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Biden news: Call for unity at Gettysburg battlefield elicits angry response from Trump

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Biden calls Trump's Proud Boys comments a 'clarion call for white supremacists'

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Joe Biden delivered what could be remembered as the signature speech of his 2020 campaign so far, calling on Americans to ditch the fierce partisanship that has gripped the nation during the Donald Trump era and “turn division into unity.”

Biden delivered his modern-day Gettysburg-style address on the site of the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania on Tuesday after extending his nationwide polling lead over Donald Trump by 16 points, according to CNN. 

The Democratic nominee himself attacked Trump’s decision to return to the White House after just three nights in hospital on Monday, condemning his maskless appearance on the Truman Balcony as “macho” and lacking consideration for a virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans.

Prior to appearing on an NBC town hall, Biden was speaking to Latino voters in Miami, where he called on Trump to 'listen to the scientists' while calling for a nationwide mask mandate.  

The results of Biden's most recent coronavirus test, meanwhile, were negative. If he remains Covid free, and the president recovers, the two are on a collision course for the second debate on 15 October.

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Michelle Obama accuses Trump of racist policies in blistering ‘closing argument’ ahead of presidential election

The former first lady has gone in the attack in a new social media video in support of Biden, calling out Trump’s cackhanded and troubling response to the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s police killing on 25 May.

“The president and his allies are trying to tap into that frustration and distract from his failures… They are stoking up fears… They are pinning it all on what’s been an overall peaceful demonstration,” she says.

Danielle Zoellner has this report.

Michelle Obama accuses Trump of racist policies in blistering ‘closing argument’

‘What the president is doing is, once again, patently false, it’s morally wrong, and yes, it’s racist,’ Mrs Obama says

Joe Sommerlad6 October 2020 15:40
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'Democrats are “being the grown-ups” on the campaign trail. Insiders worry that strategy might backfire’

For Indy Voices, Andrew Feinberg warns the opposition’s “fetish for rules” could count against them when faced with the lawlessness and mudslinging of Trump.

This is the Biden strategy that insiders fear will backfire

Some fear that the Democratic Party’s ‘fetish for rules’ could hurt them — but others say it’s clear the election has basically already been decided

Joe Sommerlad6 October 2020 15:55
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Biden makes ad push into rural Ohio as early voting begins

The Democrat is expanding his ad buys into every corner of the Buckeye State as early voting begins today, signaling his campaign’s growing hopes that a state Trump won easily four years ago may be within the former vice president’s grasp.

The new spots will air on radio in rural, traditionally Republican areas of the state, as well as on TV in Dayton. That adds to television advertising already announced in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati and on black radio stations.

Biden makes ad push into rural Ohio as early voting begins

Democrat Joe Biden is expanding his ad buys into every corner of Ohio as early voting begins in the state

Joe Sommerlad6 October 2020 16:10
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What Kamala Harris is up against in the VP debate

Graig Graziosi assess the challenges facing Biden’s running mate as she prepares to take on Mike Pence in Salt Lake City tomorrow night, making history as the first African American woman to ascend the vice presidential debate stage as she does so.

What Kamala Harris is up against in the VP debate

Ms Harris is the third woman to participate in the US vice presidential debates and the first woman of colour

Joe Sommerlad6 October 2020 16:25
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Trump says he’s ‘FEELING GREAT’ and is ready for debate against Biden 

Donald Trump, despite still undergoing treatment for coronavirus, said on Tuesday he is “looking forward” to debating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden next Thursday.

“FEELING GREAT,” the president wrote in another tweet after returning to the White House on Monday evening, though appearing short of breath as he posed for the cameras on the Truman Balcony after removing his mask despite a number of staff members being nearby.

The 15 October debate would fall within a typical Covid patient’s 14-day quarantine window, but rules matter little to Mr Trump.

John T Bennett has the report: 

Trump says he is ‘FEELING GREAT’ and ‘looking forward’ to Biden debate next week

Both candidates’ comments in recent days suggests second debate likely is a go

Danielle Zoellner6 October 2020 16:51
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Four times Donald Trump risked spreading coronavirus moments after leaving Walter Reed

Donald Trump returned to the White House only a few days after being admitted to Walter Reed Medical Centre, and before he had been declared symptom-free – though his physician remained cagey about his true condition.

By leaving the hospital when he did, he may have exposed those around him to the virus he is fighting many times over. And at various points, he has been seen apparently violating CDC protocols for those infected.

Andrew Naughtie reports: 

Four times Trump risked spreading Covid after leaving Walter Reed

Moving a symptomatic coronavirus patient from a military hospital to a seat of executive power entails myriad risks 

Danielle Zoellner6 October 2020 17:17
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Biden implores Americans to wear a mask 

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has continued his mask-wearing rhetoric just one day after Donald Trump notably pulled his off during a photo-op.

The Biden campaign seized on that moment by running a short video that contrasted Mr Trump against Mr Biden. In the video, Mr Trump is seen pulling of his mask while Mr Biden is seen putting his on. 

The former vice president’s latest tweet pushed again the messaging that everyone should wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Here is the new campaign video: 

Danielle Zoellner6 October 2020 17:40
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What to expect from the Mike Pence and Kamala Harris debate, according to people who know them well

Andrew Feinberg with his latest for The Independent:

What to expect from the Mike Pence and Kamala Harris debate, according to people who know them well

‘By his own admission, Pence has certain ways that he deals with women. And those will undoubtedly affect his attitude towards debating a woman’

Danielle Zoellner6 October 2020 18:02
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Twitter testing how misinformation labels can be more obvious in run up to US election

Twitter is rethinking how the labels it applies to misinformation look and work, its head of site integrity told Reuters in an interview, as the social media company tries to make these interventions more obvious and cut its reaction times.

Twitter's Yoel Roth said the company is exploring changes to the small blue notices that it attaches to certain false or misleading tweets, to make these signals more 'overt' and be more 'direct' in giving users information. But he did not say whether any new versions would be ready before the US election in the next four weeks, a period that experts say could be rife with false and misleading online content.

Mr Roth said the new efforts at Twitter include testing a more visible reddish-magenta colour, and working out whether to flag users who consistently post false information.

“We've definitely heard the feedback that it would be useful to see if an account is a repeat offender or has been repeatedly labelled, and we're thinking about the options there,” said Mr Roth.

Elizabeth Culliford reports: 

Twitter tests clearer misinformation labels as US election looms

Twitter has labelled thousands of posts including some Donald Trump’s

Danielle Zoellner6 October 2020 18:25
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Biden announces he will give a ‘dramatic’ speech in Gettysburg

Joe Biden gave more details about the speech he would give in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, later on Tuesday.

“I’m getting out of this chair and heading to Gettysburg, the fields of Gettysburg, and I’m making a speech that I’ve worked and worked and worked on about how the soul of America and racial equality and what significant trouble we’re in right now,” Mr Biden said, per pool report. 

“Some people may think it’s a little dramatic, but I think it’s appropriate,” he added. “We have to unite this nation and I’ve decided to do it with Gettysburg. I’ve worked on this speech very, very, very hard. You’ll see it and know it – I mean every word.” 

President Abraham Lincoln gave his iconic Gettysburg Address in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War. 

Mr Biden’s upcoming speech might be in an effort to draw the same passion and historic significance Mr Lincoln’s did more than 150 years ago. 

Danielle Zoellner6 October 2020 19:27

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