Just 11 Days After Being Hospitalized, Trump Back On Campaign Trail
Axios reports that the president is trying to schedule events every day until Election Day. One adviser warned, "He's going to kill himself."
Axios:
Trump Wants To Hit Campaign Trail Every Day Through Election
President Trump has asked his campaign to put him on the road every single day from now until Nov. 3. His team is in the process of scheduling events to make that happen, two sources familiar with the discussions tell Axios. But not everyone thinks this is a good idea. One adviser said, “He’s going to kill himself.” (Treene and Swan, 10/11)
Politico:
Trump Keeps Things Brief In First Public Address Since Hospitalization
President Donald Trump on Saturday made his first public appearance since returning from a three-day hospitalization due to coronavirus, addressing hundreds of Black and Latino supporters crowded together on the White House lawn. “First of all, I'm feeling great. I don't know about you,” Trump told the estimated audience of 500 who, despite wearing masks, were packed together below the Truman Balcony where he spoke. According to a person familiar with the event, more than 2,000 guests had been invited. (Oprysko, 10/10)
Reuters:
Trump Tries To Put COVID-19 Behind Him With Campaign Rally In Florida
President Donald Trump will try to put his bout with COVID-19 behind him when he returns to the campaign trail on Monday, beginning a three-week sprint to the Nov. 3 election with a rally in the vital battleground state of Florida. The event at an airport in Sanford, Florida, will be Trump’s first campaign rally since he disclosed on Oct. 2 that he tested positive for COVID-19. Trump, who spent three days in the hospital for treatment, said on Sunday he was fully recovered and no longer infectious, but did not say directly whether he had tested negative for the virus. (Whitesides, 10/12)
The Hill:
Des Moines Mayor Says He's Worried About Coronavirus Spread At Trump Rally
The mayor of Des Moines, Iowa, said he is worried that President Trump's campaign rally in Des Moines this week could be responsible for spreading COVID-19 in the city. Asked by the Des Moines Register whether he is concerned that the event could accelerate the spread of COVID-19 in Des Moines, Mayor Frank Cownie (D) said he "absolutely" was. (Bowden, 10/11)
In other election news —
Politico:
Debate Commission Cancels Oct. 15 Biden-Trump Showdown
The Commission on Presidential Debates on Friday canceled the second pre-election showdown between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, according to a person familiar with the situation. The debate, initially scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami, was changed to a virtual format following the president's coronavirus diagnosis last week. Trump and his campaign protested against a virtual debate, calling the change a ploy to help Biden. Biden's campaign said it would not partake in the town hall-style debate if Trump did not show. The commission said the format change was to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved. (Forgey, 10/9)
Politico:
Trump Didn’t Want To Do A ‘Glorified Conference Call,’ Eric Trump Says Of Canceled Debate
Eric Trump pinned the blame on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for the cancellation of the Oct. 15 presidential debate, after the debate commission made the event a virtual one following President Donald Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis. The president’s son told ABC’s Jonathan Karl on Sunday that Biden “didn't want to stand on the stage with my father, and that should tell you everything you know you need to know about him.” (Bice, 10/11)
The New York Times:
How Could Vote-By-Mail Impact The Election? Look At Michigan
The coronavirus pandemic has made voting by mail one of the election’s most contentious issues. More than 25 states have expanded access to universal mail voting, a move President Trump has repeatedly, and erroneously, equated with a fraudulent election. Already, there have been breakdowns. Last month, a vendor error led to nearly 100,000 voters in Brooklyn, N.Y., receiving security envelopes belonging to someone else. During Michigan’s primary, more than 2,200 ballots were rejected because they hadn’t been signed by the voter. (Bracker and Eaton, 10/11)
