thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-06--Presidential campaigns staying virtual even as battleground states open up

President Trump and Joe Biden are keeping campaign field operations grounded indefinitely even as some battleground states reopen businesses and transition to a normal social footing after several weeks under coronavirus lockdown .
The Republican National Committee manages voter turnout for the Trump campaign .
Officials say the RNC has no plans to deploy field staff to knock on doors or hold in-person events in states , such as crucial battleground Florida , that are gradually reopening their economies .
The Biden campaign confirmed the presumptive Democratic nominee also would extend his reliance on virtual voter outreach strategies adopted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity .
“ We are continuing with our virtual operation , ” RNC spokesman Mike Reed told the Washington Examiner .
“ We ’ ll reassess in a month or so.
” Biden campaign spokesman Michael Gwin said the former vice president would be “ guided by science ” and an advisory committee he assembled to keep tabs on the coronavirus as he determines the course of efforts to win the White House .
“ As the country continues to cope with the current health crisis , the Biden campaign is using every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communicate our message to the American people , ” Gwin said .
Around two-dozen states are in the process of lifting mandated business closures .
Depending on the state , the shift allows residents to return to restaurants , fitness centers , hair salons , and retail stores , albeit with social distancing guidelines .
Among the states engaged in a multiphase reopening are Arizona , where Trump headed Tuesday to tour a manufacturing plant , Colorado , Florida , Georgia , and Texas .
All of them qualify as either competitive or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biden campaigns are playing it safe , as is the Democratic National Committee , sticking with the virtual tools each developed once the coronavirus put rallies , town hall meetings , and grassroots organizing on ice .
The RNC is satisfied with a vigorous program that utilizes text messaging and videoconferencing to reach voters and train volunteers .
The Trump campaign airs a nightly slate of live , online broadcasts that some political operatives refer to as “ Trump TV.
” Campaign officials said they are pleased with the results .
Each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million viewers .
A recent program featuring Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle was viewed by 2.45 million people .
The DNC claims similar success with its virtual apparatus .
`` We will continue to utilize whatever tactic is most appropriate and complies with the best health and safety standards , '' spokesman David Bergstein said .
Just under six months before Election Day , with deaths and job losses mounting from the coronavirus , Vice President Mike Pence revealed plans to disband the White House pandemic task force by month ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` The people of our country should think of themselves as warriors .
Our country has to open.
” But the opinions of Republican activists are mixed .
In Texas , a red state Democrats hope to make competitive , the demand is high for a return to politics as usual , explained Brendan Steinhauser , a Republican operative in Austin .
For example , county GOP conventions canceled in March because of the coronavirus are being rescheduled for this month , he said .
The Travis County GOP convention is scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , another red state Democrats are targeting , GOP consultant Ryan Williams said grassroots Republicans are content to continue campaigning virtually .
“ There ’ s been a hesitation to move forward with [ in-person ] grassroots activities , ” said Williams , who is based in Atlanta .
In Florida , some Republican officials are looking for hybrid solutions .
Linda Trocine , chairman of the Seminole County GOP , said virtual programs implemented by the RNC and the Trump campaign have been effective .
But with her state opening up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , similar to drive-in churches or the recent boat parade of Trump supporters in South Florida , that would satisfy health concerns while still allowing for a public show of support for the president .
“ I have a plan for an event in June that will respect social distancing and still get people together , ” she said .
“ We ’ re adapting .
We ’ re going to find away .
”

President Trump and Joe Biden are keeping campaign field operations grounded indefinitely even as some battleground states reopen businesses and transition to a normal social footing after several weeks under coronavirus lockdown.
The Republican National Committee manages voter turnout for the Trump campaign. Officials say the RNC has no plans to deploy field staff to knock on doors or hold in-person events in states, such as crucial battleground Florida, that are gradually reopening their economies. The Biden campaign confirmed the presumptive Democratic nominee also would extend his reliance on virtual voter outreach strategies adopted in mid-March when the pandemic halted traditional political activity.
“We are continuing with our virtual operation,” RNC spokesman Mike Reed told the Washington Examiner. “We’ll reassess in a month or so.”
Biden campaign spokesman Michael Gwin said the former vice president would be “guided by science” and an advisory committee he assembled to keep tabs on the coronavirus as he determines the course of efforts to win the White House. “As the country continues to cope with the current health crisis, the Biden campaign is using every tool at our disposal and innovating to communicate our message to the American people,” Gwin said.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Around two-dozen states are in the process of lifting mandated business closures. Depending on the state, the shift allows residents to return to restaurants, fitness centers, hair salons, and retail stores, albeit with social distancing guidelines. Among the states engaged in a multiphase reopening are Arizona, where Trump headed Tuesday to tour a manufacturing plant, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. All of them qualify as either competitive or targeted by campaigns.
But the Trump and Biden campaigns are playing it safe, as is the Democratic National Committee, sticking with the virtual tools each developed once the coronavirus put rallies, town hall meetings, and grassroots organizing on ice.
The RNC is satisfied with a vigorous program that utilizes text messaging and videoconferencing to reach voters and train volunteers. The Trump campaign airs a nightly slate of live, online broadcasts that some political operatives refer to as “Trump TV.” Campaign officials said they are pleased with the results. Each garners an average of more than 1 million viewers. A recent program featuring Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle was viewed by 2.45 million people.
The DNC claims similar success with its virtual apparatus. "We will continue to utilize whatever tactic is most appropriate and complies with the best health and safety standards," spokesman David Bergstein said.
Just under six months before Election Day, with deaths and job losses mounting from the coronavirus, Vice President Mike Pence revealed plans to disband the White House pandemic task force by month’s end. Meanwhile, Trump told reporters: "The people of our country should think of themselves as warriors. Our country has to open.” But the opinions of Republican activists are mixed.
In Texas, a red state Democrats hope to make competitive, the demand is high for a return to politics as usual, explained Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican operative in Austin. For example, county GOP conventions canceled in March because of the coronavirus are being rescheduled for this month, he said. The Travis County GOP convention is scheduled for May 30.
But in Georgia, another red state Democrats are targeting, GOP consultant Ryan Williams said grassroots Republicans are content to continue campaigning virtually. “There’s been a hesitation to move forward with [in-person] grassroots activities,” said Williams, who is based in Atlanta.
In Florida, some Republican officials are looking for hybrid solutions.
Linda Trocine, chairman of the Seminole County GOP, said virtual programs implemented by the RNC and the Trump campaign have been effective. But with her state opening up, Trocine said she was organizing a gathering, similar to drive-in churches or the recent boat parade of Trump supporters in South Florida, that would satisfy health concerns while still allowing for a public show of support for the president.
“I have a plan for an event in June that will respect social distancing and still get people together,” she said. “We’re adapting. We’re going to find away.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Stacey Abrams claims she hasn't been 'pitching' herself to be Biden's running mate

Stacey Abrams said she has not been actively `` pitching '' herself as a vice presidential contender as Joe Biden engages in the process of selecting a running mate .
`` I want to push back .
I have n't been pitching myself , which has been a mischaracterization , I think , '' Abrams told CNN International host Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday .
`` I answer questions honestly .
I 've been getting this question for 14 months , since March of 2019 .
I 've repeatedly received the question , and I 'm honored that people would put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was a question to ask . ''
The former Georgia state representative and failed 2018 gubernatorial candidate is often mentioned as a potential running mate for Biden , who filled the role of vice president for eight years under former President Barack Obama and has pledged to pick a woman as his running mate .
Abrams 's statement , however , contradicts reports that she is actively campaigning for the job .
Politico , citing unnamed labor leaders , reported last week that Abrams has privately asked powerful Democrats to tell the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pick .
She has kept a heavy media interview schedule since Biden became the presumptive nominee , never shying away from questions about being his potential pick in a break from contenders traditionally being coy about their vice presidential ambitions .
In a recent Atlantic profile , Abrams tried to shut down those who question her qualifications , particularly in foreign policy , by saying she “ spent the last 20 years thinking about international issues independently and been to 16 countries doing policy work ... as an inquisitive young person and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday that her eagerness to communicate is a result of wanting to be a good role model for young women of color .
`` My responsibility is not to question what journalists think is a valid question but to answer for the audience that they 're speaking to .
And as a woman , as a person of color , and as a person of color , it is my responsibility to answer honestly and forthrightly , '' Abrams said .
`` And if the question is about whether I am competent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be unequivocal , because I 'm not simply speaking for myself .
I 'm also speaking to that young woman of color who is thinking about what is in her future . ''

Stacey Abrams said she has not been actively "pitching" herself as a vice presidential contender as Joe Biden engages in the process of selecting a running mate.
"I want to push back. I haven't been pitching myself, which has been a mischaracterization, I think," Abrams told CNN International host Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday. "I answer questions honestly. I've been getting this question for 14 months, since March of 2019. I've repeatedly received the question, and I'm honored that people would put me into the category and think that that was a question to ask."
The former Georgia state representative and failed 2018 gubernatorial candidate is often mentioned as a potential running mate for Biden, who filled the role of vice president for eight years under former President Barack Obama and has pledged to pick a woman as his running mate.
Abrams's statement, however, contradicts reports that she is actively campaigning for the job.
Politico, citing unnamed labor leaders, reported last week that Abrams has privately asked powerful Democrats to tell the Biden campaign officials that she should be his pick.
She has kept a heavy media interview schedule since Biden became the presumptive nominee, never shying away from questions about being his potential pick in a break from contenders traditionally being coy about their vice presidential ambitions.
In a recent Atlantic profile, Abrams tried to shut down those who question her qualifications, particularly in foreign policy, by saying she “spent the last 20 years thinking about international issues independently and been to 16 countries doing policy work ... as an inquisitive young person and then as a legislator.”
Abrams indicated Wednesday that her eagerness to communicate is a result of wanting to be a good role model for young women of color.
"My responsibility is not to question what journalists think is a valid question but to answer for the audience that they're speaking to. And as a woman, as a person of color, and as a person of color, it is my responsibility to answer honestly and forthrightly," Abrams said. "And if the question is about whether I am competent and qualified for the job, my answer must be unequivocal, because I'm not simply speaking for myself. I'm also speaking to that young woman of color who is thinking about what is in her future."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Biden: Gender confirmation surgery is ‘medically necessary'

Joe Biden said sex-change surgery is medically necessary for transgender people while pushing for changes that would require insurers to cover such procedures .
The former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee made the assertion during a Wednesday virtual event with the Human Rights Campaign .
He received a question on how he would ensure gay and transgender people have access to affordable healthcare .
`` As president , I 'm going to protect and build on Obamacare with a public option .
That 's the fastest way to get to universal coverage .
Reverse Trump 's actions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And cover PrEP [ pre-exposure prophylaxis ] so that people at high risk of getting HIV and AIDS , HIV/AIDS , do have — do n't have to choose between covering their rent and staying alive , '' he said .
Biden then made a point about surgery for transgender people .
“ And make sure insurance companies treat gender confirmation surgery as a medical necessary , which it is , '' Biden said .
He noted that the Affordable Care Act prevented insurers from charging individuals more based on sexual orientation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these protections since he took office , '' Biden said .
`` Anyone involved in patient care , from the board of directors to a receptionist in charge of scheduling , could put their beliefs above your healthcare . ''
Biden 's campaign plan for helping gay and transgender people states that he aims to `` ensure coverage for comprehensive care for LGBTQ+ Americans , '' including by `` covering care related to transitioning — including gender confirmation surgery . ''
The Human Rights Campaign , a leading organization pushing for expanding gay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , which marked the eight-year anniversary of Biden coming out in support of same-sex marriage before former President Barack Obama did in a Meet the Press interview .
`` His dedication to advancing LGBTQ equality , even when it was unpopular to do so , has pushed our country and our movement forward , '' Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said in a statement .

Joe Biden said sex-change surgery is medically necessary for transgender people while pushing for changes that would require insurers to cover such procedures.
The former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee made the assertion during a Wednesday virtual event with the Human Rights Campaign. He received a question on how he would ensure gay and transgender people have access to affordable healthcare.
"As president, I'm going to protect and build on Obamacare with a public option. That's the fastest way to get to universal coverage. Reverse Trump's actions and restore Obamacare protections for LGBTQ Americans. And cover PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis] so that people at high risk of getting HIV and AIDS, HIV/AIDS, do have — don't have to choose between covering their rent and staying alive," he said.
Biden then made a point about surgery for transgender people.
“And make sure insurance companies treat gender confirmation surgery as a medical necessary, which it is," Biden said.
He noted that the Affordable Care Act prevented insurers from charging individuals more based on sexual orientation.
"Trump has been trying to gut these protections since he took office," Biden said. "Anyone involved in patient care, from the board of directors to a receptionist in charge of scheduling, could put their beliefs above your healthcare."
Biden's campaign plan for helping gay and transgender people states that he aims to "ensure coverage for comprehensive care for LGBTQ+ Americans," including by "covering care related to transitioning — including gender confirmation surgery."
The Human Rights Campaign, a leading organization pushing for expanding gay and transgender rights, endorsed Biden on Wednesday, which marked the eight-year anniversary of Biden coming out in support of same-sex marriage before former President Barack Obama did in a Meet the Press interview.
"His dedication to advancing LGBTQ equality, even when it was unpopular to do so, has pushed our country and our movement forward," Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said in a statement.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-06--Anti-Trumpers get nostalgic for George W. Bush before liberals shut down praise

Critics of President Trump got caught in an awkward position as they expressed nostalgia for George W. Bush 's presidency and leadership style before being scolded by liberals .
Praise for the 43rd president followed a professionally produced video for the `` Call to Unite '' project in which he talked about the coronavirus crisis .
“ Let us remember , we have faced times of testing before , ” Bush said in the video shared Saturday .
“ Following 9/11 , I saw a great nation rise as one to honor the brave , to grieve with the grieving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I have no doubt , none at all , that this spirit of service and sacrifice is alive and well in America.
” Bush rarely makes public statements about current events , and his tone was noticeably different than Trump , emphasizing unity .
“ In a million years I never thought I ’ d be crying watching this , thinking how much better we ’ d all feel if Bush were president today .
Wtf , ” tweeted former Democratic California Rep. Katie Hill , who resigned from office last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers .
“ Please listen to every word of this message from our former President George W. Bush .
What a thoughtful and inspiring message .
This is how a leader speaks and what a leader says , ” tweeted Fred Guttenberg , a gun control activist whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland , Florida , shooting .
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough shared a photo of a child holding an American flag alongside a quote from Bush : “ We rise or fall together , and we are determined to rise.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of popular opinion about Bush since Trump became a major force in Republican politics .
A January 2018 CNN poll found that 61 % of the public had a favorable view of Bush , nearly double the 33 % who had a favorable opinion of him when he left office in January 2009 .
Feel-good nostalgia for Bush , however , was quickly shut down .
Late-night host Seth Meyers criticized Democrats who lauded Bush 's calls for unity and his tone .
“ George W. Bush is not your friend .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fabricated evidence to drag us into an intractable war , '' Meyers said Tuesday .
“ You can criticize one bad president without praising another bad president.
” “ The Trump presidency didn ’ t just come out of nowhere .
Bush paved the way for him , '' he added .
“ If we can ’ t remember when presidents do bad things , then more presidents are going to come along and do more bad things . ''
The Guardian columnist Arwa Mahdawi wrote Wednesday that `` the steady rehabilitation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evade accountability in the future . ''
Hill issued an apology later on Saturday .
`` This seemed dismissive of the horrors of the Bush years - in which I was an LGBT teenage girl who knew many people who served ( and died ) in the wars that are still not over .
Maybe it ’ s true that in the end , his 'legacy ' will still be worse that Trump ’ s , '' she tweeted .
Guttenberg stood by his praise of Bush .
“ Everyone flipping because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My brother died because of 9/11 .
I 'm aware of what Bush did in response to it & on guns & how it contributed to the death of my daughter .
I disliked his Presidency .
I like this message , wish we had more of this now , '' he tweeted Saturday .
Some commentators issued harsh criticism of Bush while welcoming any anti-Trump messaging from Republicans .
`` Should President Bush be allowed to rehabilitate his reputation ?
No .
He wasn ’ t just a bad President , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge death toll of his own .
But if Bush wants to help us take Trump down , we ’ ll take the help , '' leftist blogger Bill Palmer tweeted Saturday .
Trump also scoffed at his fellow Republican president 's video .
“ He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history !
” the president tweeted Sunday .
He continued his criticism of Bush in an interview on Monday that echoed some liberals , calling the invasion of Iraq “ the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
”

Critics of President Trump got caught in an awkward position as they expressed nostalgia for George W. Bush's presidency and leadership style before being scolded by liberals.
Praise for the 43rd president followed a professionally produced video for the "Call to Unite" project in which he talked about the coronavirus crisis.
“Let us remember, we have faced times of testing before,” Bush said in the video shared Saturday. “Following 9/11, I saw a great nation rise as one to honor the brave, to grieve with the grieving, and to embrace unavoidable new duties. And I have no doubt, none at all, that this spirit of service and sacrifice is alive and well in America.”
Bush rarely makes public statements about current events, and his tone was noticeably different than Trump, emphasizing unity.
That prompted emotional responses from Trump critics.
“In a million years I never thought I’d be crying watching this, thinking how much better we’d all feel if Bush were president today. Wtf,” tweeted former Democratic California Rep. Katie Hill, who resigned from office last year amid allegations of improper relationships with staffers.
In a million years I never thought I’d be crying watching this, thinking how much better we’d all feel if Bush were president today. Wtf. https://t.co/SSR3ieZEFP — Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) May 2, 2020
“Please listen to every word of this message from our former President George W. Bush. What a thoughtful and inspiring message. This is how a leader speaks and what a leader says,” tweeted Fred Guttenberg, a gun control activist whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland, Florida, shooting.
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough shared a photo of a child holding an American flag alongside a quote from Bush: “We rise or fall together, and we are determined to rise.”
The praise represents a nationwide change of popular opinion about Bush since Trump became a major force in Republican politics. A January 2018 CNN poll found that 61% of the public had a favorable view of Bush, nearly double the 33% who had a favorable opinion of him when he left office in January 2009.
Feel-good nostalgia for Bush, however, was quickly shut down.
Late-night host Seth Meyers criticized Democrats who lauded Bush's calls for unity and his tone.
“George W. Bush is not your friend. He’s still the guy who used fabricated evidence to drag us into an intractable war," Meyers said Tuesday. “You can criticize one bad president without praising another bad president.”
“The Trump presidency didn’t just come out of nowhere. Bush paved the way for him," he added. “If we can’t remember when presidents do bad things, then more presidents are going to come along and do more bad things."
Hey! Democrats! Why do you keep saying nice things about George W. Bush?! https://t.co/RtFoSuouMv — Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) May 6, 2020
The Guardian columnist Arwa Mahdawi wrote Wednesday that "the steady rehabilitation of Bush is paving the way for Trump to evade accountability in the future."
Hill issued an apology later on Saturday. "This seemed dismissive of the horrors of the Bush years - in which I was an LGBT teenage girl who knew many people who served (and died) in the wars that are still not over. Maybe it’s true that in the end, his 'legacy' will still be worse that Trump’s," she tweeted.
I apologize that this seemed dismissive of the horrors of the Bush years - in which I was an LGBT teenage girl who knew many people who served (and died) in the wars that are still not over. Maybe it’s true that in the end, his “legacy” will still be worse that Trump’s. — Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) May 2, 2020
Guttenberg stood by his praise of Bush.
“Everyone flipping because I praised this Bush message, stop. My brother died because of 9/11. I'm aware of what Bush did in response to it & on guns & how it contributed to the death of my daughter. I disliked his Presidency. I like this message, wish we had more of this now," he tweeted Saturday.
Everyone flipping because I praised this Bush message, stop. My brother died because of 9/11. I'm aware of what Bush did in response to it & on guns & how it contributed to the death of my daughter. I disliked his Presidency. I like this message, wish we had more of this now. https://t.co/fcFtN6qMwH — Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 2, 2020
Some commentators issued harsh criticism of Bush while welcoming any anti-Trump messaging from Republicans.
"Should President Bush be allowed to rehabilitate his reputation? No. He wasn’t just a bad President, he committed war crimes. He had a huge death toll of his own. But if Bush wants to help us take Trump down, we’ll take the help," leftist blogger Bill Palmer tweeted Saturday.
Trump also scoffed at his fellow Republican president's video.
“He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” the president tweeted Sunday.
He continued his criticism of Bush in an interview on Monday that echoed some liberals, calling the invasion of Iraq “the worst decision made in the history of our country.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-06--House Democrat says Biden allegation 'put to rest' after he 'went on TV' and 'unequivocally' denied

House Democrat says Biden allegation 'put to rest' after he 'went on TV' and 'unequivocally' denied it

Rep. Dina Titus argued that sexual misconduct allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden were `` put to rest '' when he denied them in a televised interview .
Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , was accused of sexually harassing and assaulting Tara Reade , a woman who worked in his Senate office in the early 1990s .
Reade , 52 , accused him of inappropriately touching her and penetrating her with his fingers while forcibly kissing her without her consent , which he has denied .
In an interview on MSNBC Wednesday morning , Titus said Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back his White House run despite her being `` strong supporter of the # MeToo movement . ''
`` Well , I ’ m a strong supporter of the # MeToo movement , have been from the beginning , and I believe women should be believed , and I believe they should be heard , '' the Nevada Democrat said .
`` And their stories should be vetted .
They shouldn ’ t be afraid to come forward . ''
`` But Joe Biden went on TV .
He answered the question unequivocally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'In my memory ' or ' I don ’ t recall . '
He said , ' I didn ’ t do it . '
It ’ s been vetted .
He called on the secretary of the Senate to release any information .
I think it ’ s put to rest , '' she added .
Biden denied Reade 's claims in an interview on MSNBC 's Morning Joe last week .
He went on to request that Julie Adams , the secretary of the Senate , and her team look for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual harassment , asking that any relevant documents be released to the public .
After seeking legal advice , however , Adams announced that she could not legally release documents because of the `` law 's strict confidentiality requirements . ''
Reade has also sought for Biden to release his personal archives , which are currently sealed and stored at the University of Delaware .
Biden refused to unseal those documents when asked about releasing them during the interview , claiming that such a complaint would n't be in those files anyway .

Rep. Dina Titus argued that sexual misconduct allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden were "put to rest" when he denied them in a televised interview.
Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was accused of sexually harassing and assaulting Tara Reade, a woman who worked in his Senate office in the early 1990s. Reade, 52, accused him of inappropriately touching her and penetrating her with his fingers while forcibly kissing her without her consent, which he has denied.
In an interview on MSNBC Wednesday morning, Titus said Biden's denial was enough for her to back his White House run despite her being "strong supporter of the #MeToo movement."
"Well, I’m a strong supporter of the #MeToo movement, have been from the beginning, and I believe women should be believed, and I believe they should be heard," the Nevada Democrat said. "And their stories should be vetted. They shouldn’t be afraid to come forward."
"But Joe Biden went on TV. He answered the question unequivocally. He didn’t say, 'In my memory' or 'I don’t recall.' He said, 'I didn’t do it.' It’s been vetted. He called on the secretary of the Senate to release any information. I think it’s put to rest," she added.
Biden denied Reade's claims in an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe last week. He went on to request that Julie Adams, the secretary of the Senate, and her team look for a complaint Reade said she filed concerning sexual harassment, asking that any relevant documents be released to the public. After seeking legal advice, however, Adams announced that she could not legally release documents because of the "law's strict confidentiality requirements."
Reade has also sought for Biden to release his personal archives, which are currently sealed and stored at the University of Delaware. Biden refused to unseal those documents when asked about releasing them during the interview, claiming that such a complaint wouldn't be in those files anyway.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Devin Nunes: Look for witnesses who were 'not so truthful' in Russia inquiry transcripts

Rep. Devin Nunes said there is no evidence of collusion to be found in dozens of witness transcripts that the House Intelligence Committee is poised to release .
Nunes , who is the top Republican on the panel , said the public disclosure of these transcripts will show Chairman Adam Schiff told `` lie after lie after lie '' to the public about there being proof the Trump campaign was conspiring with the Russians during the 2016 election .
`` There 's no going to be any major bombshells in this because the Democrats already leaked all the supposed bombshells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nunes told Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on Wednesday .
Schiff , who has stressed there was `` direct evidence '' of collusion between the Trump team and Russia , is now `` in panic mode , '' a senior administration source told Fox News .
The California Democrat signaled on Wednesday he would release 53 witness transcripts , which had been unanimously approved for release by the committee two years ago , only after acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell said the redaction and declassification process was complete and he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
Schiff 's office pinned the blame on ODNI for the `` unnecessary wait , '' even as GOP lawmakers and Trump administration officials blamed Schiff for the delay .
Nunes said the `` most interesting '' transcripts will be those of interviews with Obama administration officials , which he hinted will expose the Democrats `` covering this up . ''
Among them are former Obama deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes , former Attorney General Loretta Lynch , former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates , former U.S .
Ambassador to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security adviser Susan Rice .
Additional witnesses included Trump associates as well as other government and political figures .
`` I think for good guy side and the real investigators that are trying to get to the bottom of the Russia hoax and who was involved in it , there will be likely people who were not so truthful to Congress , let 's just say , '' Nunes added later .
The Republicans , who were in command of the House Intelligence Committee at the time , released a report in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collusion in their investigation into links between the Trump campaign and the Russians .
Democrats argued the inquiry was shut down prematurely .
A year later , special counsel Robert Mueller said his team 's investigation “ did not establish ” any criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin .
As for when exactly Schiff will release the transcripts , Nunes doubts it will be any time soon because he believes `` 90 % of the media '' are `` covering this up '' and wo n't hold the chairman accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to see them , I guess if some of the Russia hoaxers ask , 'Hey , are we going to see these transcripts ?
, ' they ’ ll be out in a nanosecond .
If no one does , they ’ ll delay as long as possible and they 'll release them on a Friday night , you know , before Thanksgiving or over Thanksgiving weekend or something , '' he said .

Rep. Devin Nunes said there is no evidence of collusion to be found in dozens of witness transcripts that the House Intelligence Committee is poised to release.
Nunes, who is the top Republican on the panel, said the public disclosure of these transcripts will show Chairman Adam Schiff told "lie after lie after lie" to the public about there being proof the Trump campaign was conspiring with the Russians during the 2016 election.
"There's no going to be any major bombshells in this because the Democrats already leaked all the supposed bombshells and lied about those bombshells," Nunes told Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on Wednesday.
Schiff’s Secret Transcripts: @RepDevinNunes says 53 House Intel Committee transcripts will expose more lies made to Congress by the deep state and Radical Dems. #AmericaFirst #MAGA #Dobbs pic.twitter.com/jO9aOkdPRX — Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) May 6, 2020
Schiff, who has stressed there was "direct evidence" of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, is now "in panic mode," a senior administration source told Fox News. The California Democrat signaled on Wednesday he would release 53 witness transcripts, which had been unanimously approved for release by the committee two years ago, only after acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell said the redaction and declassification process was complete and he would put them out if the committee did not.
Schiff's office pinned the blame on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the "unnecessary delay" and the White House for "its improper insistence on reviewing key transcripts," even as GOP lawmakers and Trump administration officials blamed Schiff for the delay.
Nunes said the "most interesting" transcripts will be those of interviews with Obama administration officials, which he hinted will expose the Democrats "covering this up."
Among them are former Obama deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, and former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice. Additional witnesses included Trump associates as well as other government and political figures.
"I think for the good guy side and the real investigators that are trying to get to the bottom of the Russia hoax and who was involved in it, there will be likely people who were not so truthful to Congress, let's just say," Nunes added later.
The Republicans, who were in command of the House Intelligence Committee at the time, released a report in April 2018 that said they found no collusion in their investigation into links between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Democrats argued the investigation was shut down prematurely. A year later, special counsel Robert Mueller said his team's investigation “did not establish” any criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
As for when exactly Schiff will release the transcripts, Nunes doubts it will be any time soon because he believes "90% of the media" are "covering this up" and won't hold the chairman accountable.
"So, you ask when you’re going to see them. I guess if some of the Russia hoaxers ask, 'Hey, are we going to see these transcripts?', they’ll be out in a nanosecond. If no one does, they’ll delay as long as possible, and they'll release them on a Friday night, you know, before Thanksgiving or, you know, over Thanksgiving weekend or something," he said.
Schiff released 57 transcripts and related material from the investigation on Thursday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Nikki Haley stokes anger at China to build 2024 election support

Nikki Haley is seizing on heightened suspicion of China inside the Republican Party to assemble an army of grassroots supporters , marking another key expansion of her political footprint in anticipation of a 2024 presidential bid .
Haley is asking people to sign a petition urging Congress to get tough with “ communist China ” amid rising criticism of Beijing ’ s questionable handling of the coronavirus in the weeks after the disease emerged in Wuhan .
The issue aligns with a hawkish foreign policy Haley promoted at the United Nations , and since leaving President Trump ’ s cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s authoritarian regime .
Republican voters are increasingly anxious about China ’ s intentions and global influence .
Haley ’ s petition is unlikely to be the factor that pushes Congress to crack down on Beijing .
But as the pandemic persists and its devastating impact on public health and the economy unfolds , the exercise allows Haley to elevate her profile on a critical national security issue and steadily build a list of supporters the former South Carolina governor could tap to fuel a presidential campaign .
“ What are you going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality is , she ’ s building a list , ” said Ed Rollins , a veteran Republican strategist who runs a pro-Trump super PAC .
Stand for America , a political nonprofit group formed by Haley after departing as Trump ’ s first UN ambassador , is hosting the petition .
It makes five demands : Investigate China ’ s role in “ covering up ” the coronavirus outbreak ; strengthen U.S. support for Taiwan ; treat Beijing like a wealthy nation when calculating dues owed to international organizations such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the manufacturing supply chain ; and force universities to disclose funding for academic programs that emanate from the Asian power .
According to Stand for America ’ s website , nearly 300,000 people had signed the petition as of Wednesday afternoon .
A traditional tool of the trade for accumulating the names and contact information of potential supporters , Haley over time could use her list to raise money , enlist volunteers for a campaign , or aid Republicans who need access to grassroots conservatives .
“ It ’ s a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later on and to build upon her international policy chops , ” David Carney , a Republican consultant in New Hampshire , said of the petition strategy .
This was not Stand for America 's first petition .
Last year , the group gathered names to pressure Congress to approve legislation promoting human rights in Hong Kong , which has had its freedoms threatened by the Chinese government .
Chaney Denton , a spokeswoman for Haley 's organization , said the ambassador 's goal is to influence lawmakers by increasing grassroots support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stand For America is to educate about domestic and foreign policy , '' Denton told the Washington Examiner .
`` If by spreading this information we add more members , that means it 's working .
We will continue to mobilize concerned Americans on behalf of policies that keep America strong at home and abroad . ''
Jockeying for the 2024 Republican presidential primary has started early for a number of possible contenders .
Some have run ads in Iowa , others have campaigned for GOP congressional candidates in New Hampshire and Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to party power players to establish relationships and gauge interest in supporting a future bid .
Haley began making subtle moves last year with the launch of her political nonprofit organization .
This year , she lured respected conservative operative Tim Chapman from Heritage Action , affiliated with the Heritage Foundation , to take over as executive director of the group .
In March , Haley resigned from the board of Boeing , citing opposition to the aerospace manufacturer accessing federal rescue funds appropriated to keep essential industries afloat during the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warning about the risks to U.S. security posed by China is consistent with Haley ’ s agenda and fits with the image she has cut as a Republican who advocates for American global leadership .
But in using fresh worries about Beijing among Republican voters , Haley is able to maintain her alliance with Trump , with whom she gets along but does not always agree , and deepen her connection to the GOP base .
“ Republican sentiment has solidified as aggressive on China , and we 're finding ‘ get tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've polled over the past months or so , ” said Chris Wilson , a Republican pollster who advised Texas Sen. Ted Cruz ’ s presidential campaign in 2016 .
In a national poll conducted by Suffolk University , for USA Today , at the end of April , 83 % of self-identified Republicans said they believed China initially hid the coronavirus from other nations , exacerbating the pandemic .

Nikki Haley is seizing on heightened suspicion of China inside the Republican Party to assemble an army of grassroots supporters, marking another key expansion of her political footprint in anticipation of a 2024 presidential bid.
Haley is asking people to sign a petition urging Congress to get tough with “communist China” amid rising criticism of Beijing’s questionable handling of the coronavirus in the weeks after the virus emerged in Wuhan. The issue aligns with a hawkish foreign policy Haley promoted at the United Nations, and since leaving President Trump’s cabinet, she has emphasized confronting China’s authoritarian regime.
Republican voters are increasingly anxious about China’s intentions and global influence. Haley’s petition is unlikely to be the factor that pushes Congress to crack down on Beijing. But as the pandemic persists and its devastating impact on public health and the economy unfolds, the exercise allows Haley to elevate her profile on a critical national security issue and steadily build a list of supporters that the former South Carolina governor could tap to fuel a presidential campaign.
“What are you going to do with a petition? The reality is, she’s building a list,” said Ed Rollins, a veteran Republican strategist who runs a pro-Trump super PAC.
Stand for America, a political nonprofit group formed by Haley after departing as Trump’s first U.N. ambassador, is hosting the petition. It makes five demands: Investigate China’s role in “covering up” the coronavirus outbreak; strengthen U.S. support for Taiwan; treat Beijing like a wealthy nation when calculating dues owed to international organizations such as the U.N.; end China’s dominance over the manufacturing supply chain; and force universities to disclose funding for academic programs that emanate from the Asian power.
According to Stand for America’s website, nearly 300,000 people had signed the petition as of Wednesday afternoon. A traditional tool of the trade for accumulating the names and contact information of potential supporters, Haley over time could use her list to raise money, enlist volunteers for a campaign, or aid Republicans who need access to grassroots conservatives.
“It’s a good way to generate a list for use later on and to build upon her international policy chops,” David Carney, a Republican consultant in New Hampshire, said of the petition strategy.
This was not Stand for America's first petition. Last year, the group gathered names to pressure Congress to approve legislation promoting human rights in Hong Kong, which has had its freedoms threatened by the Chinese government. Chaney Denton, a spokeswoman for Haley's organization, said the ambassador's goal is to influence lawmakers by increasing grassroots support for her agenda.
"The goal of Stand For America is to educate about domestic and foreign policy," Denton told the Washington Examiner. "If by spreading this information we add more members, that means it's working. We will continue to mobilize concerned Americans on behalf of policies that keep America strong at home and abroad."
Jockeying for the 2024 Republican presidential primary has started early for a number of possible contenders. Some have run ads in Iowa, and others have campaigned for GOP congressional candidates in New Hampshire and Wisconsin — with still others quietly reaching out to party power players to establish relationships and gauge interest in supporting a future bid.
Haley began making subtle moves last year with the launch of her political nonprofit organization. This year, she lured respected conservative operative Tim Chapman from Heritage Action, affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, to take over as executive director of the group. In March, Haley resigned from the board of Boeing, citing opposition to the aerospace manufacturer accessing federal rescue funds appropriated to keep essential industries afloat during the pandemic. The company ultimately declined the money.
Warning about the risks to U.S. security posed by China is consistent with Haley’s agenda and fits with the image she has cut as a Republican who advocates for American global leadership. But in using fresh worries about Beijing among Republican voters, Haley is able to maintain her alliance with Trump, with whom she gets along but does not always agree, and deepen her connection to the GOP base.
“Republican sentiment has solidified as aggressive on China, and we're finding ‘get tough on China’ messages work in primaries we've polled over the past months or so,” said Chris Wilson, a Republican pollster who advised Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign in 2016.
In a national poll conducted by Suffolk University for USA Today at the end of April, 83% of self-identified Republicans said they believed China initially hid the coronavirus from other nations, exacerbating the pandemic.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-08--Court filing from 1996 shows Tara Reade complained to ex-husband about sexual harassment in Biden's

Court filing from 1996 shows Tara Reade complained to ex-husband about sexual harassment in Biden's office

A court document shows that Tara Reade told her ex-husband about sexual harassment she experienced in Joe Biden 's Senate office in 1993 .
The 1996 San Luis Obispo County court filing , first reported by local California paper the Tribune , does not mention an assault that Reade now alleges against Biden and does not say that Biden is the person who sexually harassed Reade .
But it is the first written piece of evidence that Reade complained about sexual harassment in Biden 's office in the 1990s , boosting corroboration from friends who say that they remember Reade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Biden and his campaign have denied Reade 's allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault but did not comment to the Tribune about the court document .
Theodore Dronen , Reade 's then-husband , wrote the court declaration while contesting a restraining order that Reade filed after he filed for divorce .
At the early stages of our dating , Petitioner [ Reade ] felt comfortable confiding in me as we both worked for Members of Congress , and we shared many other common interests .
On several occasions Petitioner related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work regarding sexual harassment , in U.S .
Senator Joe Biden 's office .
Petitioner told me that she eventually struck a deal with the chief of staff of the Senator 's office and left her position .
I was sympathetic to her needs when she asked me for help , and assisted her financially , and allowed her to stay at my apartment with my roommate while she looked for work .
It was obvious that this event had a traumatic effect on Petitioner , and that she is still sensitive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ex-husband confirmed that he made the filing but declined to comment further .
“ Tara and I ended our relationship over two decades ago under difficult circumstances , ” Dronen told the Tribune Thursday .
“ I am not interested in reliving that chapter of my life .
I wish Tara well , and I have nothing further to say.
” Reade alleges that Biden sexually harassed her by inappropriately touching her hair and neck and sexually assaulted her by forcibly kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers .
She also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drinks at an event because they said Biden liked her legs .
Reade says that she complained about the harassment , but not the assault , to top staff members , who deny hearing any complaint from her .
Several friends and Reade 's brother have told news outlets in recent weeks that Reade told them about sexual harassment or assault in Biden 's office , with varying degrees of detail .
Reade 's former neighbor , Lynda LaCasse , said that she heard about the assault from Reade in 1995 or 1996 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Reade 's in a California state senator 's office from 1994 through 1996 , said that Reade complained of being sexually harassed by her former boss .
One unnamed friend told multiple outlets that Reade relayed the sexual assault incident soon after it happened , and another unnamed friend told news outlets that around 2007 or 2008 , Reade told her about Biden inappropriately touching her .
Reade 's brother has told news outlets that Reade told him in 1993 that Biden put his hands under her clothes .
A video that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault shows a woman who Reade says is her now-deceased mother calling into an August 1993 episode of a Larry King show to ask about her daughter who worked for a `` prominent senator '' would `` get through with her problems , '' but it did not mention Biden or any sexual misconduct .
“ The affidavit from Ms. Reade ’ s ex-husband is further support that Ms. Reade was sexually assaulted and sexually harassed by then-Senator Joe Biden , ” Douglas Wigdor , Reade 's attorney , told the Tribune .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what happened will shortly be aired in an interview by Megyn Kelly , and I am confident that the American public will see her genuine veracity.
” Kelly , a former Fox News host , conducted Reade 's first on-camera interview since Biden personally denied her claims in a Friday interview .

A court document shows that Tara Reade told her ex-husband about sexual harassment she experienced in Joe Biden's Senate office in 1993.
The 1996 San Luis Obispo County court filing, first reported by local California paper the Tribune, does not mention an assault that Reade now alleges against Biden and does not say that Biden is the person who sexually harassed Reade. But it is the first written piece of evidence that Reade complained about sexual harassment in Biden's office in the 1990s, boosting corroboration from friends who say that they remember Reade complaining about assault or harassment around that time.
Biden and his campaign have denied Reade's allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault but did not comment to the Tribune about the court document.
Theodore Dronen, Reade's then-husband, wrote the court declaration while contesting a restraining order that Reade filed after he filed for divorce.
The filing, dated March 25, 1996, reads:
At the early stages of our dating, Petitioner [Reade] felt comfortable confiding in me as we both worked for Members of Congress, and we shared many other common interests. On several occasions Petitioner related a problem that she was having at work regarding sexual harassment, in U.S. Senator Joe Biden's office. Petitioner told me that she eventually struck a deal with the chief of staff of the Senator's office and left her position. I was sympathetic to her needs when she asked me for help, and assisted her financially, and allowed her to stay at my apartment with my roommate while she looked for work. It was obvious that this event had a traumatic effect on Petitioner, and that she is still sensitive and effected by it today.
Reade's ex-husband confirmed that he made the filing but declined to comment further.
“Tara and I ended our relationship over two decades ago under difficult circumstances,” Dronen told the Tribune Thursday. “I am not interested in reliving that chapter of my life. I wish Tara well, and I have nothing further to say.”
Reade alleges that Biden sexually harassed her by inappropriately touching her hair and neck and sexually assaulted her by forcibly kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers. She also said staff members once asked her to serve drinks at an event because they said Biden liked her legs. Reade says that she complained about the harassment, but not the assault, to top staff members, who deny hearing any complaint from her.
Several friends and Reade's brother have told news outlets in recent weeks that Reade told them about sexual harassment or assault in Biden's office, with varying degrees of detail.
Reade's former neighbor, Lynda LaCasse, said that she heard about the assault from Reade in 1995 or 1996. Lorraine Sanchez, a former colleague of Reade's in a California state senator's office from 1994 through 1996, said that Reade complained of being sexually harassed by her former boss. One unnamed friend told multiple outlets that Reade relayed the sexual assault incident soon after it happened, and another unnamed friend told news outlets that around 2007 or 2008, Reade told her about Biden inappropriately touching her. Reade's brother has told news outlets that Reade told him in 1993 that Biden put his hands under her clothes.
A video that surfaced after Reade came forward with her assault shows a woman who Reade says is her now-deceased mother calling into an August 1993 episode of a Larry King show to ask about her daughter who worked for a "prominent senator" would "get through with her problems," but it did not mention Biden or any sexual misconduct.
“The affidavit from Ms. Reade’s ex-husband is further support that Ms. Reade was sexually assaulted and sexually harassed by then-Senator Joe Biden,” Douglas Wigdor, Reade's attorney, told the Tribune. “Ms. Reade’s account of what happened will shortly be aired in an interview by Megyn Kelly, and I am confident that the American public will see her genuine veracity.”
Kelly, a former Fox News host, conducted Reade's first on-camera interview since Biden personally denied her claims in a Friday interview.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-08--Joe Kennedy and Ed Markey statistically tied in Massachusetts Senate primary: Poll

Joe Kennedy 's Democratic primary challenge against Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts received a slight boost Thursday , thanks to a new poll .
Kennedy , who has represented parts of Massachusetts south of Boston in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013 , has a 2 percentage point edge on Markey , the first-term incumbent , according to a University of Massachusetts Lowell and YouGov survey .
But their 44 % -42 % support apiece is well within the study 's margin of error of plus or minus 7.8 percentage points .
Another 10 % of respondents were undecided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot for another candidate .
Kennedy , 39 , ruffled the Democratic establishment when he announced his Senate bid last September against Markey , who earned praise from New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for his work on the Green New Deal .
Even Elizabeth Warren , the senior senator for Massachusetts , sided with Markey , 73 , over her former Harvard Law School student who supported her unsuccessful campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination .
Critics contend Joe Kennedy , a grandson of the late former Attorney General Robert F. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason to seek the Senate seat his family controlled for more than five decades given how close he and Markey are on policy issues .
Joe Kennedy , instead , is making a generational argument since Markey has been in Congress since 1976 and is the longest-serving member of the Massachusetts delegation .
Despite Markey 's establishment backing , Kennedy still outpaces him in fundraising .
Kennedy notched up $ 6.6 million cash on hand compared to Markey 's $ 4.4 million , according to first financial quarter disclosure reports .
This week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend $ 1.2 million on a statewide advertising effort , his first ad buy ahead of the Sept. 1 primary .
YouGov surveyed 531 likely Democratic Senate primary voters in Massachusetts online between Apr .
27 and May 1 on behalf of the University of Massachusetts Lowell .
A February poll by YouGov of Democratic presidential primary voters in the state found a similarly close race , with Kennedy ahead by 1 percentage point , 35 % -34 % .

Joe Kennedy's Democratic primary challenge against Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts received a slight boost Thursday, thanks to a new poll.
Kennedy, who has represented parts of Massachusetts south of Boston in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013, has a 2 percentage point edge on Markey, the first-term incumbent, according to a University of Massachusetts Lowell and YouGov survey. But their 44%-42% support apiece is well within the study's margin of error of plus or minus 7.8 percentage points.
Another 10% of respondents were undecided, while another 4% would cast a ballot for another candidate.
Kennedy, 39, ruffled the Democratic establishment when he announced his Senate bid last September against Markey, who earned praise from New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for his work on the Green New Deal. Even Elizabeth Warren, the senior senator for Massachusetts, sided with Markey, 73, over her former Harvard Law School student who supported her unsuccessful campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
Critics contend Joe Kennedy, a grandson of the late former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, doesn't have a compelling reason to seek the Senate seat his family controlled for more than five decades given how close he and Markey are on policy issues. Joe Kennedy, instead, is making a generational argument since Markey has been in Congress since 1976 and is the longest-serving member of the Massachusetts delegation.
Despite Markey's establishment backing, Kennedy still outpaces him in fundraising. Kennedy notched up $6.6 million cash on hand compared to Markey's $4.4 million, according to first financial quarter disclosure reports. This week, Kennedy also flagged how he would spend $1.2 million on a statewide advertising effort, his first ad buy ahead of the Sept. 1 primary.
YouGov surveyed 531 likely Democratic Senate primary voters in Massachusetts online between Apr. 27 and May 1 on behalf of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. A February poll by YouGov of Democratic presidential primary voters in the state found a similarly close race, with Kennedy ahead by 1 percentage point, 35%-34%.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--‘Am I on?’: Chirping birds and ‘Funkman Productions’ DJ steal show in glitchy virtual Biden rally

It was lauded as Joe Biden 's first virtual rally of the coronavirus pandemic , but it showcased the technological challenges involved in the COVID-19 world of campaigning .
`` Did they introduce me ?
Am I on ? ''
Biden , the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee , said Thursday as he walked up to the camera and removed his trademark aviator sunglasses .
His 10-minute outdoor address was garbled and difficult to hear over birds chirping in what was presumably the backyard of his Delaware property , where he 's been obeying a stay-at-home order since March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Florida , was supposed to make up for a rally that was canceled two months ago because of the coronavirus outbreak .
But the digital stop , which started late in typical Biden fashion , was plagued with technical issues .
Terrie Rizzo , the chair of the state 's Democratic Party , was left smiling at her webcam for a prolonged period of time , unaware she was already being streamed to the audience .
The announcer threw to Democratic state Sen. Janet Cruz as well , who similarly did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally , an attempt to emulate traditional campaigning despite the virus putting a pause on large , in-person events , also included a short set from `` Funkman Productions '' DJ Jack Henriquez , who provided a musical interlude after the Pledge of Allegiance and a speech from Biden regional organizer Larry Bowden .
Biden 's effort to ramp up his online game comes after Obama campaign alumni David Axelrod and David Plouffe warned his team they faced an uphill battle against President Trump in the fall if he did n't .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years to amass a loyal following and iron out any kinks , opting to pretape events to minimize snafus .
Thursday 's rally , promoted to Tampa residents via email , phone calls , and text messages , capped a day of Biden focusing on Florida , a critical battleground state , ahead of November .
Earlier , he convened a roundtable of black leaders in Jacksonville .

It was lauded as Joe Biden's first virtual rally of the coronavirus pandemic, but it showcased the technological challenges involved in the COVID-19 world of campaigning.
"Did they introduce me? Am I on?" Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, said Thursday as he walked up to the camera and removed his trademark aviator sunglasses.
.@JoeBiden enters his first “virtual rally.” Not in his basement anymore: pic.twitter.com/HUDiVF9yuO — Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) May 7, 2020
His 10-minute outdoor address was garbled and difficult to hear over birds chirping in what was presumably the backyard of his Delaware property, where he's been obeying a stay-at-home order since March.
The Biden campaign's virtual rally is going great! pic.twitter.com/m1AhE48CU5 — Eoin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) May 7, 2020
The online event targeting Democrats in Tampa, Florida, was supposed to make up for a rally that was canceled two months ago because of the coronavirus outbreak. But the digital stop, which started late in typical Biden fashion, was plagued with technical issues.
Terrie Rizzo, the chair of the state's Democratic Party, was left smiling at her webcam for a prolonged period of time, unaware she was already being streamed to the audience.
Not getting off to a great start... pic.twitter.com/Dg1jMGSRBy — Jim Swift (@JimSwiftDC) May 7, 2020
The announcer threw to Democratic state Sen. Janet Cruz as well, who similarly didn't realize she was being broadcast.
This Joe Biden virtual rally seems to be going well.
They introduced a speaker who was completely unaware that she was on camera then quickly cut away. 👇 pic.twitter.com/OoFhIkNjdK — Jonathan Turcotte - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@Turcotte_JPT) May 7, 2020
The rally, an attempt to emulate traditional campaigning despite the virus putting a pause on large, in-person events, also included a short set from "Funkman Productions" DJ Jack Henriquez, who provided a musical interlude after the Pledge of Allegiance and a speech from Biden regional organizer Larry Bowden.
Biden's effort to ramp up his online game comes after Obama campaign alumni David Axelrod and David Plouffe warned his team they faced an uphill battle against President Trump in the fall if he didn't. As an incumbent, Trump has had four years to amass a loyal following and iron out any kinks, opting to pretape events to minimize snafus.
Thursday's rally, promoted to Tampa residents via email, phone calls, and text messages, capped a day of Biden focusing on Florida, a critical battleground state, ahead of November. Earlier, he convened a roundtable of black leaders in Jacksonville.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--'Rising pandemic of hate': Biden says Ahmaud Arbery was 'lynched before our very eyes'

Joe Biden said that Ahmaud Arbery , a black man who was allegedly killed by two white men in Georgia in February , was `` essentially lynched before our very eyes '' and that the incident was part of a `` rising pandemic of hate . ''
“ By now , many of us have seen that harrowing footage of Ahmaud Arbery out on a jog on a beautiful day in February in Florida , in Georgia , shot down in cold blood , essentially lynched before our very eyes , 2020 style , ” Biden said in a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Florida .
The former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee called for a `` transparent investigation of this brutal murder . ''
`` These vicious acts call to mind the darkest chapters of our history , and more recently , the awful sector of white supremacists on the march in Charlottesville , Virginia , of massacres in house [ s ] of worship , of a rising pandemic of hate , ” Biden said .
It was the first time Biden publicly spoke about the Arbery case .
Arbery , 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood when Gregory McMichael , 64 , and his son Travis McMichael , 34 , grabbed firearms and chased him down because they said they thought he was burglarizing houses .
After a struggle , part of which is revealed in a graphic video , Arbery was shot dead .
The McMichaels were not arrested at the time , but after release of the video , a district attorney for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit said in a statement that he favored a grand jury investigation .
A prosecutor previously assigned to the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in self-defense and were following the state 's citizen 's arrest statute .
Biden first mentioned the Arbery case in a tweet on Tuesday .
`` The video is clear : Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood .
My heart goes out to his family , who deserve justice and deserve it now .
It is time for a swift , full , and transparent investigation into his murder , '' he said .

Joe Biden said that Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who was allegedly killed by two white men in Georgia in February, was "essentially lynched before our very eyes" and that the incident was part of a "rising pandemic of hate."
“By now, many of us have seen that harrowing footage of Ahmaud Arbery out on a jog on a beautiful day in February in Florida, in Georgia, shot down in cold blood, essentially lynched before our very eyes, 2020 style,” Biden said in a virtual roundtable with African American leaders in Jacksonville, Florida.
The former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee called for a "transparent investigation of this brutal murder."
"These vicious acts call to mind the darkest chapters of our history, and more recently, the awful sector of white supremacists on the march in Charlottesville, Virginia, of massacres in house[s] of worship, of a rising pandemic of hate,” Biden said.
It was the first time Biden publicly spoke about the Arbery case.
Arbery, 25, was running in a suburban Georgia neighborhood when Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis McMichael, 34, grabbed firearms and chased him down because they said they thought he was burglarizing houses. After a struggle, part of which is revealed in a graphic video, Arbery was shot dead.
The McMichaels were not arrested at the time, but after release of the video, a district attorney for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit said in a statement that he favored a grand jury investigation. A prosecutor previously assigned to the case had argued that the men were acting in self-defense and were following the state's citizen's arrest statute.
Biden first mentioned the Arbery case in a tweet on Tuesday. "The video is clear: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood. My heart goes out to his family, who deserve justice and deserve it now. It is time for a swift, full, and transparent investigation into his murder," he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Tara Reade: 'I'm not a criminal. Joe Biden should take the polygraph'

Tara Reade flipped a question about taking a polygraph test to boost her sexual assault and harassment claims against Joe Biden back onto him .
`` I 'm not a criminal .
Joe Biden should take the polygraph , '' Reade said .
`` What kind of precedent does that set for survivors of violence ?
Does that mean we 're presumed guilty , and we all have to take polygraphs ?
So , I will take one if Joe Biden takes one . ''
The question about the polygraph came during Reade 's first on-camera interview , with former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden personally denied Reade 's allegations on Friday .
Reade also reiterated that she was willing to go under oath about her claims , as Christine Blasey Ford did during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh 's confirmation hearing .
`` I will cooperate with law enforcement of any investigation going forward or in the future , and go under oath if I need to about what happened , ” Reade told the Washington Examiner last week .
Reade also told Kelly that she thought Biden should drop out of the presidential race .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wigdor LLP announced that it was representing Reade .

Tara Reade flipped a question about taking a polygraph test to boost her sexual assault and harassment claims against Joe Biden back onto him.
"I'm not a criminal. Joe Biden should take the polygraph," Reade said. "What kind of precedent does that set for survivors of violence? Does that mean we're presumed guilty, and we all have to take polygraphs? So, I will take one if Joe Biden takes one."
The question about the polygraph came during Reade's first on-camera interview, with former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, since Biden personally denied Reade's allegations on Friday.
Reade also reiterated that she was willing to go under oath about her claims, as Christine Blasey Ford did during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing.
"I will cooperate with law enforcement of any investigation going forward or in the future, and go under oath if I need to about what happened,” Reade told the Washington Examiner last week.
Reade also told Kelly that she thought Biden should drop out of the presidential race. Earlier on Thursday, the law firm Wigdor LLP announced that it was representing Reade.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Trump campaign manager compares president's reelection apparatus with Star Wars Death Star

A tweet by the campaign manager for President Trump 's 2020 reelection bid is drawing attention not only in political circles but also among Star Wars fans .
Brad Parscale on Thursday compared Trump 's fall fight against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden with the Death Star and said it was “ firing on all cylinders ” above a clip from Return of the Jedi , in which a nearly completed Death Star unleashes a series of giant , deadly laser blasts against Rebel fighter pilots .
`` For nearly three years we have been building a juggernaut campaign ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on all cylinders .
Data , Digital , TV , Political , Surrogates , Coalitions , etc .
In a few days we start pressing FIRE for the first time . ''
The wisdom of Parscale 's Star Wars analogy is open to question .
In both Jedi ( Episode VI to series aficionados ) and in the original film , A New Hope ( Episode IV ) , Rebel forces ultimately destroy versions of `` the ultimate power in the universe , '' as a high-ranking Imperial commander brags to a skeptical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardly the first time Star Wars and electoral politics have intertwined .
In fact , there 's a long history of it .
Series creator George Lucas dropped several political hints in the original three Star Wars films , released between 1977 and 1983 , and the prequels , which came out in three installments from 1999 to 2005 .
In 2012 , Lucas sold the franchise to Disney for $ 4.1 billion in stock and cash .
In the first prequel , The Phantom Menace , two bumbling and cowardly Neimoidian criminal-syndicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have names that sound suspiciously like Republican congressional leaders in the late 1990s .
That would be then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and Newt Gingrich , House speaker from 1995-99 .
By the third Star Wars prequel , viewers of a liberal bent drew comparisons between series villain Darth Vader and then-President George W. Bush .
Late in Episode III : Revenge of the Sith , Vader — the former Anakin Skywalker — confronts his former teacher , Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi .
“ If you ’ re not with me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Vader says .
The line echoes Bush ’ s international ultimatum after the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks : “ Either you are with us , or you are with the terrorists.
” And in Return of the Jedi , the short , fuzzy , and furry creatures of the Endor moon , known as Ewoks , actually represent Viet Cong fighters in the Vietnam War .
The North Vietnamese communists , like the Ewoks on film , faced a far more technologically advanced enemy , the U.S. military .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatally underestimates their ability to use the environment to their advantage , '' as the Telegraph noted in 2015 .
Darth Vader has occasionally been embraced by former Vice President Dick Cheney , Bush 's understudy from 2001-2009 , who critics have compared the character with .
In September 2011 , Cheney told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham that he `` was honored '' to be compared with Darth Vader while in office .
On Monday , his daughter , Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming , the third-highest House Republican , tweeted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to yours !
# MayThe4thBeWithYou '' The Darth Vader-masked man is n't known but is presumably the former vice president .

A tweet by the campaign manager for President Trump's 2020 reelection bid is drawing attention not only in political circles but also among Star Wars fans.
Brad Parscale on Thursday compared Trump's fall fight against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden with the Death Star and said it was “firing on all cylinders” above a clip from Return of the Jedi, in which a nearly completed Death Star unleashes a series of giant, deadly laser blasts against Rebel fighter pilots.
"For nearly three years we have been building a juggernaut campaign (Death Star). It is firing on all cylinders. Data, Digital, TV, Political, Surrogates, Coalitions, etc. In a few days we start pressing FIRE for the first time."
https://twitter.com/parscale/status/1258388669544759296
The wisdom of Parscale's Star Wars analogy is open to question. In both Jedi (Episode VI to series aficionados) and in the original film, A New Hope (Episode IV), Rebel forces ultimately destroy versions of "the ultimate power in the universe," as a high-ranking Imperial commander brags to a skeptical Darth Vader.
Parscale's tweet is hardly the first time Star Wars and electoral politics have intertwined. In fact, there's a long history of it.
Series creator George Lucas dropped several political hints in the original three Star Wars films, released between 1977 and 1983, and the prequels, which came out in three installments from 1999 to 2005. In 2012, Lucas sold the franchise to Disney for $4.1 billion in stock and cash.
In the first prequel, The Phantom Menace, two bumbling and cowardly Neimoidian criminal-syndicate types, Nute Gunray and Lott Dod, have names that sound suspiciously like Republican congressional leaders in the late 1990s. That would be then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and Newt Gingrich, House speaker from 1995-99.
By the third Star Wars prequel, viewers of a liberal bent drew comparisons between series villain Darth Vader and then-President George W. Bush. Late in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Vader — the former Anakin Skywalker — confronts his former teacher, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
“If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy,” Vader says. The line echoes Bush’s international ultimatum after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”
And in Return of the Jedi, the short, fuzzy, and furry creatures of the Endor moon, known as Ewoks, actually represent Viet Cong fighters in the Vietnam War. The North Vietnamese communists, like the Ewoks on film, faced a far more technologically advanced enemy, the U.S. military. The Empire of Star Wars lore "fatally underestimates their ability to use the environment to their advantage," as the Telegraph noted in 2015.
Darth Vader has occasionally been embraced by former Vice President Dick Cheney, Bush's understudy from 2001-2009, who critics have compared the character with.
In September 2011, Cheney told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham that he "was honored" to be compared with Darth Vader while in office.
On Monday, his daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the third-highest House Republican, tweeted, "Happy #StarWarsDay from our family to yours!#MayThe4thBeWithYou"
https://twitter.com/Liz_Cheney/status/1257388774797062145
The Darth Vader-masked man isn't known but is presumably the former vice president.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Trump campaign readies battery of Biden attack ads

President Trump 's reelection campaign has readied a battery of negative advertising targeting presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , starting with the former vice president 's record on China .
The online , broadcast , and cable television ad buy is reported to have cost more than $ 10 million and has the president 's backing , according to Politico .
Campaign manager Brad Parscale shared on Thursday a one-minute video that suggests Biden 's son leveraged his father 's influence in office to net a lucrative business deal .
The ad , titled `` Biden : Dangerous for America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question China 's geopolitical ambitions .
`` China is going to eat our lunch ?
Come on , man , '' Biden says in the clip .
Another segment shows Biden as vice president saying : “ The growth of China is overwhelmingly in our interest.
” A second clip shared by Parscale shows Biden caught in a lie about his academic background and achievements .
`` For nearly three years we have been building a juggernaut campaign ( Death Star ) , '' Parscale wrote on Twitter .
The campaign would `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a few days , he said .
While the campaign has shared clips attacking Biden online for months , the ad buy marks a major escalation as the president looks toward the general election .
Trump traveled this week to Arizona , and states have begun rolling back stay-at-home orders put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus in the hopes of reopening their economies .
Trump is gearing up for a tough general election fight .
With less than six months until Election Day , more than 30 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
Meanwhile , Biden leads Trump nationally by more than 5 percentage points , according to the RealClearPolitics average .
A Biden campaign ad released last month sought to paint Trump as soft on China , where the coronavirus was first discovered .
The economic fallout has forced Trump 's campaign team to retool a message that prior to the crisis focused on the economic prosperity accrued under the president 's leadership .
The campaign is now instead positioning Trump as the candidate best equipped to go head-to-head with Beijing and resurrect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China in a trade war and blamed its government for the pandemic .
By contrast , Biden , as a senator and then vice president , supported trade deals with China and visited with Chinese President Xi Jinping .
And Biden 's son Hunter inked a $ 1 billion business deal with a Chinese state-backed private equity firm weeks after joining his father on an official visit to China in 2013 , the campaign has claimed .

President Trump's reelection campaign has readied a battery of negative advertising targeting presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, starting with the former vice president's record on China.
The online, broadcast, and cable television ad buy is reported to have cost more than $10 million and has the president's backing, according to Politico.
Campaign manager Brad Parscale shared on Thursday a one-minute video that suggests Biden's son leveraged his father's influence in office to net a lucrative business deal.
The ad, titled "Biden: Dangerous for America," also shows Biden seeming to question China's geopolitical ambitions. "China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man," Biden says in the clip. Another segment shows Biden as vice president saying: “The growth of China is overwhelmingly in our interest.”
A second clip shared by Parscale shows Biden caught in a lie about his academic background and achievements.
"For nearly three years we have been building a juggernaut campaign (Death Star)," Parscale wrote on Twitter. The campaign would "press FIRE for the first time" in a few days, he said.
While the campaign has shared clips attacking Biden online for months, the ad buy marks a major escalation as the president looks toward the general election. Trump traveled this week to Arizona, and states have begun rolling back stay-at-home orders put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus in the hopes of reopening their economies.
Trump is gearing up for a tough general election fight.
With less than six months until Election Day, more than 30 million people in the United States are out of work. Meanwhile, Biden leads Trump nationally by more than 5 percentage points, according to the RealClearPolitics average. A Biden campaign ad released last month sought to paint Trump as soft on China, where the coronavirus was first discovered.
The economic fallout has forced Trump's campaign team to retool a message that prior to the crisis focused on the economic prosperity accrued under the president's leadership.
The campaign is now instead positioning Trump as the candidate best equipped to go head-to-head with Beijing and resurrect the economy. The president took on China in a trade war and blamed its government for the pandemic.
By contrast, Biden, as a senator and then vice president, supported trade deals with China and visited with Chinese President Xi Jinping. And Biden's son Hunter inked a $1 billion business deal with a Chinese state-backed private equity firm weeks after joining his father on an official visit to China in 2013, the campaign has claimed.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Tara Reade gets legal representation from Weinstein accuser attorney and Christine Blasey Ford advoc

Tara Reade gets legal representation from Weinstein accuser attorney and Christine Blasey Ford advocate

Tara Reade now has legal representation through Wigdor LLP as she pushes forward with allegations that Joe Biden sexually harassed and assaulted her when she worked in his Senate office in 1993 .
Douglas Wigdor , the firm 's partner , has a long history of representing accusers in high-profile sexual misconduct cases .
He represents six women who accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein , now a convicted sex offender , of misconduct .
He represented Juliet Huddy in connection with her claims against former Fox News host Bill O ’ Reilly .
Wigdor was a vocal supporter of Christine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not legally represent her during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh 's nomination , during which time she accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school .
`` Her harrowing account is credible and supported by numerous 'outcry ' witnesses from decades ago , '' a press release from the firm on Thursday said of Reade 's claims .
`` We at Wigdor LLP firmly believe that every survivor of sexual assault has the right to competent legal counsel , and we will represent Ms. Reade zealously , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual violence . ''
Wigdor supported President Trump in the 2016 election but has also supported Democrats such as New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries .
The firm said that its representation of Reade `` has absolutely nothing to do with politics . ''
`` We have decided to take this matter on because every survivor has the right to competent counsel , and that is exactly what we will provide , '' the firm said .
The announcement of Reade 's legal representation followed news that former Fox News host Megyn Kelly interviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden personally denied her allegations on Friday .
Reade , 56 , that in 1993 , Biden sexually harassed her by inappropriately touching her hair and neck and sexually assaulted her by forcibly kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers in a semiprivate area of the Senate office building complex .
She revealed harassment allegations in spring 2019 but did not accuse Biden of assault until the end of March .
Reade says that she complained about the harassment , but not the assault , to top staff members and then was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
Three top staffers vehemently deny hearing about her allegations , but two former interns have said they remember Reade abruptly losing her intern supervision duties .
Several friends of Reade ’ s have said that they remember hearing about either the harassment or the alleged assault , with varying degrees of detail , around the time it happened or in the '90s .

Tara Reade now has legal representation through Wigdor LLP as she pushes forward with allegations that Joe Biden sexually harassed and assaulted her when she worked in his Senate office in 1993.
Douglas Wigdor, the firm's partner, has a long history of representing accusers in high-profile sexual misconduct cases. He represents six women who accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein, now a convicted sex offender, of misconduct. He represented Juliet Huddy in connection with her claims against former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. Wigdor was a vocal supporter of Christine Blasey Ford in cable news interviews but did not legally represent her during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's nomination, during which time she accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school.
"Her harrowing account is credible and supported by numerous 'outcry' witnesses from decades ago," a press release from the firm on Thursday said of Reade's claims. "We at Wigdor LLP firmly believe that every survivor of sexual assault has the right to competent legal counsel, and we will represent Ms. Reade zealously, just as we would any other victim of sexual violence."
Wigdor supported President Trump in the 2016 election but has also supported Democrats such as New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
The firm said that its representation of Reade "has absolutely nothing to do with politics."
"We have decided to take this matter on because every survivor has the right to competent counsel, and that is exactly what we will provide," the firm said.
The announcement of Reade's legal representation followed news that former Fox News host Megyn Kelly interviewed Reade in her first on-camera appearance since Biden personally denied her allegations on Friday.
Reade, 56, alleges that in 1993, Biden sexually harassed her by inappropriately touching her hair and neck and sexually assaulted her by forcibly kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers in a semiprivate area of the Senate office building complex. She revealed harassment allegations in spring 2019 but did not accuse Biden of assault until the end of March.
Reade says that she complained about the harassment, but not the assault, to top staff members and then was retaliated against and told to find a job. Three top staffers vehemently deny hearing about her allegations, but two former interns have said they remember Reade abruptly losing her intern supervision duties. Several friends of Reade’s have said that they remember hearing about either the harassment or the alleged assault, with varying degrees of detail, around the time it happened or in the '90s.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-07--Voters who believe Tara Reade but support Biden anyway help him keep edge over Trump

Tara Reade ' s sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden is not hurting his ability to top President Trump .
A set of polls measuring voter opinion suggests that his continued lead over Trump is due to many voters who believe Reade 's allegations but are supporting him anyway .
A Monmouth University national poll conducted between April 30 and May 4 found Biden at 50 % support and Trump and 41 % support .
A large majority , 86 % , said that they have heard about Reade 's allegation that he sexually assaulted her when she worked as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1993 , which Biden strongly denies .
About one-third , 37 % , said that the allegation is probably true .
Suspicions regarding whether the allegation is true or not break along party lines .
But a closer look at those who find the allegation to be true could reveal why Biden keeps his dominance : 32 % of those who think that the allegation is true still support Biden .
That section of voters represents a sentiment in a widely circulated New York Times opinion piece published Wednesday .
Linda Hirshman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse and harassment , said that while she believes Reade , she will still vote for Biden .
`` It may not be just , but I ’ m swimming away from Mr. Trump ’ s sinking ship as hard as I can .
If I have to , I ’ ll vote for Mr. Biden .
I hope I ’ m not going to drown anyway , '' she wrote .
The finding also empowers Democrats who find themselves in an awkward position of backing Biden in the face of an assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look bad by publicly discrediting Reade or saying that they do not believe her .
“ It ’ s not up to me on whom to believe .
It ’ s up to the voters ultimately whom to believe , '' Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown told reporters this week .
`` Just like it ’ s up to the voters on whom to believe when Donald Trump paid off strippers and Donald Trump had all his issues , including grabbing women . ''
An Economist/YouGov national poll conducted May 3-5 found Biden at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % support .
In the same poll , 31 % found the allegation against Biden credible , 19 % said it is not credible , 16 % were not sure , and 34 % had not heard enough to say .
When asked what they thought about how the sexual assault allegation should affect Biden 's candidacy were to be proven true , only about one-third , 37 % , said it disqualifies Biden from the presidency .
Another 29 % said that it is relevant to the election but does not disqualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not relevant to the election .
Some polls do show warning signs for Biden though .
A Politico/Morning Consult poll conducted May 2-3 did not ask whether voters would choose Biden or Trump if the election were held today , but it found that the allegations made 32 % of all voters and 21 % of voters who lean Democratic less likely to vote for Biden .
The harshest blow for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee : 30 % of Democrats said that the party should find a different nominee to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lead continues to build even as overall opinion of him remains soft .
It ’ s possible that recent headlines about a sexual assault claim may have had an impact on his favorability rating , but most voters still see this election mainly as a referendum on Trump , ” said Patrick Murray , director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute .
The calculations of voters could change , though , based on how much attention stays on Reade and her allegations and whether any new evidence in her favor emerges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact this allegation will have in the long run .
For some voters who believe the charge , it is still not enough to override their desire to oust Trump .
The outlook is murkier for those who don ’ t have an opinion on it .
This group includes a number of Democratic-leaning independents who could potentially be swayed if this story grows in importance , ” said Murray said .

Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden is not hurting his ability to top President Trump. A set of polls measuring voter opinion suggests that his continued lead over Trump is due to many voters who believe Reade's allegations but are supporting him anyway.
A Monmouth University national poll conducted between April 30 and May 4 found Biden at 50% support and Trump and 41% support.
A large majority, 86%, said that they have heard about Reade's allegation that he sexually assaulted her when she worked as a staff assistant in his Senate office in 1993, which Biden strongly denies. About one-third, 37%, said that the allegation is probably true.
Suspicions regarding whether the allegation is true or not break along party lines. But a closer look at those who find the allegation to be true could reveal why Biden keeps his dominance: 32% of those who think that the allegation is true still support Biden.
That section of voters represents a sentiment in a widely circulated New York Times opinion piece published Wednesday. Linda Hirshman, an author who writes about sexual abuse and harassment, said that while she believes Reade, she will still vote for Biden.
"It may not be just, but I’m swimming away from Mr. Trump’s sinking ship as hard as I can. If I have to, I’ll vote for Mr. Biden. I hope I’m not going to drown anyway," she wrote.
The finding also empowers Democrats who find themselves in an awkward position of backing Biden in the face of an assault claim but who do not want to look bad by publicly discrediting Reade or saying that they do not believe her.
“It’s not up to me on whom to believe. It’s up to the voters ultimately whom to believe," Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown told reporters this week. "Just like it’s up to the voters on whom to believe when Donald Trump paid off strippers and Donald Trump had all his issues, including grabbing women."
An Economist/YouGov national poll conducted May 3-5 found Biden at 46% support and Trump at 42% support. In the same poll, 31% found the allegation against Biden credible, 19% said it is not credible, 16% were not sure, and 34% had not heard enough to say.
When asked what they thought about how the sexual assault allegation should affect Biden's candidacy were to be proven true, only about one-third, 37%, said it disqualifies Biden from the presidency. Another 29% said that it is relevant to the election but does not disqualify him, and 12% said it is not relevant to the election.
Some polls do show warning signs for Biden though. A Politico/Morning Consult poll conducted May 2-3 did not ask whether voters would choose Biden or Trump if the election were held today, but it found that the allegations made 32% of all voters and 21% of voters who lean Democratic less likely to vote for Biden. The harshest blow for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee: 30% of Democrats said that the party should find a different nominee to go up against Trump.
“Biden’s lead continues to build even as overall opinion of him remains soft. It’s possible that recent headlines about a sexual assault claim may have had an impact on his favorability rating, but most voters still see this election mainly as a referendum on Trump,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
The calculations of voters could change, though, based on how much attention stays on Reade and her allegations and whether any new evidence in her favor emerges.
“We don’t know what impact this allegation will have in the long run. For some voters who believe the charge, it is still not enough to override their desire to oust Trump. The outlook is murkier for those who don’t have an opinion on it. This group includes a number of Democratic-leaning independents who could potentially be swayed if this story grows in importance,” said Murray said.