cnbc--2020-10-15--Biden says Trump is 'going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me,' after Hunter Biden stori

Biden says Trump is 'going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me,' after Hunter Biden stories spark Facebook, Twitter backlash

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at United Association ( UA ) Plumbers Local 27 in Erie , PA , October 10 , 2020 .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden warned campaign donors on Thursday that President Donald Trump is `` going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me '' during the 19 days remaining before Election Day .
Biden told attendees that he expects additional `` lies and distortion '' to be directed at him by the Trump campaign .
Biden spoke a day after The New York Post ran a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a Ukrainian energy executive at the behest of his son Hunter Biden who was a board member of the executive 's company , Burisma .
The supposed meeting allegedly came months before then-Vice President Biden pressured Ukraine government officials to fire a prosecutor who purportedly was investigating the company .
The claim that the prosecutor was conducting such a probe at the time has been debunked .
Biden did not mention the Post 's report at Thursday 's event but did refer to `` misinformation '' about him .
`` I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the fundraising attendees .
`` I appreciate everything you 're doing for the campaign , '' he said .
`` We have 19 days left , and you know , he 's going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me . ''
But , he added , `` I think you 've put me in a position to be able to respond in real time in a way that we can compete . ''
Biden and a leading Democratic fundraising site have significantly outraised a Republican site in the recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trouble for Trump , who is badly trailing Biden in national polls .
Biden has denied speaking with his son about Hunter 's work for Burisma , and the Biden campaign said there is no record of such a meeting .
A copy of the computer hard drive supposedly owned by Hunter Biden that is the basis for the Post 's report was given to the newspaper by Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani .

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at United Association (UA) Plumbers Local 27 in Erie, PA, October 10, 2020.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden warned campaign donors on Thursday that President Donald Trump is "going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me" during the 19 days remaining before Election Day.
Biden told attendees that he expects additional "lies and distortion" to be directed at him by the Trump campaign.
Biden spoke a day after The New York Post ran a series of articles claiming that he had met with a Ukrainian energy executive at the behest of his son Hunter Biden who was a board member of the executive's company, Burisma. The supposed meeting allegedly came months before then-Vice President Biden pressured Ukraine government officials to fire a prosecutor who purportedly was investigating the company.
The claim that the prosecutor was conducting such a probe at the time has been debunked.
Biden did not mention the Post's report at Thursday's event but did refer to "misinformation" about him.
"I know these are anxious times," Biden told the fundraising attendees.
"I appreciate everything you're doing for the campaign," he said. "We have 19 days left, and you know, he's going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me."
But, he added, "I think you've put me in a position to be able to respond in real time in a way that we can compete."
Biden and a leading Democratic fundraising site have significantly outraised a Republican site in the recently finished financial quarter, yet another sign of trouble for Trump, who is badly trailing Biden in national polls.
Biden has denied speaking with his son about Hunter's work for Burisma, and the Biden campaign said there is no record of such a meeting.
A copy of the computer hard drive supposedly owned by Hunter Biden that is the basis for the Post's report was given to the newspaper by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.


cnbc--2020-10-15--Biden holds a large lead over Trump nationally, while swing-state polls show a closer race

RealClearPolitics ' gauge of polls in six crucial battleground states — Florida , Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , Arizona and North Carolina — currently shows Biden with a 4.9-point lead over Trump .
Yet Biden holds a narrower advantage in states that will likely decide an Electoral College victory .
With just 19 days left until the Nov. 3 election , Biden 's position on a national level looks strong , according to major polling trackers .
Joe Biden is holding on to his sizable lead over President Donald Trump in the national polls , but there are reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the handful of key states that could ultimately decide the election .
Those same states showed a larger gap in the polls for former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton at this point in the 2016 race against Trump , which she lost .
On Oct. 15 , 2016 , Clinton was 5.4 percentage points over Trump in those key swing states , according to RealClearPolitics .
Republicans are also outpacing Democrats in voter registration in swing states .
In North Carolina , for example , Democrats lead Republicans in registered voters by a difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the same reporting period in 2016 , when Democrats had about 645,000 more voters registered in the state .
Clinton was widely favored to win the 2016 election .
While she walked away with nearly 3 million more votes overall than her Republican rival , a series of narrow upsets in rust-belt swing states ultimately helped Trump net 306 electoral votes , leaving 232 for Clinton .
There are other factors at play this time around .
Both major party candidates in 2016 were historically unpopular , and voter turnout was historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump , whose rock-solid base of supporters helped him overcome low favorability ratings nationally .
In 2020 , fewer voters say they strongly dislike Biden , while Trump 's unpopularity has been fairly consistent throughout his first term in office .
Crucially for Biden , that could pay dividends in the form of turnout among independents , who support the former vice president more than the incumbent president .
Biden is also raising monstrous amounts of money in the final leg of the race — and he 's focusing his spending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 500 million on TV , digital and radio ads so far this year , according to ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics .
Trump 's campaign , meanwhile , has gone dark in certain states and shifted TV ad spending toward Florida , Georgia , Pennsylvania and North Carolina .
He has , however , outspent Biden on Facebook ads in several key states .
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the race , as well .
The Covid-19 crisis , which has killed more than 216,000 people in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a catalyst for a massive change in the way Americans are voting .
More than 10.6 million voters have already cast their ballots in the November election as of Tuesday morning , according to data from the U.S .
Elections Project — more than 10 times higher than at roughly that point in 2016 .
The expected flood of mail-in ballots could increase turnout among different demographics , but concerns have grown over the U.S .
Postal Service 's ability to promptly handle the influx of election mail .
There 's another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be revealed yet : a potential October surprise .
Voters have learned to expect the unexpected in the month before a presidential election .
FiveThirtyEight 's Nate Silver has said that a late-October letter from then-FBI Director James Comey , which announced that the FBI had found `` pertinent '' emails on Clinton 's private email server , likely cost the Democrat the election .
A New York Post report published Wednesday , which claims to show `` smoking gun '' emails related to Biden and his son , Hunter Biden , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has yet to be matched by other news outlets , and many journalists have expressed strong skepticism about the story .
It alleges Hunter Biden attempted to set up a meeting between his father and a top executive at a Ukrainian company he worked for while Joe Biden was vice president .
It 's unclear whether the Post 's report will have a noticeable impact on the race .
But the president and his supporters have railed against the decisions by Facebook and Twitter to limit distribution of the story on their platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated censorship .
Biden 's son was at the center of Trump 's impeachment fight , which revolved in large part around a phone call in which Trump asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to `` look into '' the Bidens .
Trump was impeached in the House and acquitted in the Senate .
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates pushed back hard on the Post 's report .
`` Investigations by the press , during impeachment , and even by two Republican-led Senate committees whose work was decried as 'not legitimate ' and political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same conclusion : that Joe Biden carried out official U.S. policy toward Ukraine and engaged in no wrongdoing .
Trump Administration officials have attested to these facts under oath , '' Bates said .
`` The New York Post never asked the Biden campaign about the critical elements of this story , '' he added .
`` They certainly never raised that Rudy Giuliani -- whose discredited conspiracy theories and alliance with figures connected to Russian intelligence have been widely reported -- claimed to have such materials . ''
`` Moreover , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedules from the time and no meeting , as alleged by the New York Post , ever took place , '' Bates said .

RealClearPolitics' gauge of polls in six crucial battleground states — Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and North Carolina — currently shows Biden with a 4.9-point lead over Trump.
Yet Biden holds a narrower advantage in states that will likely decide an Electoral College victory.
With just 19 days left until the Nov. 3 election , Biden's position on a national level looks strong, according to major polling trackers.
Joe Biden is holding on to his sizable lead over President Donald Trump in the national polls, but there are reasons for the Democratic nominee to worry about the handful of key states that could ultimately decide the election.
Those same states showed a larger gap in the polls for former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton at this point in the 2016 race against Trump, which she lost. On Oct. 15, 2016, Clinton was 5.4 percentage points over Trump in those key swing states, according to RealClearPolitics.
Republicans are also outpacing Democrats in voter registration in swing states. In North Carolina, for example, Democrats lead Republicans in registered voters by a difference of nearly 400,000. That's down from the same reporting period in 2016, when Democrats had about 645,000 more voters registered in the state.
Clinton was widely favored to win the 2016 election. While she walked away with nearly 3 million more votes overall than her Republican rival, a series of narrow upsets in rust-belt swing states ultimately helped Trump net 306 electoral votes, leaving 232 for Clinton.
There are other factors at play this time around.
Both major party candidates in 2016 were historically unpopular, and voter turnout was historically low. That was a huge benefit to Trump, whose rock-solid base of supporters helped him overcome low favorability ratings nationally.
In 2020, fewer voters say they strongly dislike Biden, while Trump's unpopularity has been fairly consistent throughout his first term in office. Crucially for Biden, that could pay dividends in the form of turnout among independents, who support the former vice president more than the incumbent president.
Biden is also raising monstrous amounts of money in the final leg of the race — and he's focusing his spending on swing states. The campaign has spent more than $500 million on TV, digital and radio ads so far this year, according to ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics.
Trump's campaign, meanwhile, has gone dark in certain states and shifted TV ad spending toward Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. He has, however, outspent Biden on Facebook ads in several key states.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the race, as well. The Covid-19 crisis, which has killed more than 216,000 people in the U.S., is not only an election-defining political issue but a catalyst for a massive change in the way Americans are voting.
More than 10.6 million voters have already cast their ballots in the November election as of Tuesday morning, according to data from the U.S. Elections Project — more than 10 times higher than at roughly that point in 2016. The expected flood of mail-in ballots could increase turnout among different demographics, but concerns have grown over the U.S. Postal Service's ability to promptly handle the influx of election mail.
There's another confounding variable, which may not even be revealed yet: a potential October surprise.
Voters have learned to expect the unexpected in the month before a presidential election. FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver has said that a late-October letter from then-FBI Director James Comey, which announced that the FBI had found "pertinent" emails on Clinton's private email server, likely cost the Democrat the election.
A New York Post report published Wednesday, which claims to show "smoking gun" emails related to Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, has already caused a stir.
The report has yet to be matched by other news outlets, and many journalists have expressed strong skepticism about the story. It alleges Hunter Biden attempted to set up a meeting between his father and a top executive at a Ukrainian company he worked for while Joe Biden was vice president.
It's unclear whether the Post's report will have a noticeable impact on the race. But the president and his supporters have railed against the decisions by Facebook and Twitter to limit distribution of the story on their platforms, accusing the tech giants of politically motivated censorship.
Biden's son was at the center of Trump's impeachment fight, which revolved in large part around a phone call in which Trump asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to "look into" the Bidens. Trump was impeached in the House and acquitted in the Senate.
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates pushed back hard on the Post's report.
"Investigations by the press, during impeachment, and even by two Republican-led Senate committees whose work was decried as 'not legitimate' and political by a GOP colleague have all reached the same conclusion: that Joe Biden carried out official U.S. policy toward Ukraine and engaged in no wrongdoing. Trump Administration officials have attested to these facts under oath," Bates said.
"The New York Post never asked the Biden campaign about the critical elements of this story," he added. "They certainly never raised that Rudy Giuliani -- whose discredited conspiracy theories and alliance with figures connected to Russian intelligence have been widely reported -- claimed to have such materials."
"Moreover, we have reviewed Joe Biden's official schedules from the time and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place," Bates said.


cnbc--2020-10-15--Mnuchin says he'll give ground in stimulus talks while Trump says he would raise his offer

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the White House wo n't let differences over funding targets for Covid-19 testing derail stimulus talks with top Democrats .
Later , President Donald Trump said that he would raise his offer for a stimulus package above his current level of $ 1.8 trillion .
House Democrats have passed a $ 2.2 trillion bill .
`` I would .
Absolutely I would .
I would say more .
I would go higher .
Go big or go home , I said it yesterday , '' the president told Fox Business .
`` Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She thinks it helps her with the election , '' Trump continued .
`` And I do n't think so .
I think it hurts her with the election because everyone knows she 's holding it up .
We 're not holding it up .
She 's holding it up . ''
The president also took a swipe at his Treasury secretary , `` So far he has n't come home with the bacon . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , the lead negotiator for Democrats , had identified testing as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mnuchin appeared to cede ground to the speaker in an interview on CNBC 's `` Squawk Box . ''
`` That issue is getting overblown , '' Mnuchin said .
`` We 've agreed to $ 178 billion overall for health .
It 's an extraordinary amount of money .
We 'd agreed with the Democrats with $ 75 billion going to testing , contact tracing . ''
`` What we have been focused on is the language around testing , '' he added .
`` When I speak to Pelosi today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we 're not going to let the testing issue stand in the way .
We 'll fundamentally agree with their testing language subject to some minor issues .
This issue is being overblown . ''

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the White House won't let differences over funding targets for Covid-19 testing derail stimulus talks with top Democrats.
Later, President Donald Trump said that he would raise his offer for a stimulus package above his current level of $1.8 trillion. House Democrats have passed a $2.2 trillion bill.
"I would. Absolutely I would. I would say more. I would go higher. Go big or go home, I said it yesterday," the president told Fox Business.
"Nancy Pelosi doesn't want to give anything. She thinks it helps her with the election," Trump continued. "And I don't think so. I think it hurts her with the election because everyone knows she's holding it up. We're not holding it up. She's holding it up."
The president also took a swipe at his Treasury secretary, "So far he hasn't come home with the bacon."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the lead negotiator for Democrats, had identified testing as one of the main sticking points in talks. Mnuchin appeared to cede ground to the speaker in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"That issue is getting overblown," Mnuchin said. "We've agreed to $178 billion overall for health. It's an extraordinary amount of money. We'd agreed with the Democrats with $75 billion going to testing, contact tracing."
"What we have been focused on is the language around testing," he added. "When I speak to Pelosi today, I'm going to tell her that we're not going to let the testing issue stand in the way. We'll fundamentally agree with their testing language subject to some minor issues. This issue is being overblown."


cnbc--2020-10-15--Democrats are crushing Republicans in fundraising as campaign hits the final stretch

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden delivers remarks at a Voter Mobilization Event campaign stop at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal in Cincinnati , Ohio , U.S. , October 12 , 2020 .
Democrats easily outraised Republicans during the third quarter , beefing up their money advantage as polls increasingly indicate a potential blue wave on Election Day .
ActBlue , the Democratic fundraising website , processed $ 1.5 billion in donations spanning the July-September period .
Small-dollar donors gave over $ 750 million in September alone .
To compare , GOP fundraising site WinRed processed over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time period .
Democrats taking on Republican senators in races deemed `` lean Democrat '' or `` toss-up '' are also dominating their opponents in the fundraising game .
Democratic nominee Joe Biden announced late Wednesday that his campaign brought in $ 383 million during September , slightly more than he raised in his record-smashing August .
His campaign manager , Jen O'Malley Dillon , tweeted that the campaign had over $ 400 million going into October .
Biden has an approximate 10-point national lead over President Donald Trump , according to polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright spot when it comes to Republican fundraising down the stretch of the election .
The pro-Trump super PAC Preserve America raised just over $ 83 million in the third quarter , according to Federal Election Commission records .
The fundraising success was largely off of $ 75 million in big money contributions from casino magnate Sheldon Adelson , and his wife Miriam .
CNBC previously reported that Sheldon Adelson was plotting a last minute spending blitz in support of Trump and that he was eyeing up to $ 50 million in contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to the super PAC last month .
Record numbers of people have already voted .
Election Day is Nov. 3 .
As of Thursday afternoon , the Trump campaign had yet to announce how much it raised last month .
A spokesman for the campaign did not reply to a request for comment .
Democrats reaped large gains during multiple events , such as the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
ActBlue had its biggest fundraising day ever the day after Ginsburg died , processing just over $ 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August announcement that Biden chose Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate .
She had an immediate cash impact , with her allies in the business community jumping in to help Biden 's campaign raise cash .
Just before the quarter ended in September , Biden 's debate performance versus Trump helped raise at least $ 25 million for Democrats .
Trump , meanwhile , has continued to face criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
He has returned to the campaign trail after recovering from Covid-19 .

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden delivers remarks at a Voter Mobilization Event campaign stop at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., October 12, 2020.
Democrats easily outraised Republicans during the third quarter, beefing up their money advantage as polls increasingly indicate a potential blue wave on Election Day.
ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising website, processed $1.5 billion in donations spanning the July-September period. Small-dollar donors gave over $750 million in September alone. To compare, GOP fundraising site WinRed processed over $620 million in donations during that same time period.
Democrats taking on Republican senators in races deemed "lean Democrat" or "toss-up" are also dominating their opponents in the fundraising game.
Democratic nominee Joe Biden announced late Wednesday that his campaign brought in $383 million during September, slightly more than he raised in his record-smashing August. His campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon, tweeted that the campaign had over $400 million going into October. Biden has an approximate 10-point national lead over President Donald Trump, according to polling averages.
There is at least one bright spot when it comes to Republican fundraising down the stretch of the election. The pro-Trump super PAC Preserve America raised just over $83 million in the third quarter, according to Federal Election Commission records. The fundraising success was largely off of $75 million in big money contributions from casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, and his wife Miriam.
CNBC previously reported that Sheldon Adelson was plotting a last minute spending blitz in support of Trump and that he was eyeing up to $50 million in contributions. He ended up giving $37.5 million to the super PAC last month.
Record numbers of people have already voted. Election Day is Nov. 3.
A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not reply to a request for comment. Late Thursday night, the campaign said it, along with joint committees, raised $247.8 million in September.
Democrats reaped large gains during multiple events, such as the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. ActBlue had its biggest fundraising day ever the day after Ginsburg died, processing just over $70 million.
Other key moments include the August announcement that Biden chose Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. She had an immediate cash impact, with her allies in the business community jumping in to help Biden's campaign raise cash. Just before the quarter ended in September, Biden's debate performance versus Trump helped raise at least $25 million for Democrats.
Trump, meanwhile, has continued to face criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. He has returned to the campaign trail after recovering from Covid-19.


cnbc--2020-10-15--Judiciary Committee sets Oct. 22 vote on Amy Coney Barrett over Democratic objections

Judge Amy Coney Barrett , U.S. President Donald Trump 's nominee to the Supreme Court , poses during a meeting with U.S .
Senator Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) on Capitol Hill in Washington , U.S. September 30 , 2020 .
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday scheduled an Oct. 22 vote on whether to approve of Judge Amy Coney Barrett 's nomination to the Supreme Court in a rowdy hearing in which Democrats made procedural objections and said the rush to confirm the nominee was unprecedented .
As the hearing unfolded in Washington , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the votes to confirm Barrett to the high court , essentially assuring that the efforts by Democrats to delay her confirmation will be unsuccessful .
McConnell , who was in his home state to cast his ballot , said he expects to bring Barrett 's nomination to the Senate floor on Oct. 23 , Bloomberg News reported .
That time frame would allow her to be seated ahead of the Nov. 3 election between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden , the Democratic nominee .
There was little doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate , would have the necessary votes , though Sens .
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have objected .
Trump has repeatedly pressed for Barrett to be seated in time to resolve any election disputes that arise .
The developments came after Barrett faced two days of intense but civil marathon questioning by senators on the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and Wednesday .
Barrett is expected to be confirmed by the committee by a party line vote , with all 12 Republicans in her favor and 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vain to derail Thursday 's committee hearing .
Sen. Dick Durbin , D-Ill. , objected to the GOP effort to schedule the vote by noting that he was the only Democrat in the room , and that the rules required at least two members of the minority party to be present .
`` If we create this problem for you in the future , you are going to do what I am going to do , which is move forward with the business of the committee , '' Graham told him .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hearing room , entered and objected to Graham 's move .
Sen. Richard Blumenthal , D-Conn. , said the process was a `` rush '' and a `` sham , '' and motioned to adjourn the hearing , prompting a round of speeches by members of the committee .
`` There has never been a nomination in an election year after the month of July , and the purpose of doing it is simply to have a justice on the Supreme Court , as the president said , to decide the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Blumenthal said .
`` You 're just trying to ram through this justice , against your own words , in light of everything this president has said , where he wo n't even commit to a peaceful transfer of power , '' Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , said .
Blumenthal 's motion failed by a party line vote around 11 a.m .
ET .
Barrett 's confirmation to the Supreme Court will give the nine-member panel its sixth Republican appointee and its third Trump pick , shifting the balance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 48-year-old federal appeals court judge could sit on the bench for decades .

Judge Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, poses during a meeting with U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. September 30, 2020.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday scheduled an Oct. 22 vote on whether to approve Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court in a rowdy hearing in which Democrats made procedural objections and said the rush to confirm the nominee was unprecedented.
As the hearing unfolded in Washington, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly said in Kentucky that the Senate had the votes to confirm Barrett to the high court, essentially assuring that the efforts by Democrats to delay her confirmation will be unsuccessful.
McConnell, who was in his home state to cast his ballot, said he expects to bring Barrett's nomination to the Senate floor on Oct. 23, Bloomberg News reported. That time frame would allow her to be seated ahead of the Nov. 3 election between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee.
There was little doubt that Republicans, who hold 53 seats in the Senate, would have the necessary votes, though Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have objected. Trump has repeatedly pressed for Barrett to be seated in time to resolve any election disputes that arise.
The developments came after Barrett faced two days of intense but civil marathon questioning by senators on the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and Wednesday. Barrett is expected to be confirmed by the committee by a party line vote, with all 12 Republicans in her favor and 10 Democrats opposed.
Democratic senators tried in vain to derail Thursday's committee hearing. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., objected to the GOP effort to schedule the vote by noting that he was the only Democrat in the room, and that the rules required at least two members of the minority party to be present.
Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., pushed on anyway.
"If we create this problem for you in the future, you are going to do what I am going to do, which is move forward with the business of the committee," Graham told him.
Some Democrats, who had been waiting outside the hearing room, entered and objected to Graham's move.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the process was a "rush" and a "sham" and motioned to adjourn the hearing, prompting a round of speeches by members of the committee.
"There has never been a nomination in an election year after the month of July, and the purpose of doing it is simply to have a justice on the Supreme Court, as the president said, to decide the election and strike down the Affordable Care Act," Blumenthal said.
"You're just trying to ram through this justice, against your own words, in light of everything this president has said, where he won't even commit to a peaceful transfer of power," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
Blumenthal's motion failed by a party line vote around 11 a.m. ET.
Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court will give the nine-member panel its sixth Republican appointee and its third Trump pick, shifting the balance of the court further in favor of Republicans. The 48-year-old federal appeals court judge could sit on the bench for decades.


cnbc--2020-10-15--Joe Biden stays on road, but Kamala Harris suspends travel after 3 people linked to campaign trips t

Joe Biden stays on road, but Kamala Harris suspends travel after 3 people linked to campaign trips test positive for coronavirus

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will keep traveling the campaign trail , but his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris will postpone travel for several days after three people who made trips on campaign planes tested positive for the coronavirus , Biden 's team said Thursday .
Earlier Thursday , the Biden campaign said that two people had tested positive after flying on a plane with Harris , and that she would be suspending her trips until the end of this weekend .
On Thursday afternoon , the campaign said that as a result of contact tracing with one of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had learned that an administrative member of the aviation company which charters Biden 's plane had also tested positive for Covid-19 .
But the campaign said that Biden , who has tested negative for the virus , would not be going into quarantine because the former vice president had not been in close proximity to the third person .
That person was on Biden 's plane for a trip to Ohio on Monday and the next day for a trip to Florida .
The unidentified person sat in the last row of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No campaign staffers were in close contact with that person , who wore a mask during their travel with Biden and his party .
Biden and the people with him wore N95 masks during the flights , according to campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon .
`` Vice President Biden was not in close contact , as defined by the [ federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] , with this individual at any time , '' Dillon said .
`` In fact , the Vice President did not even have passing contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from VP Biden at all times , entered and exited the aircraft from a rear entrance , and both the individual and the Vice President wore masks for the entire flight , '' Dillon said .
`` Given these facts , we have been advised by the Vice President 's doctor and the campaign 's medical advisors that there is no need for the Vice President to quarantine . ''
The campaign earlier in the day said that it had learned late Wednesday that Liz Allen , Harris ' communications director , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracted Covid-19 .
The campaign said that both of those people who tested positive were on a flight with Harris on Oct. 8 , but she was not within 6 feet of them for more than 15 minutes .
Harris has taken three PCR tests for Covid-19 since the day of the flight , most recently Thursday , and all of them came back negative .
Neither of the individuals who tested positive had contact with Harris or the former Vice President Biden in the 48 hours before their results came back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel through Sunday was being canceled `` out of an abundance of caution . ''
The California senator had been scheduled to travel to swing-state North Carolina on Thursday .
Dillon also said that `` Harris ' contact with the crew member on her flight , and her staffer , were so incidental that she is not required to quarantine . ''
Harris ' husband , Douglas Emhoff , has taken four PCR tests since Oct. 8 and they returned negative .
The campaign also canceled his planned travel on Thursday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden campaign follows an outbreak within President Donald Trump 's White House , family and presidential campaign in which more than 30 have tested positive including Trump , the first lady and their son Barron .
Biden and Harris have targeted the president for what they call recklessness in flouting the best recommended practices for limiting the spread of the virus .
Trump and his allies have mocked masks and social distancing practices despite their proven effectiveness in curtailing the spread of Covid-19 .
Trump returned to in-person campaigning , complete with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he was no longer infectious .
After the president was hospitalized and treated for Covid-19 earlier this month , he has downplayed the effects of the virus even as it continues to spread across the country .
After Trump 's Covid-19 diagnosis , the Committee on Presidential Debates opted to make Thursday 's face-off between the president and Biden a virtual event .
The Trump campaign then said it would not participate .
ABC and NBC plan to hold dueling town halls with Biden and Trump , respectively , at 8 p.m @ @ @ @ @

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will keep traveling the campaign trail, but his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris will postpone travel for several days after three people who made trips on campaign planes tested positive for the coronavirus, Biden's team said Thursday.
Earlier Thursday, the Biden campaign said that two people had tested positive after flying on a plane with Harris, and that she would be suspending her trips until the end of this weekend.
On Thursday afternoon, the campaign said that as a result of contact tracing with one of those people, a crew member, it had learned that an administrative member of the aviation company which charters Biden's plane had also tested positive for Covid-19.
But the campaign said that Biden, who has tested negative for the virus, would not be going into quarantine because the former vice president had not been in close proximity to the third person.
That person was on Biden's plane for a trip to Ohio on Monday and the next day for a trip to Florida.
The unidentified person sat in the last row of the 737 aircraft, the campaign said. No campaign staffers were in close contact with that person, who wore a mask during their travel with Biden and his party. Biden and the people with him wore N95 masks during the flights, according to campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon.
"Vice President Biden was not in close contact, as defined by the [federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], with this individual at any time," Dillon said.
"In fact, the Vice President did not even have passing contact: this individual was over 50 feet from VP Biden at all times, entered and exited the aircraft from a rear entrance, and both the individual and the Vice President wore masks for the entire flight," Dillon said.
"Given these facts, we have been advised by the Vice President's doctor and the campaign's medical advisors that there is no need for the Vice President to quarantine."
The campaign earlier in the day said that it had learned late Wednesday that Liz Allen, Harris' communications director, and a "non-staff flight crew member" contracted Covid-19.
The campaign said that both of those people who tested positive were on a flight with Harris on Oct. 8, but she was not within 6 feet of them for more than 15 minutes. Harris has taken three PCR tests for Covid-19 since the day of the flight, most recently Thursday, and all of them came back negative.
Neither of the individuals who tested positive had contact with Harris or the former Vice President Biden in the 48 hours before their results came back.
Even so, Dillon said Harris' travel through Sunday was being canceled "out of an abundance of caution." The California senator had been scheduled to travel to swing-state North Carolina on Thursday.
Dillon also said that "Harris' contact with the crew member on her flight, and her staffer, were so incidental that she is not required to quarantine."
Harris' husband, Douglas Emhoff, has taken four PCR tests since Oct. 8 and they returned negative. The campaign also canceled his planned travel on Thursday.
The news of infections in people involved in the Biden campaign follows an outbreak within President Donald Trump's White House, family and presidential campaign in which more than 30 have tested positive including Trump, the first lady and their son Barron.
Biden and Harris have targeted the president for what they call recklessness in flouting the best recommended practices for limiting the spread of the virus. Trump and his allies have mocked masks and social distancing practices despite their proven effectiveness in curtailing the spread of Covid-19.
Trump returned to in-person campaigning, complete with large crowds, as soon as doctors said he was no longer infectious. After the president was hospitalized and treated for Covid-19 earlier this month, he has downplayed the effects of the virus even as it continues to spread across the country.
After Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis, the Committee on Presidential Debates opted to make Thursday's face-off between the president and Biden a virtual event. The Trump campaign then said it would not participate.
ABC and NBC plan to hold dueling town halls with Biden and Trump, respectively, at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-10-15--Ray McGuire to leave Citigroup to run for mayor of New York

Ray McGuire , vice chairman of Citigroup Inc. , speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills , California , April 29 , 2019 .
Ray McGuire , a top executive at Citigroup , is set to leave the bank and run for mayor of New York .
McGuire is a vice chairman of Citigroup and chairman of banking , capital markets and advisory .
He has been privately discussing running for mayor since January .
`` We 're in a war for the survival of this great city .
Without a doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets to the suites , '' McGuire told CNBC , confirming his plans to announce his departure from the bank on Thursday and jump into the race .
Citi 's CEO Michael Corbat and Paco Ybarra , the CEO of the bank 's Institutional Clients Group , informed employees on Thursday that McGuire will be departing to `` explore opportunities that will allow him to pursue his lifelong passion for public service , '' according to a memo obtained by CNBC .
McGuire is getting into a crowded Democratic primary field for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former top attorney for Mayor Bill de Blasio , recently announced her entrance into the race .
She was previously a legal analyst for MSNBC .
De Blasio 's term ends on the first day of 2022 .
McGuire will be surrounded by what a source familiar with the campaign called an `` A+ team . ''
Charles Phillips , one of McGuire 's closest friends and the former CEO of Infor , has been advising him on running for mayor .
Valerie Jarrett , a longtime close advisor to President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McGuire 's campaign , according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter .
Phillips separately told CNBC on Thursday that he will also co-chair McGuire 's campaign .
`` NYC faces its largest economic challenge in decades and we need to execute with purpose and efficiency , '' Phillips told CNBC .
`` Ray is the right person to lead and unify the city to create something better when we get through this .
He took the time to prepare and he 's more than ready to outwork everyone . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as co-chairs in the coming weeks , including film director Spike Lee , a source added .
McGuire has been vocal on key issues when it comes to policing and the Black community .
After the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers , McGuire told CNBC that the killing was `` cold-blooded murder '' and called on corporate leaders to take the necessary steps to combat racism .
He recently authored a preface to a Citi report titled `` Closing the Racial Inequality Gaps . ''
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how he 's seen as a Black man .
`` Yet even today , with all those credentials and as one of the leading executives on Wall Street , I am still seen first as a six-foot-four , two-hundred-pound Black man wherever I go — even in my own neighborhood .
I could have been George Floyd , '' he writes .

Ray McGuire, vice chairman of Citigroup Inc., speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, April 29, 2019.
"We're in a war for the survival of this great city. Without a doubt we can do this. From the streets to the suites," McGuire told CNBC, confirming his plans to announce his departure from the bank on Thursday and jump into the race.
McGuire is a vice chairman of Citigroup and chairman of banking, capital markets and advisory. He has been privately discussing running for mayor since January.
Ray McGuire, a top executive at Citigroup, is set to leave the bank and run for mayor of New York.
Citi's CEO, Michael Corbat, and Paco Ybarra, CEO of the bank's institutional clients group, informed employees on Thursday that McGuire will be departing to "explore opportunities that will allow him to pursue his lifelong passion for public service," according to a memo obtained by CNBC.
McGuire, 63, is getting into a crowded Democratic primary field for the mayor's office. Maya Wiley, a former top attorney for Mayor Bill de Blasio, recently announced her entrance into the race. She was previously a legal analyst for MSNBC. De Blasio's term ends on the first day of 2022.
McGuire will be surrounded by what a source familiar with the campaign called an "A+ team." Charles Phillips, one of McGuire's closest friends and the former CEO of Infor, has been advising him on running for mayor.
Valerie Jarrett, a longtime close advisor to former President Barack Obama, will act as co-chair of McGuire's campaign, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
Phillips separately told CNBC on Thursday that he will also co-chair McGuire's campaign.
"NYC faces its largest economic challenge in decades and we need to execute with purpose and efficiency," Phillips told CNBC. "Ray is the right person to lead and unify the city to create something better when we get through this. He took the time to prepare and he's more than ready to outwork everyone."
There are others expected to be named as co-chairs in the coming weeks, including film director Spike Lee, a source added.
McGuire has been vocal on key issues when it comes to policing and the Black community.
After the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, McGuire told CNBC that the killing was "cold-blooded murder" and called on corporate leaders to take the necessary steps to combat racism.
He recently authored a preface to a Citi report titled "Closing the Racial Inequality Gaps." In the introduction, the banking executive reflects on how he's seen as a Black man.
"Yet even today, with all those credentials and as one of the leading executives on Wall Street, I am still seen first as a six-foot-four, two-hundred-pound Black man wherever I go — even in my own neighborhood. I could have been George Floyd," he writes.


cnbc--2020-10-16--Biden leaves the door open to adding seats to the Supreme Court

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday refused to rule out the prospect of increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court , and said he would announce a firm position on the issue before Election Day .
Biden has previously criticized the idea of changing Senate rules in order to clear the way for a president to appoint additional justices to the Supreme Court who share that president 's ideological leanings .
Critics of the idea refer to it as `` packing the court , '' and Biden has said previously in his presidential campaign that he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea .
Biden initially repeated that line on Thursday during a town hall event hosted by ABC , but after moderator George Stephanopoulos pressed him , the former vice president went further .
Biden said his position on whether to add seats to the Supreme Court would depend heavily on how Republicans handled the current confirmation process for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat left open by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Senate Republicans are squeezing Barrett 's nomination , hearings and confirmation vote process , which typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days in order to get it done before Election Day on Nov. 3 .
Biden said he was looking to see whether `` there 's actually real live debate on the floor , if people are really going to be able to have time to go through this '' process thoroughly .
His position on adding justices , he said `` depends on how much [ Senate Republicans ] rush this . ''
`` If they vote [ on Barrett 's nomination ] before the election , you are open to expanding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm open to considering what happens from that point on , '' Biden replied .
`` But do n't voters have a right to know '' your position on this , Stephanopoulos responded .
`` They do and they have a right to know where I stand before they vote , '' said Biden .
`` So , you 'll come out with a clear position before Election Day ? ''
Stephanopoulos shot back .
`` Yes , '' Biden said .
`` It depends on how they handle this . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall to nominate , conduct hearings for and confirm the conservative Barrett to a lifetime appointment .
It has caused a small but vocal minority of Democrats to embrace the idea that Biden , should he win the presidency , would be justified in responding to the Republicans ' drastic action on Coney Barrett with drastic actions of his own .
When several of Biden 's rivals in the 2020 Democratic primary called for adding seats to the Supreme Court , Biden said it was a `` bad idea . ''
The Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation 's top court .
Congress can pass a law to change the number of justices .
The total has remained unchanged since 1869 .
President Franklin Roosevelt tried and failed to expand the court in the 1930s .
Packing the court would require unified Democratic control of the White House , House and Senate – not to mention widespread support within the party itself .
Biden would need to defeat President Donald Trump , who had his own town hall Thursday night , and Democrats would have to flip at least a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional leaders had previously not embraced the idea of court packing , but that showed signs of shifting in recent weeks .
In September , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opened the door both to expanding the Supreme Court and removing the legislative filibuster – which Democrats would likely need to do to pass legislation to remake the court .
`` Nothing is off the table , '' if Republicans move forward with filling Ginsburg 's seat , the New York Democrat said at the time .
Even so , it remains unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , would be able to muster a majority of Democrats to back a Supreme Court expansion bill .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday refused to rule out the prospect of increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court, and said he would announce a firm position on the issue before Election Day.
Biden has previously criticized the idea of changing Senate rules in order to clear the way for a president to appoint additional justices to the Supreme Court who share that president's ideological leanings.
Critics of the idea refer to it as "packing the court," and Biden has said previously in his presidential campaign that he is "not a fan" of the idea.
Biden initially repeated that line on Thursday during a town hall event hosted by ABC, but after moderator George Stephanopoulos pressed him, the former vice president went further.
Biden said his position on whether to add seats to the Supreme Court would depend heavily on how Republicans handled the current confirmation process for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat left open by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Senate Republicans are squeezing Barrett's nomination, hearings and confirmation vote process, which typically takes months, into a matter of days in order to get it done before Election Day on Nov. 3.
Biden said he was looking to see whether "there's actually real live debate on the floor, if people are really going to be able to have time to go through this" process thoroughly.
His position on adding justices, he said "depends on how much [Senate Republicans] rush this."
"If they vote [on Barrett's nomination] before the election, you are open to expanding the court?" Stephanopoulos asked.
"I'm open to considering what happens from that point on," Biden replied.
"But don't voters have a right to know" your position on this, Stephanopoulos responded.
"They do and they have a right to know where I stand before they vote," said Biden.
"So, you'll come out with a clear position before Election Day?" Stephanopoulos shot back.
"Yes," Biden said. "It depends on how they handle this."
Republicans are undertaking an unprecedented rush this fall to nominate, conduct hearings for and confirm the conservative Barrett to a lifetime appointment. It has caused a small but vocal minority of Democrats to embrace the idea that Biden, should he win the presidency, would be justified in responding to the Republicans' drastic action on Coney Barrett with drastic actions of his own.
When several of Biden's rivals in the 2020 Democratic primary called for adding seats to the Supreme Court, Biden said it was a "bad idea."
The Constitution did not establish nine justices on the nation's top court. Congress can pass a law to change the number of justices.
The total has remained unchanged since 1869. President Franklin Roosevelt tried and failed to expand the court in the 1930s.
Packing the court would require unified Democratic control of the White House, House and Senate – not to mention widespread support within the party itself. Biden would need to defeat President Donald Trump, who had his own town hall Thursday night, and Democrats would have to flip at least a net three GOP-held Senate seats.
Democratic congressional leaders had previously not embraced the idea of court packing, but that showed signs of shifting in recent weeks.
In September, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opened the door both to expanding the Supreme Court and removing the legislative filibuster – which Democrats would likely need to do to pass legislation to remake the court.
"Nothing is off the table," if Republicans move forward with filling Ginsburg's seat, the New York Democrat said at the time.
Even so, it remains unclear whether Schumer, or a hypothetical President Biden, would be able to muster a majority of Democrats to back a Supreme Court expansion bill.


cnbc--2020-10-16--Trump grilled on coronavirus and conspiracy theories in tense town hall

President Donald Trump fielded an intense line of questioning at a town hall on Thursday night that touched on the coronavirus , conspiracy theories and his reelection campaign .
`` Oh , you always do this .
You always do this , '' Trump said at one point when the moderator , NBC 's Savannah Guthrie , asked him to clearly denounce White supremacy , a sticking point following his answer in last month 's presidential debate that left even some of his supporters unsatisfied .
`` Are you listening ?
I denounce White supremacy .
What 's your next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town hall .
The event in Miami , less than three weeks out from Election Day , was hastily scheduled after the cancellation of the second presidential debate between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden .
The president had flatly refused to take part in that event after the commission sponsoring the debate opted to hold the second showing virtually , rather than in person .
In its place , Trump and Biden participated in dueling town halls , set in different states but scheduled to start at the same time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC News , while Biden 's event was broadcast from Philadelphia on ABC News .
The bitter , fiery first debate in late September was marked by Trump 's frequent interruptions and Biden 's harsh language .
But fireworks flew freely in the town hall Thursday night , as well .
Guthrie kicked off the hourlong event by grilling Trump about some of the unanswered questions surrounding his coronavirus diagnosis revealed earlier in October .
The president said he did not remember whether he was or was not tested on the day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred less than a week before Trump announced he had contracted Covid-19 .
Guthrie shifted her focus to the in-person events Trump has hosted , including his signature campaign rallies , which have recently resumed after the president 's hospitalization with the coronavirus .
Attendees at the rallies are often packed tightly without wearing masks or other protective gear , and health experts have warned that the events could facilitate the spread of Covid-19 .
`` As president , I have to be out there , '' Trump said , explaining that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very beautiful room somewhere in the White House . ''
He acknowledged that `` it 's risky doing it . ''
Guthrie replied : `` You want to be a leader , but you also are a leader and a setter of an example . ''
Asked about masks specifically , Trump said , `` I 'm good with masks . ''
But he quickly added , `` but just the other day they came out with a statement that 85 % of the people that wear masks catch it . ''
Guthrie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that , I know that study . ''
The president appeared to be referring to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report from mid-September , which said that people who have tested either positive or negative for Covid-19 report wearing masks at similar rates , NBC reported .
The CDC tweeted Wednesday that `` the interpretation that more mask-wearers are getting infected compared to non-mask wearers is incorrect . ''
Guthrie also pressed the president on `` QAnon , '' the controversial pro-Trump conspiracy theory that has reportedly exploded in popularity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among other things , that Trump is secretly fighting against `` deep state '' factions of powerful Satanic pedophiles who are plotting against him and his supporters .
Trump has previously said he knows little about QAnon — other than that its followers like him , which he appreciates .
Guthrie laid out some of the core components of QAnon before asking Trump if he could explicitly disavow it .
`` I know nothing about QAnon , '' Trump began .
`` You told me , but that does n't necessarily make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president pivoted to railing against far-left `` Antifa '' demonstrators , whom law enforcement officials have blamed for violent attacks in cities across the U.S. `` I know how they 're burning down cities run by Democrats , not run by Republicans , '' Trump said .
Guthrie returned to QAnon .
`` I just do n't know about QAnon , '' Trump said again .
`` You do know , '' she said .
Trump replied : `` I do n't know , I do n't know .
You tell me about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show .
You start off with White supremacy , I denounce it .
You start off with something else – let 's go , keep asking me these questions . ''
`` Why are n't you asking me about Antifa ? ''
Trump continued .
`` Why are n't you asking me about the radical left ? ''
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh in a statement after the town hall slammed Guthrie , saying she had acted as a `` debate opponent and Joe Biden surrogate . ''
`` President Trump masterfully handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively with the voters in the room , '' Murtaugh said .

President Donald Trump fielded an intense line of questioning at a town hall on Thursday night that touched on the coronavirus, conspiracy theories and his reelection campaign.
"Oh, you always do this. You always do this," Trump said at one point when the moderator, NBC's Savannah Guthrie, asked him to clearly denounce White supremacy, a sticking point following his answer in last month's presidential debate that left even some of his supporters unsatisfied.
"Are you listening? I denounce White supremacy. What's your next question?" Trump said at the town hall.
The event in Miami, less than three weeks out from Election Day, was hastily scheduled after the cancellation of the second presidential debate between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. The president had flatly refused to take part in that event after the commission sponsoring the debate opted to hold the second showing virtually, rather than in person.
In its place, Trump and Biden participated in dueling town halls, set in different states but scheduled to start at the same time. Trump's town hall was aired on NBC News, while Biden's event was broadcast from Philadelphia on ABC News.
The bitter, fiery first debate in late September was marked by Trump's frequent interruptions and Biden's harsh language. But fireworks flew freely in the town hall Thursday night, as well.
Guthrie kicked off the hourlong event by grilling Trump about some of the unanswered questions surrounding his coronavirus diagnosis revealed earlier in October.
The president said he did not remember whether he was or was not tested on the day of the first debate with Biden, which occurred less than a week before Trump announced he had contracted Covid-19.
"Possibly I did, possibly I didn't," Trump said.


cnbc--2020-10-16--Democrats are crushing Republicans in fundraising as campaign hits the final stretch

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden delivers remarks at a Voter Mobilization Event campaign stop at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal in Cincinnati , Ohio , U.S. , October 12 , 2020 .
Democrats easily outraised Republicans during the third quarter , beefing up their money advantage as polls increasingly indicate a potential blue wave on Election Day .
ActBlue , the Democratic fundraising website , processed $ 1.5 billion in donations spanning the July-September period .
Small-dollar donors gave over $ 750 million in September alone .
To compare , GOP fundraising site WinRed processed over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time period .
Democrats taking on Republican senators in races deemed `` lean Democrat '' or `` toss-up '' are also dominating their opponents in the fundraising game .
Democratic nominee Joe Biden announced late Wednesday that his campaign brought in $ 383 million during September , slightly more than he raised in his record-smashing August .
His campaign manager , Jen O'Malley Dillon , tweeted that the campaign had over $ 400 million going into October .
Biden has an approximate 10-point national lead over President Donald Trump , according to polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright spot when it comes to Republican fundraising down the stretch of the election .
The pro-Trump super PAC Preserve America raised just over $ 83 million in the third quarter , according to Federal Election Commission records .
The fundraising success was largely off of $ 75 million in big money contributions from casino magnate Sheldon Adelson , and his wife Miriam .
CNBC previously reported that Sheldon Adelson was plotting a last minute spending blitz in support of Trump and that he was eyeing up to $ 50 million in contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to the super PAC last month .
Record numbers of people have already voted .
Election Day is Nov. 3 .
A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not reply to a request for comment .
Late Thursday night , the campaign said it , along with the Republican National Committee and joint committees , raised $ 247.8 million in September .
Democrats reaped large gains during multiple events , such as the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
ActBlue had its biggest fundraising day ever the day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 million .
Other key moments include the August announcement that Biden chose Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate .
She had an immediate cash impact , with her allies in the business community jumping in to help Biden 's campaign raise cash .
Just before the quarter ended in September , Biden 's debate performance versus Trump helped raise at least $ 25 million for Democrats .
Trump , meanwhile , has continued to face criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
He has returned to the campaign trail @ @ @ @ @


cnbc--2020-10-16--Supreme Court will hear Trump appeal to exclude undocumented immigrants from census count

The Supreme Court said Friday that it will hear arguments on Nov. 30 on an appeal by the Trump administration that seeks to exclude the tally of undocumented immigrants in the United States from the census data used to calculate the apportionment of congressional districts .
The order came three days after the Supreme Court issued a decision that allowed the Trump administration to end field operations for the 2020 census effective that day , even as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals still considers a pending appeal that seeks to extend the count .
If the Trump administration wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with relatively large numbers of such immigrants could lose seats in the House of Representatives .
A federal appeals court in Manhattan in September blocked the administration from excluding undocumented residents from the count determining congressional apportionment , two months after President Donald Trump announced his plan to do so .
The appeals court noted in its ruling that throughout American history , the census tally of people in each state used to determine how many seats a state gets in the House of Representatives has `` included every person residing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census , whether citizen or non-citizen and whether living here with legal status or without . ''
The appeals court noted that Trump 's own memorandum outlining the new plan identified a state , believed to be California , `` that would stand to lose two or three seats in the House of Representatives if illegal aliens are excluded from the apportionment base . ''
A group of 22 states , the District of Columbia and 15 cities and counties , as well as the United States Conference of Mayors and a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration on the plan .
The appeals court agreed that Trump exceeded his authority under the census law .
That law , the court noted , requires the secretary of Commerce to report a single set of numbers — the tally of the total population of the United States — to the president , who is in turn `` required to use the same set of numbers in connection with apportionment . ''
`` By directing the Secretary to provide two sets of numbers , one derived from the decennial census and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the policy of the United States to use the latter in connection with apportionment , the Presidential Memorandum deviates from , and thus violates , the statutory scheme , '' the appeals court said .
`` Second , the Presidential Memorandum violates the statute governing apportionment because , so long as they reside in the United States , illegal aliens qualify as 'persons in ' a 'State ' as Congress used those words . ''
The Supreme Court recently said it would continue hearing cases remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic for at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Supreme Court said Friday that it will hear arguments on Nov. 30 on an appeal by the Trump administration that seeks to exclude the tally of undocumented immigrants in the United States from the census data used to calculate the apportionment of congressional districts.
The order came three days after the Supreme Court issued a decision that allowed the Trump administration to end field operations for the 2020 census effective that day, even as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals still considers a pending appeal that seeks to extend the count.
If the Trump administration wins the appeal regarding undocumented immigrants, states with relatively large numbers of such immigrants could lose seats in the House of Representatives.
A federal appeals court in Manhattan in September blocked the administration from excluding undocumented residents from the count determining congressional apportionment, two months after President Donald Trump announced his plan to do so.
The appeals court noted in its ruling that throughout American history, the census tally of people in each state used to determine how many seats a state gets in the House of Representatives has "included every person residing in the United States at the time of the census, whether citizen or non-citizen and whether living here with legal status or without."
The appeals court noted that Trump's own memorandum outlining the new plan identified a state, believed to be California, "that would stand to lose two or three seats in the House of Representatives if illegal aliens are excluded from the apportionment base."
A group of 22 states, the District of Columbia and 15 cities and counties, as well as the United States Conference of Mayors and a number of nongovernmental organizations had challenged the Trump administration on the plan.
The appeals court agreed that Trump exceeded his authority under the census law.
That law, the court noted, requires the secretary of Commerce to report a single set of numbers — the tally of the total population of the United States — to the president, who is in turn "required to use the same set of numbers in connection with apportionment."
"By directing the Secretary to provide two sets of numbers, one derived from the decennial census and one not, and announcing that it is the policy of the United States to use the latter in connection with apportionment, the Presidential Memorandum deviates from, and thus violates, the statutory scheme," the appeals court said.
"Second, the Presidential Memorandum violates the statute governing apportionment because, so long as they reside in the United States, illegal aliens qualify as 'persons in' a 'State' as Congress used those words."
The Supreme Court recently said it would continue hearing cases remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic for at least the rest of the calendar year.


cnbc--2020-10-16--Former president Barack Obama to hit the campaign trail for Joe Biden next week

Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama and running mate Delaware Senator Joe Biden wave during a rally in Springfield , Illinois , on August 23 , 2008 .
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will hit the campaign trail next week on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , adding a potent voice to the Biden campaign 's efforts to increase turnout and enthusiasm in the final days of the 2020 presidential campaign .
Obama is scheduled to appear at an event for his former vice president and close friend on Wednesday , Oct. 21 , in the battleground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release from the Biden campaign .
The event in Philadelphia will mark the first time Obama has campaigned in person for Biden this year .
The former president has appeared in Biden campaign videos , however , and he gave a keynote address at the virtual Democratic National Convention this summer .
Nearly four years out of office , Obama remains among the most popular figures in American politics , according to polls .
Obama 's high approval ratings are not lost on his successor , Republican President Donald Trump .
Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his presidency .
He has also accused Obama of `` spying '' on his 2016 presidential campaign , and claimed that after Trump won , Obama took steps to hobble Trump 's incoming administration .
None of these allegations has been proven , but that has n't stopped the president from demanding that the Justice Department investigate and prosecute Obama , Biden and other members of Obama 's Cabinet .
Biden currently leads Trump by about 9 percentage points in an NBC News national polling average , according to NBC News , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
CNBC reached out to Obama 's office for additional details about the event and will update this story as more information becomes available .

Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama and running mate Delaware Senator Joe Biden wave during a rally in Springfield, Illinois, on August 23, 2008.
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will hit the campaign trail this week on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, adding a potent voice to the Biden campaign's efforts to increase turnout and enthusiasm in the final days of the 2020 presidential campaign.
Obama is scheduled to appear at an event for his former vice president and close friend on Wednesday in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, according to a release from the Biden campaign.
The event in Philadelphia will mark the first time Obama has campaigned in person for Biden this year.
The former president has appeared in Biden campaign videos, however, and he gave a keynote address at the virtual Democratic National Convention this summer.
Nearly four years out of office, Obama remains among the most popular figures in American politics, according to polls.
Obama's high approval ratings are not lost on his successor, Republican President Donald Trump.
Trump has made dismantling Obama's legacy a cornerstone of his presidency. He has also accused Obama of "spying" on his 2016 presidential campaign, and claimed that after Trump won, Obama took steps to hobble Trump's incoming administration.
None of these allegations has been proven, but that hasn't stopped the president from demanding that the Justice Department investigate and prosecute Obama, Biden and other members of Obama's Cabinet.
Biden currently leads Trump by about 9 percentage points in an NBC News national polling average, according to NBC News, and he also leads in most battleground states.
CNBC reached out to Obama's office for additional details about the event and will update this story as more information becomes available.


cnbc--2020-10-16--U.S. condemns apparent Turkish test of Russian missile system

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon and State Department issued strong rebukes Friday following reports that Turkey 's military tested a Russia-made missile system , a move that could further stoke tensions between Washington and the NATO member .
In recent days , Turkey said it was preparing to test the Russian-made S-400 , a mobile surface-to-air missile system , that is believed to pose a risk to the NATO alliance as well as America 's most expensive weapons platform : Lockheed Martin 's F-35 fighter .
Ankara brokered a deal with Moscow in 2017 for the S-400 , despite warnings from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moscow delivered the first of four missile batteries in July 2019 .
A week later , the United States cut Turkey , a financial and manufacturing partner , from the F-35 program after Ankara accepted delivery of the Russian-made system .
Both the departments of Defense and State condemned Friday 's apparent missile test off Turkey 's Black Sea coast but would not confirm if the launch occurred .
`` The United States has expressed to the Government of Turkey , at the most senior levels , that the acquisition of Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable , '' State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus wrote in an emailed statement .
`` The United States has been clear on our expectation that the S-400 system should not be operationalized , '' she added .
`` We object to Turkey 's purchase of the system and are deeply concerned with reports that Turkey is bringing it into operation .
It should not be activated .
Doing so risks serious consequences for our security relationship , '' echoed chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman in an emailed statement Friday .

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon and State Department issued strong rebukes Friday following reports that Turkey's military tested a Russia-made missile system, a move that could further stoke tensions between Washington and the NATO member.
In recent days, Turkey said it was preparing to test the Russian-made S-400, a mobile surface-to-air missile system, that is believed to pose a risk to the NATO alliance as well as America's most expensive weapons platform: Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter.
Ankara brokered a deal with Moscow in 2017 for the S-400, despite warnings from the United States and other NATO allies. Moscow delivered the first of four missile batteries in July 2019. A week later, the United States cut Turkey, a financial and manufacturing partner, from the F-35 program after Ankara accepted delivery of the Russian-made system.
Both the departments of Defense and State condemned Friday's apparent missile test off Turkey's Black Sea coast but would not confirm if the launch occurred.
"The United States has expressed to the Government of Turkey, at the most senior levels, that the acquisition of Russian military systems such as the S-400 is unacceptable," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus wrote in an emailed statement. "The United States has been clear on our expectation that the S-400 system should not be operationalized," she added.
"We object to Turkey's purchase of the system and are deeply concerned with reports that Turkey is bringing it into operation. It should not be activated. Doing so risks serious consequences for our security relationship," echoed chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman in an emailed statement Friday.


cnbc--2020-10-17--Republican National Committee files Federal Election Commission complaint over Twitter ban on Hunter

Republican National Committee files Federal Election Commission complaint over Twitter ban on Hunter Biden articles

A man wearing a face mask walks past a Twitter logo outside their New York City headquarters .
Facebook and Twitter took steps to limit the spread of a controversial New York Post article critical of Joe Biden , sparking outrage among conservatives and stoking debate over how social media platforms should tackle misinformation ahead of the US election .
The Republican National Committee on Friday filed a federal elections complaint over Twitter 's decision earlier this week to ban sharing on its platform recent news articles about Hunter Biden , the son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission that Twitter 's blocking of The New York Post articles amounts to an `` illegal corporate in-kind political contribution '' to former Vice President Biden 's campaign , which is seeking to unseat President Donald Trump , the Republican incumbent .
A computer hard drive said to be owned by Hunter Biden was used as source material by the New York Post for the articles subject to Twitter 's ban .
A copy of the hard drive was provided to the newspaper by Trump 's personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned the Hunter Biden articles in question because they were found to be in violation of Twitter 's Hacked Material Policy , which does not `` permit the use of our services to directly distribute content obtained through hacking that contains private information , may put people in physical harm or danger , or contains trade secrets . ''
The social media giant also said it was banning links to the articles because they contained images of hacked material with personal and private information .
Shortly after the RNC 's complaint to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had reversed its ban and would let users share The Post 's articles .
A Twitter spokesman said that the company 's decision reflected the fact that alleged personal information contained in the articles had become widely available across the internet .
The RNC 's complaint says that Twitter is `` engaged in arguably the most brazen and unprecedented act of media suppression in this country 's history , and it is doing so for the clear purpose of supporting the Biden campaign . ''
The complaint notes that Twitter has `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts of users who shared the articles or details about the articles , including the Trump campaign ( @ TeamTrump ) , White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany ( @ kayleighmcenany ) , Republicans on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee ( @ JudiciaryGOP ) . ''
The RNC wants the FEC to investigate the claim , and to impose the maximum penalty allowed if Twitter is found to have violated the law .
The complaint notes that federal campaign finance law `` strictly prohibits corporations from making contributions to federal candidates . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in relevant part to mean 'anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing an election , ' and includes in-kind contributions such as services , '' the complaint says .
Twitter 's `` suppression of the New York Post articles provides a thing of value to the Biden campaign , '' the RNC argued in its complaint .
`` Respondent is acting as Biden 's media operative , taking proactive steps to shield Biden from negative news coverage by blocking its distribution and muzzling those who try .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no doubt would gladly pay a significant price . ''
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement , `` Twitter 's decision to censor news articles that harm Joe Biden 's candidacy is so transparently biased it would make even the governments of China or North Korea blush . ''
Spokesman for Twitter and for Biden 's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the RNC 's complaint .

A man wearing a face mask walks past a Twitter logo outside their New York City headquarters. Facebook and Twitter took steps to limit the spread of a controversial New York Post article critical of Joe Biden, sparking outrage among conservatives and stoking debate over how social media platforms should tackle misinformation ahead of the US election.
The Republican National Committee on Friday filed a federal elections complaint over Twitter 's decision earlier this week to ban sharing on its platform recent news articles about Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The RNC complained to the Federal Election Commission that Twitter's blocking of The New York Post articles amounts to an "illegal corporate in-kind political contribution" to former Vice President Biden's campaign, which is seeking to unseat President Donald Trump, the Republican incumbent.
A computer hard drive said to be owned by Hunter Biden was used as source material by the New York Post for the articles subject to Twitter's ban. A copy of the hard drive was provided to the newspaper by Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, the Post said.
Twitter has said it banned the Hunter Biden articles in question because they were found to be in violation of Twitter's Hacked Material Policy, which does not "permit the use of our services to directly distribute content obtained through hacking that contains private information, may put people in physical harm or danger, or contains trade secrets."
The social media giant also said it was banning links to the articles because they contained images of hacked material with personal and private information.
Shortly after the RNC's complaint to the FEC became public Friday, Twitter said it had reversed its ban and would let users share The Post's articles. A Twitter spokesman said that the company's decision reflected the fact that alleged personal information contained in the articles had become widely available across the internet.
The RNC's complaint says that Twitter is "engaged in arguably the most brazen and unprecedented act of media suppression in this country's history, and it is doing so for the clear purpose of supporting the Biden campaign."
The complaint notes that Twitter has "also suspended, or locked, the accounts of users who shared the articles or details about the articles, including the Trump campaign (@TeamTrump), White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany), Republicans on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryGOP)."
The RNC wants the FEC to investigate the claim, and to impose the maximum penalty allowed if Twitter is found to have violated the law.
The complaint notes that federal campaign finance law "strictly prohibits corporations from making contributions to federal candidates."
"The term 'contribution' is defined in relevant part to mean 'anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing an election,' and includes in-kind contributions such as services," the complaint says.
Twitter's "suppression of the New York Post articles provides a thing of value to the Biden campaign," the RNC argued in its complaint.
"Respondent is acting as Biden's media operative, taking proactive steps to shield Biden from negative news coverage by blocking its distribution and muzzling those who try. If Respondent charged for this service, Biden no doubt would gladly pay a significant price."
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement, "Twitter's decision to censor news articles that harm Joe Biden's candidacy is so transparently biased it would make even the governments of China or North Korea blush."
Spokesman for Twitter and for Biden's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the RNC's complaint.