Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Rolls 'Drive-In Rallies' Into Swing States
CNN: Trump And Biden Cross Paths In Florida In Final Election Sprint As Virus Rages
Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump went head-to-head in the mighty swing state of Florida on Thursday, as the US crossed a daily record with more than 88,000 new coronavirus cases and the two candidates showed their sharply divergent approaches to the virus at dueling rallies. At a socially distant drive-in rally in South Florida's Broward County -- where Biden thanked attendees for wearing masks and staying six feet apart -- the former vice president called on Floridians to change the course of the pandemic and choose "science over fiction," by using their state to block Trump's path to reelection. (Reston, 10/30)
Des Moines Register: Joe Biden To Host Drive-In Rally In Des Moines On Friday. What's That Like?
Former Vice President Joe Biden will visit Des Moines on Friday, but don't expect to hear a roar of the crowd — instead, plan for honking. The rally will be a "drive-in event." It's a style the campaign has used in several states as the COVID-19 pandemic wears on and large, in-person gatherings are still inadvisable. This week, Biden and former President Barack Obama have spoken to parked crowds in Georgia and Florida. (Akin, 10/29)
Pioneer Press: Biden To Hold ‘Drive-In Event’ In St. Paul Friday As Trump Plans Rochester Rally
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will hold a “drive-in event” in St. Paul Friday afternoon, his campaign announced Thursday. The former vice president will hold the 3:45 p.m. event hours before President Donald Trump is to hold a rally in Rochester as both candidates begin their final pushes before Election Day on Tuesday. (Orrick, 10/29)
The New York Times: No Selfies Or Hugs, But Biden Is Sneaking In Meet And Greets
Though he is not quite kissing babies or walking a rope line, Mr. Biden has quietly continued chit-chatting and snapping photographs with supporters behind the scenes. Most of the encounters are not public, and they often happen far from the watchful eyes of reporters. Participants have been instructed not to take their own pictures of their interactions and to put away their cellphones before meeting Mr. Biden — a protocol that the campaign has instituted for sanitation reasons but that means there are few records of the interactions on personal social media accounts or otherwise, if there are any at all. (Ember, 10/29)
In related news —
Stat: Biden Could Spell Trouble For Biotech, But CEOs Are Backing Him Anyway
From a policy perspective, Joe Biden should be biotech’s worst nightmare. He’s promised to increase the corporate tax rate, dramatically rein in money in politics, and allow Medicare to negotiate over the price of drugs. But that isn’t stopping major biotech CEOs and investors from personally backing Biden this election cycle. (Florko and Sheridan, 10/30)
KHN: KHN On The Air This Week
KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner discussed the current surge in COVID-19 cases, health policy in the election and the Affordable Care Act case before the Supreme Court with NPR’s “All Things Considered” on Sunday and WBUR’s “On Point.” (10/30)
