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As it happenedended1603017387

Trump attacks kidnap plot victim Gretchen Whitmer as campaign heads to Wisconsin and Michigan

Both states break records for coronavirus cases as nation enters third ‘surge’

Clea Skopeliti,Alex Woodward,Graeme Massie
Sunday 18 October 2020 11:36 BST
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Donald Trump says he might leave US if he loses to Joe Biden

Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer just weeks after she was the victim of a right-wing militia kidnap plot.

Earlier Mr Trump lashed out at a Republican senator who warned that the president will inspire a GOP “blood bath” on Election Day.

He said that the president “regularly sells out our allies under his leadership” while he “spends like a drunken sailor."

“He mocks evangelicals behind closed doors," Senator Sasse said. "He's flirted with white supremacists."

Mr Trump hit back in a pair of tweets comparing “little” Sasse to Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, two other GOP senators who feuded with the president.

He said: “Both Senators became totally unelectable, couldn’t come even close to winning their primaries, and decided to drop out of politics and gracefully “RETIRE”. @SenSasse could be next, or perhaps the Republicans should find a new and more viable candidate?”

Meanwhile, with less than three weeks so Election Day, the president said he “won’t feel so good” if he loses to Joe Biden, as more than 25 million voters have already cast their ballots.

“Could you imagine if I lose?” he told rallygoers on 16 October. “I’m not going to feel so good. Maybe I’ll have to leave the country, I don’t know.”

The president headed to rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan on Saturday, despite both states reporting their largest single-day case counts since the onset of the public health crisis.

As the nation surpasses 8 million infections and is climbing its way into a third “surge" of cases and hospitalisations, Michigan reported its second consecutive day of more than 2,000 confirmed cases on Friday.

Wisconsin health officials reported three consecutive days with more than 3,000 cases. On Friday, the state recorded more than 4,000.

Nearly 70,000 coronavirus infections were reported in the US on Friday, marking the nation’s single highest confirmed daily case count since July.

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US reports highest daily coronavirus infections since July

Nearly 70,000 coronavirus infections were reported in the US on Friday, marking the nation’s single highest confirmed daily case count since July.

Dr Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, said the curves – including hospitalisations and deaths – are all heading “in the wrong direction.”

We took a look at the numbers.

US reports highest daily coronavirus infections since July

Third ‘surge’ underway as nation surpasses 9 million confirmed infections

Alex Woodward17 October 2020 19:35
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Biden vies for the important cat vote

Not to be outdone by his campaign’s dog-centric social adverts, Joe Biden rolled out this:

Alex Woodward17 October 2020 19:51
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Anti-Trump Republican group pounces on Ben Sasse recordings in new ad

As part of its $30m campaign, Republican Voters Against Trump will unveil an ad targeting Nebraskan voters following Senator Ben Sasse’s leaked audio recordings from a constituent call in which he said Trump "kisses dictators' butts" is inspiring a GOP “blood bath” on Election Day.

Alex Woodward17 October 2020 20:10
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Hours before his arrival, Michigan reports its highest-ever coronavirus case count

A recently hospitalised Trump is on his way to Michigan, the first of back-to-back rallies in the state and in Wisconsin.

As the nation surpasses 8 million infections and is climbing its way into a third “surge," Michigan reports at least 2,015 confirmed cases from its Friday reporting, the most discovered in a single day since the onset of the outbreak, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Lynn Sutfin.

Trump will be on stage at 5pm EST.

Alex Woodward17 October 2020 20:30
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‘Seems legit’: President and Eric Trump post photo of a house Joe Biden sold more than 20 years ago

Eric Trump, sharing a photo of a pricey-looking mansion, said: “The salary of a U.S. Senator is $174,000 per year. This is Joe Biden’s house.... seems legit.”

His dad, Donald Trump, retweeted it.

Yes, that’s the Biden family home in Greenville, Delaware, which he bought for $185,00 in 1974.

And sold in 1996.

Alex Woodward17 October 2020 21:11
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We’re closing out today’s live coverage.

Stay tuned.

Alex Woodward17 October 2020 21:20
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Trump to speak at campaign rally in Michigan

Donald Trump about to speak at MAGA campaign rally in Muskegon, Michigan.

Graeme Massie17 October 2020 22:05
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Trump falsely claims he is leading in early voting

“Who knows? This should be much bigger as we have done everything we said we would,” said Mr Trump at event in Michigan.

Graeme Massie17 October 2020 22:20
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Trump claims he is leading in early voting in Michigan

Graeme Massie17 October 2020 22:25
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‘Lock her up’ crowd chant at rally

“You have to get your governor to open up your state and get your schools open,” said Mr Trump as the crowd chanted ‘Lock her up’ about Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Graeme Massie17 October 2020 22:31

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