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As it happenedended

Biden news: Campaign aide says Trump should have ‘gone to school’ on Covid ‘200,000 lives ago’

Follow the latest updates 

Joe Sommerlad,Gino Spocchia,Justin Vallejo
Monday 05 October 2020 19:40 EDT
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Donald Trump says he will visit supporters despite coronavirus infection

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Joe Biden offered his prayers for the recovery of Donald and Melania Trump as he agreed to face the president at the second debate on 15 October.

Speaking at a campaign event in Florida on Monday, Biden told reporters he didn't want to comment on the president's behaviour while suffering from coronavirus. Later at his his campaign rally, Biden said Trump needed to listen to the scientists and call for a nationwide mask rule.  

On the stump at his Bernie for Biden event in Michigan, Bernie Sanders said Biden would be the most progressive president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The Kamala Harris side of the Democratic ticket, meanwhile, is moving forward with the vice presidential debate against Mike Pence as long as there is a plexiglass divider between the two contenders.

Elsewhere, Biden adviser Antony Blinken, hit out at Trump over the president’s belated claim that he has “learned a lot about Covid” since his diagnosis and admission to hospital on Friday.

Blinken, the Democratic presidential nominee’s adviser on foreign policy, said on that Trump’s acknowledgement that he had "gone to school” on coronavirus by catching it, having spent months downplaying its seriousness, was not only ”devastating" but should have occurred “200k deaths ago, not when it affected you" - the figure an allusion to the number of US casualties so far.

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Dogs backing Biden-Harris ticket

The Democratic challenger has abandoned his negative attacks ads against the president since he was taken ill on Friday and replaced them with a more upbeat and cheery message - and it appears to be working on Facebook, where users are seemingly ready for a less combative election message.

Emboldened, his team follow it up with this naff but delightful canine compilation.

Joe Sommerlad5 October 2020 16:10

Biden ready to move ahead with 15 October debate, won’t comment on Trump’s hospital drive-by

Speaking to reporters before a flight to Miami, Joe Biden said was looking forward to the townhall debate with Donald Trump.

“If the scientists say that it’s safe, then I think that’s fine, I’ll do whatever the experts say is the appropriate thing to day,” he said.

He declined to comment when asked about the president’s hospital drive-by.

“I’m not going to comment on any of his conduct, I don’t know enough to know,”

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 17:14

Bernie stumping for Biden

There’s stumpin’ in the air tonight for Bernie and Biden, which will begin shortly. We’ll have updates on the top points, but you can follow along live here:

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 18:46

Bernie Sanders hopes for a speedy recovery to the threat to our democracy

Beginning his campaign remarks in Michigan today, Bernie Sanders wished Donald Trump a speedy recovery.

"Let me begin by wishing the president and the First Lady a full and speedy recovery from the Covid-19 illness they are now dealing with,” Mr Sanders said.

It comes less than two weeks after a 24 September speech titled Trump’s threat to our democracy, delivered after the president went “even further down the path of authoritarianism”.

“This is not just an election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” Sanders said following Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. “This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy, and democracy must win.”

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 19:08

Mandatory lockdowns not the solution to Covid crisis, Sanders says

“Is the solution to this crisis to shut down the economy and lock everyone in their homes?  No it is not.   We can keep our country moving forward if we do so in a way that is disciplined, not dangerous-- that is responsible, not reckless and if we listen,” Sanders said today.

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 19:14

Biden would be the most progressive president since Roosevelt, says Sanders

“Now, it’s no secret that Joe Biden and I have differences of opinion and, as a United States Senator, make no mistake about it. I will continue to fight for the principles that I have advocated for a very long time,” Sanders said today.

“But, in fairness to Joe, let me also be very clear.  If his campaign proposals were implemented they would significantly improve the lives of tens of millions of working families and Joe Biden would be the most progressive president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 19:26

VP debate: How to watch and when is the Kamala Harris and Mike Pence showdown

The Vice President and the Senator to face each other in Utah. Beth Boyle has pulled together everything you need to know on the who, what, when, where, and how to watch the one and only clash between the two veep contenders.

What you need to know about the Pence-Harris debate

The Vice President and the Senator to face each other in Utah

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 20:49

BREAKING: Biden tells Trump to 'listen to the scientists' and calls for nationwide mask rule to prevent coronavirus spread

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden offered his continued “prayers” for the recovery of Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, but admonished the president to “listen to the scientists” and “support masks” to help stem the tide of coronavirus in the US.

Griffin Connolly is following Biden’s event in Miami today.

Biden tells Trump to 'listen to the scientists' and calls for nationwide mask rule

Pandemic has ‘ripped off the blinders in this country’ about how ‘inequitable so many things are,' Biden says at event in Miami

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 21:54

Watch the key moment from Biden’s rally in Miami today

Biden tells Trump to 'listen to the scientists' and calls for nationwide mask rule to prevent coronavirus spread
Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 22:02

BREAKING: VP debate will install plexiglass between Harris and Pence

This news comes via Politico.

Justin Vallejo5 October 2020 22:17

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