballots which will be received after election day.

A ruling was issued in the state of Minnesota, which will not be considered as the final word of litigation yet, that states that the mail-in ballots received after the Election day, which is November 03, will have to be separated from the ones received before and on the day of the election.&nbsp;It states that the ruling by the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals — which was seen in favour of Republicans — that stated all the ballots received after the Election day should not be counted is unlawful.

"While Minnesota will comply with the 8th Circuit`s ruling to segregate the ballots received after November 3, we need to emphasize that there is no court ruling yet saying those ballots are invalid," said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-moves-his-election-night-party-to-the-white-house-339149">Also read|&nbsp;Trump 'moves' his election night party to the White House</a>

"We absolutely reserve the right to make every argument after Election Day that protects voters," he added.

Simon also urged people to deliver their mail-in ballot directly to the country election offices or bote in person&nbsp;instead of mailing in the envelope. As per the state law, the residents are supposed to deliver their mail-in ballots by the November 93. This rule, however, was changed a bit and the deadline was extended through a settlement reached&nbsp;with a citizens group that sued earlier this year. The settlement states that election officials can count mail-in ballot until November 10, but they have to be postmarked by November 03.

The current President and Republican candidate Donald Trump has also warned about potential fraud and vote manipulation in the process of mail-in ballots. He also stated that there is no guarantee the election results will be available soon and can see a delay to the same. However, his statements were met with harsh criticism from his Democratic rival and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Less than a week before the US elections, the state of Minnesota has decided not to bring in emergency intervention from the Supreme Court over an appeals ruling that questions legality of their decision to allow mail-in ballots which will be received after election day.

Less than a week before the US elections, the state of Minnesota has decided not to bring in emergency intervention from the Supreme Court over an appeals ruling that questions legality of their decision to allow mail-in ballots which will be received after election day. A ruling was issued in the state of Minnesota, which will not be considered as the final word of litigation yet, that states that the mail-in ballots received after the Election day, which is November 03, will have to be separated from the ones received before and on the day of the election. It states that the ruling by the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals — which was seen in favour of Republicans — that stated all the ballots received after the Election day should not be counted is unlawful. "While Minnesota will comply with the 8th Circuit`s ruling to segregate the ballots received after November 3, we need to emphasize that there is no court ruling yet saying those ballots are invalid," said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat. Also read| Trump 'moves' his election night party to the White House "We absolutely reserve the right to make every argument after Election Day that protects voters," he added. Simon also urged people to deliver their mail-in ballot directly to the country election offices or bote in person instead of mailing in the envelope. As per the state law, the residents are supposed to deliver their mail-in ballots by the November 93. This rule, however, was changed a bit and the deadline was extended through a settlement reached with a citizens group that sued earlier this year. The settlement states that election officials can count mail-in ballot until November 10, but they have to be postmarked by November 03. The current President and Republican candidate Donald Trump has also warned about potential fraud and vote manipulation in the process of mail-in ballots. He also stated that there is no guarantee the election results will be available soon and can see a delay to the same. However, his statements were met with harsh criticism from his Democratic rival and former Vice President Joe Biden.

US Election 2020: Minnesota decides to accept mail-in voting till November 10; conditions apply

Facebook Inc will temporarily halt recommendations for all political groups and any new groups in the run-up to the US presidential election.

Facebook's Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg referred to one of the changes during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, saying: "We have taken the steps to stop recommendations in groups for all political content or social issue groups as a precaution."

The company then confirmed on Friday about the development.

Facebook Groups are communities that form around shared interests. Public groups can be seen, searched and joined by anyone on Facebook. &nbsp;

Ahead of the US vote, several watchdog and advocacy groups have pushed for Facebook to limit algorithmic group recommendations. They have argued that some Facebook Groups have been used as spaces to spread misinformation and organize extremist activity.

Facebook also said that as of Friday morning it was limiting the distribution of the 'save our children' hashtag, because of its connections with the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Social media platforms have been cracking down on content related to the unfounded conspiracy theory, which posits that US President Donald Trump is secretly fighting a global cabal of child-sex predators that includes prominent Democrats, Hollywood elites and “deep state” allies.

Facebook Inc will temporarily halt recommendations for all political groups and any new groups in the run-up to the US presidential election. Facebook's Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg referred to one of the changes during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, saying: "We have taken the steps to stop recommendations in groups for all political content or social issue groups as a precaution.

Facebook Inc will temporarily halt recommendations for all political groups and any new groups in the run-up to the US presidential election. Facebook's Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg referred to one of the changes during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, saying: "We have taken the steps to stop recommendations in groups for all political content or social issue groups as a precaution." The company then confirmed on Friday about the development. Facebook Groups are communities that form around shared interests. Public groups can be seen, searched and joined by anyone on Facebook. Ahead of the US vote, several watchdog and advocacy groups have pushed for Facebook to limit algorithmic group recommendations. They have argued that some Facebook Groups have been used as spaces to spread misinformation and organize extremist activity. Facebook also said that as of Friday morning it was limiting the distribution of the 'save our children' hashtag, because of its connections with the QAnon conspiracy theory. Social media platforms have been cracking down on content related to the unfounded conspiracy theory, which posits that US President Donald Trump is secretly fighting a global cabal of child-sex predators that includes prominent Democrats, Hollywood elites and “deep state” allies.

Facebook suspends political, new group recommendations ahead of US election

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account.

New York Post's Twitter account was suspended after the newspaper published various articles targetting Democratic Party's Presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, about the controversy related to taking money from Russia.&nbsp; The ban was lifted on Friday after which Twitter said, "We will no longer restrict their account under the terms of the previous policy and they can now tweet again."&nbsp;

The ban has been lifted after weeks and various statements from several political leaders and a senate hearing of the Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey — along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai — about alleged selective censorship against the Republican Party.&nbsp;"Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report?" Senator Ted Cruz had asked during the court hearing.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We’re baaaaaaack <a href="https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV">https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV</a> <a href="https://t.co/SkVtp4o9ew">pic.twitter.com/SkVtp4o9ew</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1322304510736371713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

New York Post announced their comeback on the popular social media platform by tweeting a picture of the Twitter bird (from their logo) flying out of a cage with a caption reading we are back, and a photo caption reading, "Twitter backs down, finally unlocks Post account after Biden ban."

The social media organisation had faced immense backlash from the Republican party after it censored and removed several articles about Hunter Biden related to his controversy about him accepting money from Russia, allegations which have been declined by Joe Biden and his son.

The decision of censoring news articles and freezing New York Post's Twitter account also attracted criticism from the owner of the media organisation.&nbsp;"The arbitrary blocking of the Post was a significant moment during a critical time in this election season," News Corp said in a statement.

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account.

The virtual war between the tech giant Twitter and the US national daily newspaper the New York Post is now inching towards an end as the social media platform has finally lifted the freeze from the media organisation's Twitter account. New York Post's Twitter account was suspended after the newspaper published various articles targetting Democratic Party's Presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, about the controversy related to taking money from Russia. The ban was lifted on Friday after which Twitter said, "We will no longer restrict their account under the terms of the previous policy and they can now tweet again." The ban has been lifted after weeks and various statements from several political leaders and a senate hearing of the Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey — along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai — about alleged selective censorship against the Republican Party. "Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report?" Senator Ted Cruz had asked during the court hearing. We’re baaaaaaack https://t.co/D39qdLGMdV pic.twitter.com/SkVtp4o9ew — New York Post (@nypost) October 30, 2020 × New York Post announced their comeback on the popular social media platform by tweeting a picture of the Twitter bird (from their logo) flying out of a cage with a caption reading we are back, and a photo caption reading, "Twitter backs down, finally unlocks Post account after Biden ban." The social media organisation had faced immense backlash from the Republican party after it censored and removed several articles about Hunter Biden related to his controversy about him accepting money from Russia, allegations which have been declined by Joe Biden and his son. The decision of censoring news articles and freezing New York Post's Twitter account also attracted criticism from the owner of the media organisation. "The arbitrary blocking of the Post was a significant moment during a critical time in this election season," News Corp said in a statement.

'We are back': New York Post returns to Twitter after account is unfrozen

Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden abruptly ended his campaign rally in Florida as he got caught in the rain on Thursday. Just before is ran off stage, he urged his supporters to vote immediately without any delay. US elections are due on November 3. Early voting is going on.

"I never forgot what President Kennedy said about going to the moon. He said we're going. You know why? Because we refuse to postpone. Let's not postpone and get out of the rain," said Biden.

Biden was holding the rally in Tampa, Florida. Donald Trump was in Florida as well. Florida is a key battleground state. It has 29 electoral votes. Whoever wins Florida will have a major boost in winning the presidency.&nbsp;

In 2016 Donald Trump had won in Florida. This had proven instrumental in his surprise victory over Hillary Clinton.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed Trump had essentially moved into a tie with Biden in Florida, with 49% per cent saying they would vote for Biden and 47 per cent for the president.

Trump has trailed Biden in national opinion polls for months, partly because of widespread disapproval of his handling of the coronavirus. Opinion polls in the most competitive states that will decide the election have shown a closer race.

The pandemic and an extraordinary level of enthusiasm have prompted Americans to vote early in unprecedented numbers.

More than 83.5 million votes have been cast either by mail or in person, nearly 61% of the total number of votes in the entire 2016 election, according to the U.S. Elections Project at the University of Florida.

(With Reuters inputs)

Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden abruptly ended his campaign rally in Florida as he got caught in the rain on Thursday. Just before is ran off stage, he urged his supporters to vote immediately without any delay.

Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden abruptly ended his campaign rally in Florida as he got caught in the rain on Thursday. Just before is ran off stage, he urged his supporters to vote immediately without any delay. US elections are due on November 3. Early voting is going on. "I never forgot what President Kennedy said about going to the moon. He said we're going. You know why? Because we refuse to postpone. Let's not postpone and get out of the rain," said Biden. Biden was holding the rally in Tampa, Florida. Donald Trump was in Florida as well. Florida is a key battleground state. It has 29 electoral votes. Whoever wins Florida will have a major boost in winning the presidency. In 2016 Donald Trump had won in Florida. This had proven instrumental in his surprise victory over Hillary Clinton. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed Trump had essentially moved into a tie with Biden in Florida, with 49% per cent saying they would vote for Biden and 47 per cent for the president. Trump has trailed Biden in national opinion polls for months, partly because of widespread disapproval of his handling of the coronavirus. Opinion polls in the most competitive states that will decide the election have shown a closer race. The pandemic and an extraordinary level of enthusiasm have prompted Americans to vote early in unprecedented numbers. More than 83.5 million votes have been cast either by mail or in person, nearly 61% of the total number of votes in the entire 2016 election, according to the U.S. Elections Project at the University of Florida. (With Reuters inputs)

Joe Biden runs off-stage as rain interrupts Florida rally

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Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to reach agreement on a fresh ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks in Geneva Friday. They, however, vowed to now target civilians | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-fresh-ceasefire-commitment-from-armenia-azerbaijan-339144">READ MORE</a>

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United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-moves-his-election-night-party-to-the-white-house-339149">READ MORE</a>

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Biden and Trump campaign in heartland states in US election finale Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Friday had the dais to himself as he and the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, sparred over American Midwest in the run up to the November 3 vote | READ MORE US judge blocks Trump bid to ban TikTok A US federal judge has issued an injunction temporarily blocking an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at banning TikTok, throwing up a legal roadblock ahead of a November 12 deadline | READ MORE El Salvador landslide kills seven; over 30 missing A landslide sparked by heavy rains has killed at least seven people in El Salvador and more than 30 more are suspected missing under a deluge of mud | READ MORE No fresh ceasefire commitment from Armenia, Azerbaijan Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to reach agreement on a fresh ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks in Geneva Friday.

Biden and Trump campaign in heartland states in US election finale Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Friday had the dais to himself as he and the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, sparred over American Midwest in the run up to the November 3 vote | READ MORE US judge blocks Trump bid to ban TikTok A US federal judge has issued an injunction temporarily blocking an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at banning TikTok, throwing up a legal roadblock ahead of a November 12 deadline | READ MORE El Salvador landslide kills seven; over 30 missing A landslide sparked by heavy rains has killed at least seven people in El Salvador and more than 30 more are suspected missing under a deluge of mud | READ MORE No fresh ceasefire commitment from Armenia, Azerbaijan Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to reach agreement on a fresh ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks in Geneva Friday. They, however, vowed to now target civilians | READ MORE Trump 'moves' his election night party to the White House United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel | READ MORE Journalist murdered in Mexico, sixth this year A journalist has been shot dead in crime-ridden northern Mexico, authorities said Friday, the sixth such murder this year in one of the world's most dangerous countries for reporters | READ MORE Canada extends international travellers ban Canada has extended a restriction on non-essential international entries until the end of November as Covid-19 cases rise in the region | READ MORE Kamala Harris urges voters to vote in large numbers; bring change at White House Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has urged the Americans to come out and vote in large numbers to bring a change at the White House | READ MORE

Morning news brief: Updates on US election, Karabakh conflict, and more

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has urged the Americans to come out and vote in large numbers to bring a change at the White House.

Speaking at a rally in Texas on Friday, Harris, 56, accused the Republicans of creating a confusion on votes.

"Everyone should vote to bring a change at the White House. Need to realise the power of vote and the opponents are for creating confusion on votes," Harris, who is the first Democratic vice-presidential candidate to address an election rally in Republican stronghold Texas in decades, said.

"They know our power. They know when we vote, things change. They know when we vote, we win. We vote to honour the ancestors. We vote because everything is at stake. Everything is at stake," Harris added.

She said the country is undergoing a major health crisis, with the death of more than 220,000 Americans due to coronavirus pandemic and blamed President Donald Trump for the situation.

"We want to make sure we see it through and then let's make sure on Election Day, everybody we know has made sure that their voice, their powerful voice, is represented in this election through their vote, because there is so much at stake and so many reasons to vote," she said.

US is the worst impacted nation by the coronavirus, with the total number of infections and deaths standing at 9,034,925 and 229,544, according to Johns Hopkins University.

"We're in the midst of a public health pandemic. You also have a situation where we have a president who, while we are seeing spikes around our country, talking about we've turned the corner, continuing to mislead the American people," she said.

She said that because of the pandemic, the worsening of the wealth gap in America has been such that over 30 million people in just the last several months had to file for unemployment insurance. "We are seeing numbers that tell us one in five mothers who has a child under the age of 12 is describing her children as being hungry," she rued, adding that the US is in the middle of a hunger crisis.

The Democratic Party under the leadership of Joe Biden, she asserted, is a plan to fight coronavirus, and is committed to not raising taxes ever on anyone making less than USD 400,000 a year, and is also committed in investing in working people in America.

"Biden understands that we need to deal with these racial disparities. We need to acknowledge them, difficult though they may be, to think about, much less talk about. We need to address it in terms of what we're doing around healthcare. We need to address it in terms of the racial wealth gap. We need to address it in terms of the gaps in our education system," she said.

She accused President Trump of ruining America.

"A president of the United States who has called Mexicans rapists and criminals, who as his first order of business instituted a Muslim ban. America, we deserve better,"&nbsp;she said.

"That does not reflect who we are as our values and priorities, as a nation that knows we are our strongest when we are unified, knows that we have so much more in common regardless of where you live, the race, your ethnicity, the language your grandmother speaks,"&nbsp;said the Senator from California.&nbsp;

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has urged the Americans to come out and vote in large numbers to bring a change at the White House. Speaking at a rally in Texas on Friday, Harris, 56, accused the Republicans of creating a confusion on votes.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has urged the Americans to come out and vote in large numbers to bring a change at the White House. Speaking at a rally in Texas on Friday, Harris, 56, accused the Republicans of creating a confusion on votes. "Everyone should vote to bring a change at the White House. Need to realise the power of vote and the opponents are for creating confusion on votes," Harris, who is the first Democratic vice-presidential candidate to address an election rally in Republican stronghold Texas in decades, said. "They know our power. They know when we vote, things change. They know when we vote, we win. We vote to honour the ancestors. We vote because everything is at stake. Everything is at stake," Harris added. She said the country is undergoing a major health crisis, with the death of more than 220,000 Americans due to coronavirus pandemic and blamed President Donald Trump for the situation. "We want to make sure we see it through and then let's make sure on Election Day, everybody we know has made sure that their voice, their powerful voice, is represented in this election through their vote, because there is so much at stake and so many reasons to vote," she said. US is the worst impacted nation by the coronavirus, with the total number of infections and deaths standing at 9,034,925 and 229,544, according to Johns Hopkins University. "We're in the midst of a public health pandemic. You also have a situation where we have a president who, while we are seeing spikes around our country, talking about we've turned the corner, continuing to mislead the American people," she said. She said that because of the pandemic, the worsening of the wealth gap in America has been such that over 30 million people in just the last several months had to file for unemployment insurance. "We are seeing numbers that tell us one in five mothers who has a child under the age of 12 is describing her children as being hungry," she rued, adding that the US is in the middle of a hunger crisis. The Democratic Party under the leadership of Joe Biden, she asserted, is a plan to fight coronavirus, and is committed to not raising taxes ever on anyone making less than USD 400,000 a year, and is also committed in investing in working people in America. "Biden understands that we need to deal with these racial disparities. We need to acknowledge them, difficult though they may be, to think about, much less talk about. We need to address it in terms of what we're doing around healthcare. We need to address it in terms of the racial wealth gap. We need to address it in terms of the gaps in our education system," she said. She accused President Trump of ruining America. "A president of the United States who has called Mexicans rapists and criminals, who as his first order of business instituted a Muslim ban. America, we deserve better," she said. "That does not reflect who we are as our values and priorities, as a nation that knows we are our strongest when we are unified, knows that we have so much more in common regardless of where you live, the race, your ethnicity, the language your grandmother speaks," said the Senator from California.

Kamala Harris urges voters to vote in large numbers; bring change at White House

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