cnbc--2020-10-09--Pelosi says no stand-alone aid for airlines without bigger stimulus bill

A JetBlue Airways Corp. plane taxis next to American Airlines Group Inc. , Delta Air Lines Inc. , and Alaska Airlines Inc. aircraft at Reagan National Airport ( DCA ) in Arlington , Virginia , U.S. , on Monday , April 6 , 2020 .
`` It 's consistent with what has been going on in this process for quite some time now .
That is huge bipartisan support for extension of [ payroll support ] for the airlines ... but a frustrating process by which we 're trying to get it enacted , '' American 's CEO , Doug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were meant to help airlines manage a dip in demand but a significant rebound in bookings has failed to materialize .
Airlines and labor unions have been urging lawmakers and the Trump administration to approve $ 25 billion more to preserve jobs through March 2021 .
American and United said they would bring back workers if the additional aid is approved .
U.S. carriers last week started furloughing more than 33,000 workers , the vast majority of the cuts at American and United .
Terms of the $ 25 billion in support Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act in March prohibited airlines from furloughing workers until Oct. 1 .
Pelosi 's comments come two days after President Donald Trump halted talks on a national coronavirus package until after the election but urged additional aid for airlines , a plan that has won bipartisan backing .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said there wo n't be stand-alone bill for additional airline aid without a larger coronavirus stimulus package , another obstacle to further federal support for the battered sector that has already cut thousands of employees .
The initial round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service levels regardless of demand and with the terms now expired .
American has already cut more than a dozen routes to small U.S. cities and could further reduce service without more federal support , Parker said .
Parker added that revenue at American , which reports results Oct. 22 , fell about 75 % in the third quarter from a year ago and would likely fall 65 % in the fourth quarter from the year-earlier period , a slight improvement from this spring .
Despite the bipartisan support , lawmakers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deals on further coronavirus aid and an attempt at a stand-alone airline bill failed in the House on Friday after Pelosi asked airlines to pause furloughs , vowing more more aid for the industry .
At the end of her Thursday news conference , Pelosi suggested the White House and Democrats could renew talks toward a broader aid package .
`` We 're at the table .
We want to continue the conversation .
We 've made some progress , we 're exchanging language , '' the speaker said .
Airline shares eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an airline-only aid bill but ended the day higher .
American gained 0.7 % , United rose 1.7 % , Southwest Airlines added 1 % and Delta Air Lines closed the day 1.7 % higher .
Earlier in the day , Trump said his administration and Democrats restarted talks toward a `` bigger deal '' that would address aid for airline payrolls and direct payments to Americans .
Two days earlier , he abruptly ordered White House advisors to back out of talks with Pelosi until after the Nov. 3 election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mnuchin worked toward striking a broad stimulus agreement .
Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke Thursday afternoon , a spokesman said .
Among the core disputes , Pelosi has pushed for $ 436 billion in relief for cash-strapped state and local governments and reinstating the $ 600-per-week supplement unemployment insurance that expired during the summer .
The White House has offered $ 250 billion in state and municipal aid and a $ 400 enhanced weekly jobless benefit .
The sides have failed to strike a deal on a fifth pandemic relief package during months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus continues to spread and the U.S. economy struggles to recover from the outbreak , concerns have grown about more damage to Americans ' health and financial well-being in the coming months .
Despite the logjam in Congress , Pelosi said she is still optimistic about the prospects of reaching a deal .
`` I 'm hopeful , because it has to be done .
If the president wants to wait until he wins the election , that might be an eternity , '' she said Thursday .

A JetBlue Airways plane taxis next to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines aircraft at Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday, April 6, 2020.
"It's consistent with what has been going on in this process for quite some time now. That is huge bipartisan support for extension of [payroll support] for the airlines ... but a frustrating process by which we're trying to get it enacted," American's CEO, Doug Parker, told CNBC.
The funds were meant to help airlines manage a dip in demand but a significant rebound in bookings has failed to materialize. Airlines and labor unions have been urging lawmakers and the Trump administration to approve $25 billion more to preserve jobs through March 2021. American and United said they would bring back workers if the additional aid is approved.
U.S. carriers last week started furloughing more than 33,000 workers , the vast majority of the cuts at American and United . Terms of the $25 billion in support Congress approved in the $2.2 trillion CARES Act in March prohibited airlines from furloughing workers until Oct. 1.
Pelosi's comments come two days after President Donald Trump halted talks on a national coronavirus package until after the election but urged additional aid for airlines, a plan that has won bipartisan backing.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said there won't be stand-alone bill for additional airline aid without a larger coronavirus stimulus package, another obstacle to further federal support for the battered sector that has already cut thousands of employees.
The initial round of aid required airlines to maintain minimum service levels regardless of demand and with the terms now expired. American has already cut more than a dozen routes to small U.S. cities and could further reduce service without more federal support, Parker said.
Parker added that revenue at American, which reports results Oct. 22, fell about 75% in the third quarter from a year ago and would likely fall 65% in the fourth quarter from the year-earlier period, a slight improvement from this spring.
Despite the bipartisan support, lawmakers and the Trump administration had repeatedly failed to reach deals on further coronavirus aid and an attempt at a stand-alone airline bill failed in the House on Friday after Pelosi asked airlines to pause furloughs, vowing more more aid for the industry.
At the end of her Thursday news conference, Pelosi suggested the White House and Democrats could renew talks toward a broader aid package.
"We're at the table. We want to continue the conversation. We've made some progress, we're exchanging language," the speaker said.
Airline shares eased after Pelosi's comments about her conditions for an airline-only aid bill but ended the day higher. American gained 0.7%, United rose 1.7%, Southwest Airlines added 1% and Delta Air Lines closed the day 1.7% higher.
Earlier in the day, Trump said his administration and Democrats restarted talks toward a "bigger deal" that would address aid for airline payrolls and direct payments to Americans. Two days earlier, he abruptly ordered White House advisors to back out of talks with Pelosi until after the Nov. 3 election, even as she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin worked toward striking a broad stimulus agreement. Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke Thursday afternoon, a spokesman said.
Among the core disputes, Pelosi has pushed for $436 billion in relief for cash-strapped state and local governments and reinstating the $600-per-week supplement unemployment insurance that expired during the summer. The White House has offered $250 billion in state and municipal aid and a $400 enhanced weekly jobless benefit.
The sides have failed to strike a deal on a fifth pandemic relief package during months of on-again, off-again discussions. As the virus continues to spread and the U.S. economy struggles to recover from the outbreak, concerns have grown about more damage to Americans' health and financial well-being in the coming months.
Despite the logjam in Congress, Pelosi said she is still optimistic about the prospects of reaching a deal.
"I'm hopeful, because it has to be done. If the president wants to wait until he wins the election, that might be an eternity," she said Thursday.


cnbc--2020-10-08--Lindsey Graham's Senate seat becomes winnable for Democrats as money pours into South Carolina

Democratic leaders in South Carolina are in a position they might not have expected coming into this election cycle : They have a chance to capture a U.S. Senate seat that has been under Republican control since the 1960s .
Their nominee is Jaime Harrison , a leader at the Democratic National Committee and a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party .
His battle with longtime GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has become the most expensive Senate race in the state 's history .
The race is tied , according to a recent Quinnipiac poll .
On Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their rating on the race from `` lean Republican '' to `` toss-up . ''
There are now six Republican-held Senate seats marked as toss-ups .
The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the chamber .
As of the end of the second quarter , Graham had raised $ 29 million .
Harrison had brought in $ 28 million , although he has slightly less cash on hand than his GOP opponent , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
None of Graham 's previous opponents has come close to raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other hand , has never had to raise as much as he has this cycle .
Harrison outraised him in the second quarter .
Third quarter numbers are expected to be released soon .
Those totals do not include the outside groups pouring millions into the race .
With 3½ weeks before Election Day , even some of Harrison 's closest allies in the Democratic leadership acknowledged they were n't originally convinced he would get as close as he is now to overtake Graham .
`` I did n't think he had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is at , '' House Majority Whip James Clyburn told CNBC in a recent interview .
Harrison once worked in Clyburn 's congressional office .
`` He surprised the hell out of me , '' added Clyburn , an established leader in the South Carolina Democratic party and a strong ally of Harrison .
Harrison has keyed in on what Democrats perceive as big vulnerabilities in Graham 's record , particularly in the candidates ' debate Sunday .
Clyburn wants Harrison to keep hammering away on them .
`` He [ Graham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if to say , ' I do what I want to do , I say what I 'm able to say and no matter what I do , or no matter what I say , I can keep getting you to vote for me ' , '' Clyburn said .
But Graham and the GOP believe the issue is a strong point for them .
During the debate , the senator defended the move , saying Republicans have historical precedent on their side when it comes to pushing through a nominee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
Graham also pointed to his track record of confirming numerous conservative Supreme Court judges and praised Trump 's choice of Barrett , a clear call to arms to Republican base voters in South Carolina .
Harrison tweeted a day after the debate that the campaign raised $ 1.5 million since he had taken the stage .
Republicans in the state appear to believe that focusing their resources toward turning out more conservative voters will be key to Graham 's success , especially during a presidential election year .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNBC that over at least the past month , South Carolina Republican Party leaders have been focusing much of their door knocking and voter outreach on what 's known in the state as `` Upcountry '' or the more upstate region .
This person declined to be named because they are working with an outside group not involved with the South Carolina Senate race but working on other , down-ballot races there .
That part of the state includes Greenville , Spartanburg and Anderson counties .
All of those areas voted in support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 election .
Trump went on to capture the key state four years ago by nearly 6 percentage points .
Drew McKissick , GOP state party chairman since 2017 , said they are not just targeting voters Upcountry but across the state , including the other side of the state known as the `` Lowcountry . ''
`` We 're focusing on every targeted voter that we need to turn out across this entire state , '' McKissick told CNBC on Wednesday .
He did note that they 've been conducting in-person door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first reported coronavirus case in the United States .
McKissick said he does n't believe Graham 's relationship with the president will be a detriment to him winning the race .
He also said Graham 's angry , impassioned fight on Capitol Hill in favor of Brett Kavanaugh during his contentious Supreme Court hearing is something that conservatives hold in high regard .
It may end up helping Graham 's reelection chances as he tries to usher in another nominee into the Supreme Court .
Democrats see the race very differently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong digital infrastructure , South Carolina Democrats have been campaigning through online and phone outreach since the start of the pandemic , said state party Chairman Trav Robertson .
`` We 've got a 150 staff who have been feeding like locusts on virtual organizing and the telephones to the point we are making hundreds of thousands of voter contacts in the span of two or three days , '' Robertson said Tuesday .
Harrison has also been connecting with voters through Facebook .
Robertson believes Harrison and Democrats are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters thinking about the Kavanaugh hearings because it could help them white suburban women .
Kavanaugh was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women , something he has vehemently denied .
Robertson also said the story of Harrison 's rise would be a key factor to his success .
Beyond that though , Robertson said he senses voters are tired of Graham 's link to the president , including what the party leader sees as the lack of defense for the late Sen. John McCain , a Vietnam war veteran , when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People were really pissed that he did n't defend John McCain .
He 's boxed himself in with his positions defending Donald Trump and the Kavanaugh hearings , '' Robertson said .
Graham was friends with McCain .
`` Which Lindsey are they voting for ?
The sidekick to John McCain or the bootlicker to Trump .
Which one ? ''
Clyburn said .
Even before the coronavirus , Harrison 's team was already building a strong digital team , including its own in-house production unit to create ads that would help them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Zack Carroll , Harrison 's campaign manager .
Prior to the pandemic , they hired someone to use a camera to capture what Carroll called Harrison 's genuineness and strong character in talking to voters .
Fast forward to just under a month before the November election , and Harrison has , at times , surpassed Graham 's fundraising operation .
The latest data from ActBlue , the online fundraising tool for Democrats running for office , shows that Harrison raised just over $ 9 million in August through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised by any of the Democrats running for the Senate that month .
Since the start of the election cycle , Harrison has raised $ 16 million , or 58 % , of his funds through small dollar donors giving $ 200 or less , CRP data says .
Meanwhile , Graham , has raised over $ 14 million from larger contributors .
Out of state contributions have also been key for both candidates .
CRP data shows that each contender has seen over 80 % of their funds come from outside South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Democrat has been able to spend on massive TV ad buys .
Ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics said last week Harrison was spending $ 7.5 million on ads .
Last month , Harrison spent at least $ 12 million on broadcast ads running until Election Day .
Both Democratic and Republican outside groups are involved with the race .
The Senate Leadership Fund , a super PAC aligned with Sen .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , is dropping $ 10 million into the race .
The Senate Majority PAC , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign into the state , taking aim at Graham .
Harrison also has a super PAC constantly attacking him on air and online known as Lindsey Must Go .
It launched its first TV ad last month .

Lindsey Graham and Jaime Harrison at Allen University in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. Joshua Boucher | The State via AP
Democratic leaders in South Carolina are in a position they might not have expected coming into this election cycle: They have a chance to capture a U.S. Senate seat that has been under Republican control since the 1960s. Their nominee is Jaime Harrison, a leader at the Democratic National Committee and a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party. His battle with longtime GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has become the most expensive Senate race in the state's history. The race is tied, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. On Wednesday, forecasters at the Cook Political Report changed their rating on the race from "lean Republican" to "toss-up." There are now six Republican-held Senate seats marked as toss-ups. The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the chamber. As of the end of the second quarter, Graham had raised $29 million. Harrison had brought in $28 million, although he has slightly less cash on hand than his GOP opponent, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. None of Graham's previous opponents has come close to raising that amount. Graham, on the other hand, has never had to raise as much as he has this cycle. Harrison outraised him in the second quarter. Third quarter numbers are expected to be released soon. Those totals do not include the outside groups pouring millions into the race. With 3½ weeks before Election Day, even some of Harrison's closest allies in the Democratic leadership acknowledged they weren't originally convinced he would get as close as he is now to overtake Graham. "I didn't think he had a chance in hell to get to where he is at," House Majority Whip James Clyburn told CNBC in a recent interview. Harrison once worked in Clyburn's congressional office. "He surprised the hell out of me," added Clyburn, an established leader in the South Carolina Democratic party and a strong ally of Harrison. Harrison has keyed in on what Democrats perceive as big vulnerabilities in Graham's record, particularly in the candidates' debate Sunday. Clyburn wants Harrison to keep hammering away on them. "He [Graham] has just played South Carolina voters as if to say, 'I do what I want to do, I say what I'm able to say and no matter what I do, or no matter what I say, I can keep getting you to vote for me'," Clyburn said.
South Carolina GOP leans on the base
Clyburn cited Graham's remarks in 2016 and 2018, when he said that he would not support filling a vacant Supreme Court seat in the last year of President Donald Trump's first term. As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham plans to hold hearings and to vote in support of Trump's latest nominee to the nation's highest court, Amy Coney Barrett. During the debate, Harrison called it a "flip-flop."
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards schoen
But Graham and the GOP believe the issue is a strong point for them. During the debate, the senator defended the move, saying Republicans have historical precedent on their side when it comes to pushing through a nominee, as their party controls the Senate and the White House. Graham also pointed to his track record of confirming numerous conservative Supreme Court judges and praised Trump's choice of Barrett, a clear call to arms to Republican base voters in South Carolina. Harrison tweeted a day after the debate that the campaign raised $1.5 million since he had taken the stage. Republicans in the state appear to believe that focusing their resources toward turning out more conservative voters will be key to Graham's success, especially during a presidential election year. A senior political strategist on the ground told CNBC that over at least the past month, South Carolina Republican Party leaders have been focusing much of their door knocking and voter outreach on what's known in the state as "Upcountry" or the more upstate region. This person declined to be named because they are working with an outside group not involved with the South Carolina Senate race but working on other, down-ballot races there. That part of the state includes Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson counties. All of those areas voted in support of Trump over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Trump went on to capture the key state four years ago by nearly 6 percentage points. Drew McKissick, GOP state party chairman since 2017, said they are not just targeting voters Upcountry but across the state, including the other side of the state known as the "Lowcountry." "We're focusing on every targeted voter that we need to turn out across this entire state," McKissick told CNBC on Wednesday. He did note that they've been conducting in-person door knocking since this summer, months after the first reported coronavirus case in the United States. McKissick said he doesn't believe Graham's relationship with the president will be a detriment to him winning the race. He also said Graham's angry, impassioned fight on Capitol Hill in favor of Brett Kavanaugh during his contentious Supreme Court hearing is something that conservatives hold in high regard. It may end up helping Graham's reelection chances as he tries to usher in another nominee into the Supreme Court.
Democrats blast Graham's loyalty to Trump
Democrats see the race very differently, and their tactics reflect this. With a strong digital infrastructure, South Carolina Democrats have been campaigning through online and phone outreach since the start of the pandemic, said state party Chairman Trav Robertson. "We've got a 150 staff who have been feeding like locusts on virtual organizing and the telephones to the point we are making hundreds of thousands of voter contacts in the span of two or three days," Robertson said Tuesday. Harrison has also been connecting with voters through Facebook. Robertson believes Harrison and Democrats are going to have an advantage when it comes to voters thinking about the Kavanaugh hearings because it could help them white suburban women. Kavanaugh was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, something he has vehemently denied. Robertson also said the story of Harrison's rise would be a key factor to his success. Beyond that though, Robertson said he senses voters are tired of Graham's link to the president, including what the party leader sees as the lack of defense for the late Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam war veteran, when he was being attacked by Trump. "People were really pissed that he didn't defend John McCain. He's boxed himself in with his positions defending Donald Trump and the Kavanaugh hearings," Robertson said. Graham was friends with McCain. "Which Lindsey are they voting for? The sidekick to John McCain or the bootlicker to Trump. Which one?" Clyburn said.
Tense race leads to record fundraising


cnbc--2020-10-08--Trump claims stimulus talks are back on, two days after he shut them down

President Donald Trump said Thursday that stimulus negotiators are `` starting to have some very productive talks , '' days after his stunning decision to halt deliberations with top Democrats .
`` I shut down talks two days ago because they were n't working out .
Now they are starting to work out .
We 're starting to have some very productive talks , '' he said during an interview on the Fox Business channel .
`` I said look we 're not getting anywhere : Shut it down .
I did n't want to waste time .
But in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides very capable — we got back , we started talking again , '' the president continued .
`` And we 're talking about airlines and we 're talking about a bigger deal than airlines .
We 're talking about a deal with $ 1,200 per person , we 're talking about other things . ''
U.S. stock futures extended their gains slightly in premarket trading after Trump 's comments .
The Dow was up more than 100 points shortly after the opening bell .
The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House , did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , who leads negotiations for the White House , resumed phone discussions about airline aid Wednesday .
Trump on Tuesday announced on Twitter that he had directed White House negotiators to abandon talks with Democratic leaders to strike a new Covid-19 stimulus deal .
`` I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when , immediately after I win , we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump tweeted .
That decision baffled economists and politicians alike since additional relief has widespread support from the Federal Reserve , Wall Street , Democrats in both houses of Congress , some Republicans and the American public .
Still , the president said Thursday he believes Pelosi will continue to work with the White House since both parties believe additional fiscal support is warranted .
He also continued to blame China for the public-health crisis and economic downturn caused by the coronavirus .
`` She wants it to happen , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to happen , '' Trump said .
`` Because it 's so good for our country , we really need it .
It was n't our workers ' fault , it was n't our airlines ' fault that China did this terrible thing to us . ''

President Donald Trump said Thursday that stimulus negotiators are "starting to have some very productive talks," days after his stunning decision to halt deliberations with top Democrats.
"I shut down talks two days ago because they weren't working out. Now they are starting to work out. We're starting to have some very productive talks," he said during an interview on the Fox Business channel.
"I said look we're not getting anywhere: Shut it down. I didn't want to waste time. But in any event, we got back — both sides very capable — we got back, we started talking again," the president continued. "And we're talking about airlines and we're talking about a bigger deal than airlines. We're talking about a deal with $1,200 per person, we're talking about other things."
U.S. stock futures extended their gains slightly in premarket trading after Trump's comments. The Dow was up more than 100 points shortly after the opening bell.
The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in negotiations with the White House, did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who leads negotiations for the White House, resumed phone discussions about airline aid Wednesday.
Trump on Tuesday announced on Twitter that he had directed White House negotiators to abandon talks with Democratic leaders to strike a new Covid-19 stimulus deal.
"I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business," Trump tweeted.
That decision baffled economists and politicians alike since additional relief has widespread support from the Federal Reserve, Wall Street, Democrats in both houses of Congress, some Republicans and the American public.
Still, the president said Thursday he believes Pelosi will continue to work with the White House since both parties believe additional fiscal support is warranted. He also continued to blame China for the public-health crisis and economic downturn caused by the coronavirus.
"She wants it to happen, too; she doesn't want it not to happen," Trump said. "Because it's so good for our country, we really need it. It wasn't our workers' fault, it wasn't our airlines' fault that China did this terrible thing to us."


cnbc--2020-10-08--Trump refuses to participate in virtual debate on Oct. 15: 'I'm not going to waste my time'

WASHINGTON — The second presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden , scheduled for Oct. 15 , will be held virtually , the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates said Thursday .
Minutes after the announcement , however , Trump said he would not participate .
`` No I 'm not going to waste my time on a virtual debate , '' he said during an interview on the Fox Business channel .
His campaign later said Trump will hold a rally that night instead .
Trump and his allies quickly claimed , without evidence , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor Biden .
A Biden campaign source told NBC News that the CPD made the decision independently .
The format change comes six days after Trump announced that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus .
Since Trump 's diagnosis , more than a dozen White House officials have tested positive for Covid-19 .
Following Trump 's refusal to do a virtual debate , the Biden campaign proposed that the final debate , currently scheduled for Oct. 22 , be held as a live town-hall debate between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed to a town-hall on Oct. 22 , but also called for a third and final debate on Oct. 29 .
The Biden campaign rejected the idea of a third debate if Trump refuses to participate in the Oct. 15 debate , arguing that Trump 's refusal is tantamount to canceling the second debate .
On Thursday afternoon , ABC News announced that Biden had agreed to do a town hall with the network on Oct. 15 in Pennsylvania , ending any speculation that the Oct. 15 virtual debate would proceed without Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to convince the president to agree to at least one and possibly two more debates with Biden .
`` It 's a mistake to cede ground '' to the former vice president , a senior official told NBC News .
`` If he lets Biden speak more , the public will see Biden 's shortcomings . ''
Earlier this week , Biden said he thought the Oct. 15 debate should be called off if the president were still infected with the coronavirus .
But experts say it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious , and they urge doctors and patients to err on the side of caution .
`` I do n't think I 'm contagious , '' Trump told Fox on Thursday morning .
`` I am feeling good .
Really good .
Perfect , and we are ready to go .
I am ready to go , except [ the ] quarantine situation that you have for a while after you get tested , or whatever the procedure is .
But I am ready and looking forward to doing the rallies . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump was first infected with the virus , or when he last tested negative for it before his positive results last Thursday .
Both of these factors make it difficult to assess when the president will no longer be contagious .
Public health officials say Covid patients need to be isolated from others for at least 10 days after first showing symptoms , and up to 20 days depending on the severity of the viral infection .
Trump reportedly began displaying symptoms last Wednesday , when he appeared tired at a rally in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force One on the flight home , something he almost never does .
Two days later , the president was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Oct. 2 , where he received an aggressive treatment of therapies , including supplemental oxygen , from a team of doctors .
Trump was discharged from the hospital on Monday into the care of White House physicians , who say he is steadily improving .
A day after he left Walter Reed hospital , Trump tweeted that he was `` looking forward to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 .
Trump 's campaign said the president wanted to participate in the debate `` in person . ''
Following Thursday 's announcement of the switch to a virtual format , Trump 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien , who was recently diagnosed with Covid-19 himself , called the CPD 's decision `` pathetic , '' and he insisted the debate can still be held safely in person .
`` We 'll pass on this sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden and do a rally instead , '' Stepien said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been privately discussing possibly holding a campaign event next week in Pittsburgh , according to people familiar with the matter .
The event could end up being around the same time that the debate was slated to take place .
`` Joe Biden will find an appropriate place to take questions from voters directly on October 15th , as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks , '' said Kate Bedingfield , Biden 's deputy campaign manager .
`` Given the President 's refusal to participate on October 15th , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden-Trump Town Hall to October 22nd , so that the President is not able to evade accountability , '' Bedingfield said in a statement .
`` The voters should have a chance to ask questions of both candidates , directly . ''
`` We agree that this should happen on October 22 , and accordingly , the third debate should then be shifted back one week to October 29 , '' said Stepien , the Trump campaign manager .
But Bedingfield rejected the idea of shifting both debates .
`` Trump chose today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate , '' she said .
`` We look forward to participating in the final debate , scheduled for October 22 , which already is tied for the latest debate date in 40 years .
Donald Trump can show up , or he can decline again .
That 's his choice . ''
The Commission on Presidential Debates did not immediately respond to the rescheduling proposals .
Traditionally , the bipartisan group has rejected 11th hour requests from campaigns to change the terms of presidential debates .
Citing a need to `` protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the debate commission said in a statement , `` The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting , in which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations . ''
The debate 's location in Miami and the moderator , C-SPAN 's Steve Scully , will remain unchanged , they said .
The first debate between the two candidates on Sept. 29 in Cleveland quickly devolved into a fiasco after Trump refused to stop talking when his allotted time was finished , and he continued to interrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate .
Biden also grew frustrated during the 90-minute debate , at one point calling the president `` a clown . ''
Following the disaster in Cleveland , the commission said it was exploring how to give the debate moderators more ways to enforce the previously agreed upon rules , if and when candidates refused to obey them .
A virtual debate could solve two challenges at once for the debate commission : How to protect the town hall attendees , staff , moderators and candidates from coronavirus infection , and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of silencing candidates who ignore the rules like Trump did last week .
Speaking on Fox Business , Trump seemed to acknowledge that a format where he could be silenced for interrupting would cramp his debating style .
`` That 's not what debating is all about , '' he said .
`` You sit behind a computer and do a debate , it 's ridiculous .
And then they cut you off whenever they want ... You have to confront people , you ca n't do it over a computer . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to include reactions from both the Trump and Biden presidential campaigns .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would not participate in his second official presidential debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden, after the bipartisan Presidential Debate Commission shifted the event format from a in-person town-hall to a virtual one.
"No I'm not going to waste my time on a virtual debate," he said during an interview Thursday morning on the Fox Business channel. His campaign later said Trump will hold a rally that night instead.
The second of three presidential debates this fall was originally slated to take place in Miami, Florida on Oct. 15. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns had agreed to the date, location and format back in June.
Then last Friday, Trump announced that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus. Since then, more than a dozen White House officials have tested positive for Covid-19.
Citing a need to "protect the health and safety of all involved," the debate commission announced Thursday morning that the Miami debate would remain in a town-hall format, but that "candidates would participate from separate remote locations."
Trump and his allies quickly claimed, without evidence, that the commission had made the change to favor Biden. A Biden campaign source told NBC News that the CPD made the decision independently.
Over the course of the day Thursday, the Biden and Trump campaigns issued a flurry of competing proposals for what should happen next.
Following Trump's refusal to do a virtual debate, the Biden campaign proposed that the third and final debate, currently scheduled for Oct. 22, be held as a town-hall debate, instead of just the two men and a moderator.
The Trump campaign tentatively agreed to a town-hall on Oct. 22. But then they demanded a third and final debate on Oct. 29, arguing that an Oct. 22 town hall was essentially a rescheduling of next week's debate.
The Biden campaign rejected the idea of adding another debate day, noting that it was Trump, not Biden, who blew up the Oct. 15 debate by refusing to participate under the rules set by the commission.
On Thursday afternoon, ABC News announced that Biden had agreed to do a town hall with the network on Oct. 15 in Pennsylvania, effectively closing the door to additional negotiations.
Trump, however, wasn't finished negotiating. At around 7:00 p.m. ET, the White House released a memo from Trump's physician, Sean Conley, saying that he expected the president could make a "safe return to public engagements" this Saturday, exactly 10 days after Trump was first diagnosed with Covid-19.
Citing the latest memo, Trump's campaign then put out a statement arguing that there was "no medical reason why the Commission on Presidential Debates should shift the [Oct. 15] debate to a virtual setting, postpone it, or otherwise alter it in any way."
But experts say it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when a Covid patient is no longer contagious, and they urge doctors and patients to err on the side of caution.


cnbc--2020-10-09--Trump refuses to participate in virtual debate on Oct. 15: 'I'm not going to waste my time'

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would not participate in his second official presidential debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden , after the bipartisan Presidential Debate Commission shifted the event format from a in-person town-hall to a virtual one .
`` No I 'm not going to waste my time on a virtual debate , '' he said during an interview Thursday morning on the Fox Business channel .
His campaign later said Trump will hold a rally that night instead .
The second of three presidential debates this fall was originally slated to take place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both the Biden and Trump campaigns had agreed to the date , location and format back in June .
Then last Friday , Trump announced that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus .
Since then , more than a dozen White House officials have tested positive for Covid-19 .
Citing a need to `` protect the health and safety of all involved , '' the debate commission announced Thursday morning that the Miami debate would remain in a town-hall format , but that `` candidates would participate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his allies quickly claimed , without evidence , that the commission had made the change to favor Biden .
A Biden campaign source told NBC News that the CPD made the decision independently .
Over the course of the day Thursday , the Biden and Trump campaigns issued a flurry of competing proposals for what should happen next .
Following Trump 's refusal to do a virtual debate , the Biden campaign proposed that the third and final debate , currently scheduled for Oct. 22 , be held as a town-hall debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a moderator .
The Trump campaign tentatively agreed to a town-hall on Oct. 22 .
But then they demanded a third and final debate on Oct. 29 , arguing that an Oct. 22 town hall was essentially a rescheduling of next week 's debate .
The Biden campaign rejected the idea of adding another debate day , noting that it was Trump , not Biden , who blew up the Oct. 15 debate by refusing to participate under the rules set by the commission .
On Thursday afternoon , ABC News announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town hall with the network on Oct. 15 in Pennsylvania , effectively closing the door to additional negotiations .
Trump , however , was n't finished negotiating .
At around 7:00 p.m .
ET , the White House released a memo from Trump 's physician , Sean Conley , saying that he expected the president could make a `` safe return to public engagements '' this Saturday , exactly 10 days after Trump was first diagnosed with Covid-19 .
Citing the latest memo , Trump 's campaign then put out a statement arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the Commission on Presidential Debates should shift the [ Oct. 15 ] debate to a virtual setting , postpone it , or otherwise alter it in any way . ''
But experts say it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when a Covid patient is no longer contagious , and they urge doctors and patients to err on the side of caution .


cnbc--2020-10-09--Trump raises coronavirus stimulus offer to $1.8 trillion, then says he wants bigger bill than Dems o

Trump raises coronavirus stimulus offer to $1.8 trillion, then says he wants bigger bill than Dems or GOP

The White House on Friday took a new coronavirus stimulus offer to Democrats , believed to cost $ 1.8 trillion , as the sides work to strike a deal before the 2020 election .
The plan would mark an increase from the $ 1.6 trillion the Trump administration previously proposed .
House Democrats passed a $ 2.2 trillion bill earlier this month , and the sides have struggled to find a consensus in between those figures .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke for more than 30 minutes Friday afternoon , the California Democrat 's spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered a proposal `` that attempted to address some of the concerns Democrats have , '' he added .
`` Of special concern , is the absence of an agreement on a strategic plan to crush the virus .
For this and other provisions , we are still awaiting language from the Administration as negotiations on the overall funding amount continue , '' Hammill said in a tweeted statement .
In a tweet before the meeting , Trump urged negotiators to `` Go Big ! ''
Trump later added more confusion to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I would like to see a bigger stimulus package frankly than either the Democrats or Republicans are offering , '' he told radio host Rush Limbaugh , hours after apparently signing off on the offer that costs $ 400 billion less than the Democrats ' plan .
Congress still faces several hurdles to crafting pandemic relief legislation and passing it .
Even if the White House and Democrats can reach an accord on how much money to inject into a reeling health-care system and economy , they have to craft a bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier Friday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said another stimulus package is `` unlikely in the next three weeks . ''
He has focused on confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election , and the Senate has set a confirmation hearing for Monday .
To find a deal , Republicans and Democrats would have to quickly resolve several issues that have seemed intractable throughout months of fruitless talks .
Pelosi has insisted on at least $ 436 billion in relief for cash-crunched state and local governments , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 150 billion they received earlier this year .
Democrats want to reinstate the enhanced federal unemployment insurance at $ 600 per week through January .
Mnuchin last offered a supplemental benefit of $ 400 per week .
Other areas of dispute include tax credits and food aid .
After Pelosi and Mnuchin renewed talks toward a deal early in the week , Trump abruptly told his administration to back out of discussions .
After the stock market took a hit in response to the president pulling out of negotiations , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct payments , small business loans and aid for airlines to cover payroll .
Congress has failed to send new relief money in months as the U.S. health-care system buckles under a rampaging outbreak .
The country reported more than 56,000 new infections Thursday , the highest single-day mark in nearly two months .
As millions of Americans remain unemployed , lifelines to sustain them through economic shutdowns earlier this year have expired in recent months .
The supplemental unemployment insurance and a federal moratorium on evictions ended , as did the window @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business loans .
Trump signed executive orders that temporarily sent additional jobless benefits to some Americans and extended student loan assistance .
U.S. jobless claims remain stubbornly high as hiring starts to slow .
Airlines and other major U.S. companies have moved toward furloughing or laying off tens of thousands of workers .
This week , Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell urged Congress to pass more fiscal stimulus , saying that failing to do so could `` lead to a weak recovery , creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` overdoing '' relief .

The White House on Friday took a new coronavirus stimulus offer to Democrats, believed to cost $1.8 trillion, as the sides work to strike a deal before the 2020 election.
The plan would mark an increase from the $1.6 trillion the Trump administration previously proposed. House Democrats passed a $2.2 trillion bill earlier this month, and the sides have struggled to find a consensus in between those figures.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke for more than 30 minutes Friday afternoon, the California Democrat's spokesman, Drew Hammill, said. Mnuchin offered a proposal "that attempted to address some of the concerns Democrats have," he added.
"Of special concern, is the absence of an agreement on a strategic plan to crush the virus. For this and other provisions, we are still awaiting language from the Administration as negotiations on the overall funding amount continue," Hammill said in a tweeted statement.
In a tweet before the meeting, Trump urged negotiators to "Go Big!" Trump later added more confusion to a chaotic week of discussions over aid.
"I would like to see a bigger stimulus package frankly than either the Democrats or Republicans are offering," he told radio host Rush Limbaugh, hours after apparently signing off on the offer that costs $400 billion less than the Democrats' plan.
Congress still faces several hurdles to crafting pandemic relief legislation and passing it. Even if the White House and Democrats can reach an accord on how much money to inject into a reeling health-care system and economy, they have to craft a bill that can get through the Republican-held Senate.
Earlier Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said another stimulus package is "unlikely in the next three weeks." He has focused on confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election, and the Senate has set a confirmation hearing for Monday.
To find a deal, Republicans and Democrats would have to quickly resolve several issues that have seemed intractable throughout months of fruitless talks. Pelosi has insisted on at least $436 billion in relief for cash-crunched state and local governments, while Trump has resisted sending them more than the $150 billion they received earlier this year.
Democrats want to reinstate the enhanced federal unemployment insurance at $600 per week through January. Mnuchin last offered a supplemental benefit of $400 per week.
Other areas of dispute include tax credits and food aid.
After Pelosi and Mnuchin renewed talks toward a deal early in the week, Trump abruptly told his administration to back out of discussions. After the stock market took a hit in response to the president pulling out of negotiations, Trump reversed course and urged Congress to pass direct payments, small business loans and aid for airlines to cover payroll.
Congress has failed to send new relief money in months as the U.S. health-care system buckles under a rampaging outbreak. The country reported more than 56,000 new infections Thursday, the highest single-day mark in nearly two months.
As millions of Americans remain unemployed, lifelines to sustain them through economic shutdowns earlier this year have expired in recent months. The supplemental unemployment insurance and a federal moratorium on evictions ended, as did the window to apply for Paycheck Protection Program small business loans. Trump signed executive orders that temporarily sent additional jobless benefits to some Americans and extended student loan assistance.
U.S. jobless claims remain stubbornly high as hiring starts to slow. Airlines and other major U.S. companies have moved toward furloughing or laying off tens of thousands of workers.
This week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell urged Congress to pass more fiscal stimulus, saying that failing to do so could "lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses." He said Congress had a limited risk of "overdoing" relief.
— CNBC's Ylan Mui contributed to this report.
— Disclosure: Larry Kudlow is a former CNBC contributor.


cnbc--2020-10-09--Susan Collins struggles to change the subject from Brett Kavanaugh in Maine Senate race

The last time Sen. Susan Collins faced a Democratic challenger , she was considered practically invincible .
`` No politician is ever bulletproof , but Collins is close , '' University of Maine political scientist Mark Brewer told the Portland Press Herald in 2013 .
At that point , Collins had already won three Senate races , expanding her share of the vote each time .
She went on to defeat her rival , former ACLU leader Shenna Bellows , with almost 70 % of the vote .
Six years later , everything has changed .
Collins is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic House speaker , Sara Gideon .
With 3½ weeks to go , Collins is down in just about every poll as she seeks a fifth term from Maine voters .
Even as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pushes to confirm Trump 's next pick for the Supreme Court , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , the fight over the last vacancy is continuing to shape the race for the Senate .
`` Normally I am hesitant to ascribe too much to one particular vote that a legislator takes , '' Brewer said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this particular instance , her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh really has gotten the attention of a lot of people . ''
The Kavanaugh vote fits in with two other dynamics that Brewer has seen shape the race : Trump 's deep unpopularity in the state and Maine 's growing polarization .
Collins voted to confirm Kavanaugh in 2018 , sealing his ascension to the top court by an historically slim margin .
Collins had been supportive of abortion rights , but in announcing her support for Kavanaugh , she rejected warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court 's reproductive rights precedents .
That vote was the final straw for many on the left in Maine , where voters and politicians pride themselves on their ability to look beyond party lines .
It also prompted an effort to crowdfund money for Gideon , eventually providing a nearly $ 4 million boost to her once she gained the Democratic nomination .
Gideon has raised more money than Collins in the unusually pricey contest , about $ 24 million compared with Collins ' $ 17 million , according to the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Responsive Politics .
In the two years since the Kavanaugh vote , Collins has struggled to change the subject .
She has campaigned around Maine touting her accomplishments in the Senate and her bipartisan record stretching back to the early days of her career , working in the office of Rep. William Cohen , the moderate GOP congressman who would later represent the state in the Senate and become Defense secretary under Democrat Bill Clinton .
But the Kavanaugh vote has trailed her nonetheless , a linkage to the unpopular president that Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the minds of Maine voters .
In recent days , the Maine Democratic Party has begun posting `` Trump Collins 2020 '' lawn signs .
`` She is in a particularly hard position because she used to have a real sense of support from the women 's community — there were folks who worked on choice , on women 's rights , who used to be big defenders of Susan Collins , '' said Lanae Erickson , a politics analyst at Third Way , a center-left think tank .
`` The Kavanaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those people . ''
Amy Cookson , a spokeswoman in Maine for Planned Parenthood Votes , said the Kavanaugh vote `` was a tipping point for many people who used to support Susan Collins and will not anymore . ''
Planned Parenthood was just one of the groups that had supported Collins but flipped to Gideon , citing the Kavanaugh vote .
Others include the League of Conservation Voters and the Human Rights Campaign .
Gideon , who sponsored several bills last year protecting reproductive rights in Maine , has seized on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the senator 's votes in favor of other Trump appointees to the federal bench .
An upcoming Supreme Court fight over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act has added to her ammunition .
Over the summer , after Kavanaugh voted unsuccessfully to uphold a restrictive Louisiana abortion law , Gideon posted on Twitter : `` Do you still think Brett Kavanaugh believes Roe v. Wade is settled law , @ SenSusanCollins ? ''
On Monday , the second anniversary of Collins ' announcement of her support for Kavanaugh , Gideon circulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state condemning Collins for her vote , citing the case .
To many observers , the dynamic is much larger than a fight over the Supreme Court .
It is also an illustration of the perils of running on the message of independence in a time of enormous party polarization .
That polarization `` makes her position as a moderate harder to hold , '' said Brewer , who researches electoral behavior .
`` It has happened maybe even more so in Maine , and I think the transformation in Maine was more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of polarization in Maine back a decade , to the ascension of Gov .
Paul LePage in 2010 , the brash two-term Republican who has called himself `` Donald Trump before Donald Trump became popular . ''
Two years after LePage 's victory , Sen. Olympia Snowe , a Republican known for reaching across the aisle , announced she would not seek reelection despite being seen as a relatively safe incumbent , as the tea party faction appeared to be gaining traction in the state .
The practical effect of the polarization is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buck the president fully without losing Republican voters but must also somehow retain the Democratic voters who have been crucial to her successes and who despise Trump .
That balancing act has become even more difficult as the election nears .
Collins , who publicly denounced Trump in 2016 , has not said whom she is voting for this year .
Pressed by Gideon at a debate last month , Collins said she did n't `` think the people of Maine need my advice . ''
After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not support filling the seat until after the election .
( Collins had said even before Ginsburg died that seating a new justice in October would be too close to Election Day . )
Rather than continuing to talk about Trump and Kavanaugh , Collins has been trying to shift the dialogue back to Maine .
Collins notes that the Paycheck Protection Program included in the March stimulus bill that she helped author in the Senate has delivered billions to small businesses in the state , and helped sustain a quarter million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans hold onto the Senate , Collins ' seniority puts her in line to lead the influential Senate Appropriations Committee , a position that often provides financial perks to a lawmaker 's constituents .
Pounding further on the local message , Collins has attacked Gideon recently for her roots , noting that she is a transplant from Rhode Island .
`` I grew up in Caribou , I 've lived in Bangor for 26 years .
My family 's been in Maine for generations .
She 's been in Maine for about 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins said in an interview with Politico published Wednesday .
`` That 's a big difference in our knowledge of the state . ''
While the Gideon campaign has alleged that Collins ' time in Washington has alienated her from local interests , Collins has made the opposite point , arguing that her work in the nation 's capital has delivered more than Gideon 's legislative efforts at home .
`` Speaker Gideon adjourned the Legislature more than 200 days ago and has been unable and even unwilling to negotiate a bipartisan compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Collins spokeswoman Annie Clark said in an email .
`` Despite her promises to take state level action to help small businesses back in April , Sara never delivered , and she ignored the state 's struggling unemployment insurance system that continues to delay and confuse benefits for Mainers , who are desperate for help , '' Clark added .
In a statement provided to CNBC after this story was originally published , Gideon spokesperson Maeve Coyle responded that it was `` clear that Senator Collins has changed and she 's willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there . ''
`` Senator Collins is clearly desperate to distract from the fact that it 's been over five months since the Senate has passed any coronavirus relief , not to mention her record of undermining Mainers ' health care and rubberstamping 181 Trump judges , '' Coyle said in a statement .
Shenna Bellows , a Democratic state senator who represents a district that voted for Trump in 2016 and who challenged Collins in 2014 , said Collins ' work on the Paycheck Protection Program may not resonate with locals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine very much appreciated the PPP , for example , and are grateful for that program , but there was also a sense that it was designed to benefit the biggest businesses , '' Bellows said .
She said the perceived elitism of the PPP pointed to a deeper problem , that she had tried to latch onto in her bid against Collins .
`` There is a sense that things for working people have gotten much worse over the last 20 years .
I think there 's a sense of disillusionment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have been really angry .
The Kavanaugh vote was a good example , but also the votes for the huge tax cuts [ in 2017 ] , and her trying to have it both ways on the Affordable Care Act , '' Bellows said .
`` I ran against her because I thought she was n't being a strong enough leader on issues that really mattered to Maine , but I think that now voters are seeing the same thing . ''
With the Nov. 3 election looming , there 's little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In averages of state polls , Gideon leads by about 4 points .
A wrinkle in the race that could prove consequential is that voting will be conducted via ranked choice , meaning voters will be allowed to rank the four candidates on the ballot — Collins , Gideon , and two independents — in their preferred order .
If no candidate receives a majority of the vote , then voters ' second choices are counted .
Most state polls show neither Gideon nor Collins securing 50 % support .
Lisa Savage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has encouraged her supporters to list Gideon as their second choice , which could be decisive .
Maine Republicans oppose ranked choice voting , which was crucial in the defeat of Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin in 2018 by Democrat Jared Golden , who represents the state 's 2nd Congressional District now .
But their legal efforts to stop the system have proved unsuccessful .
On Wednesday , Justice Stephen Breyer turned back a petition from state Republicans urging the Supreme Court to halt ranked choice in the coming races .

Sen. Susan Collins arrives for a meeting with a select group of senators and Trump administration officials in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill March 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer | Getty Images
The last time Sen. Susan Collins faced a Democratic challenger, she was considered practically invincible. "No politician is ever bulletproof, but Collins is close," University of Maine political scientist Mark Brewer told the Portland Press Herald in 2013. At that point, Collins had already won three Senate races, expanding her share of the vote each time. She went on to defeat her rival, former ACLU leader Shenna Bellows, with almost 70% of the vote. Six years later, everything has changed. Collins is in the race of her life against Maine's Democratic House speaker, Sara Gideon. With 3½ weeks to go, Collins is down in just about every poll as she seeks a fifth term from Maine voters.
watch now
A Collins loss in the state, where former Vice President Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump by nearly 15 points, could further imperil the GOP's precarious hold on its majority in the Senate. What happened? To many Mainers, the answer has a lot to do with Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The Kavanaugh vote
Even as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pushes to confirm Trump's next pick for the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the fight over the last vacancy is continuing to shape the race for the Senate. "Normally I am hesitant to ascribe too much to one particular vote that a legislator takes," Brewer said in a recent interview. "I think in this particular instance, her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh really has gotten the attention of a lot of people." The Kavanaugh vote fits in with two other dynamics that Brewer has seen shape the race: Trump's deep unpopularity in the state and Maine's growing polarization.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
Collins voted to confirm Kavanaugh in 2018, sealing his ascension to the top court by an historically slim margin. Collins had been supportive of abortion rights, but in announcing her support for Kavanaugh, she rejected warnings from activist groups that he would threaten the court's reproductive rights precedents. That vote was the final straw for many on the left in Maine, where voters and politicians pride themselves on their ability to look beyond party lines. It also prompted an effort to crowdfund money for Gideon, eventually providing a nearly $4 million boost to her once she gained the Democratic nomination. Gideon has raised more money than Collins in the unusually pricey contest, about $24 million compared with Collins' $17 million, according to the most recent data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Collins on defense
In the two years since the Kavanaugh vote, Collins has struggled to change the subject. She has campaigned around Maine touting her accomplishments in the Senate and her bipartisan record stretching back to the early days of her career, working in the office of Rep. William Cohen, the moderate GOP congressman who would later represent the state in the Senate and become Defense secretary under Democrat Bill Clinton. But the Kavanaugh vote has trailed her nonetheless, a linkage to the unpopular president that Democrats have tried to cement at every turn in the minds of Maine voters. In recent days, the Maine Democratic Party has begun posting "Trump Collins 2020" lawn signs. "She is in a particularly hard position because she used to have a real sense of support from the women's community — there were folks who worked on choice, on women's rights, who used to be big defenders of Susan Collins," said Lanae Erickson, a politics analyst at Third Way, a center-left think tank. "The Kavanaugh vote just eviscerated her support with all of those people." Amy Cookson, a spokeswoman in Maine for Planned Parenthood Votes, said the Kavanaugh vote "was a tipping point for many people who used to support Susan Collins and will not anymore." Planned Parenthood was just one of the groups that had supported Collins but flipped to Gideon, citing the Kavanaugh vote. Others include the League of Conservation Voters and the Human Rights Campaign.
Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon speaks with media on near the Woodfords Club polling place on primary day Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Brianna Soukup | Portland Press Herald | Getty Images
Gideon, who sponsored several bills last year protecting reproductive rights in Maine, has seized on Collins' support of Kavanaugh as well as the senator's votes in favor of other Trump appointees to the federal bench. An upcoming Supreme Court fight over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act has added to her ammunition. Over the summer, after Kavanaugh voted unsuccessfully to uphold a restrictive Louisiana abortion law, Gideon posted on Twitter: "Do you still think Brett Kavanaugh believes Roe v. Wade is settled law, @SenSusanCollins?" On Monday, the second anniversary of Collins' announcement of her support for Kavanaugh, Gideon circulated an ad featuring health-care workers in the state condemning Collins for her vote, citing the case.
Polarization in Maine
To many observers, the dynamic is much larger than a fight over the Supreme Court. It is also an illustration of the perils of running on the message of independence in a time of enormous party polarization. That polarization "makes her position as a moderate harder to hold," said Brewer, who researches electoral behavior. "It has happened maybe even more so in Maine, and I think the transformation in Maine was more recent." Brewer traces the rise of polarization in Maine back a decade, to the ascension of Gov. Paul LePage in 2010, the brash two-term Republican who has called himself "Donald Trump before Donald Trump became popular." Two years after LePage's victory, Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican known for reaching across the aisle, announced she would not seek reelection despite being seen as a relatively safe incumbent, as the tea party faction appeared to be gaining traction in the state. The practical effect of the polarization is that Collins cannot be seen to buck the president fully without losing Republican voters but must also somehow retain the Democratic voters who have been crucial to her successes and who despise Trump. That balancing act has become even more difficult as the election nears. Collins, who publicly denounced Trump in 2016, has not said whom she is voting for this year. Pressed by Gideon at a debate last month, Collins said she didn't "think the people of Maine need my advice." After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, Collins rebuffed Trump again, saying she did not support filling the seat until after the election. (Collins had said even before Ginsburg died that seating a new justice in October would be too close to Election Day.)
Changing the subject
Rather than continuing to talk about Trump and Kavanaugh, Collins has been trying to shift the dialogue back to Maine. Collins notes that the Paycheck Protection Program included in the March stimulus bill that she helped author in the Senate has delivered billions to small businesses in the state, and helped sustain a quarter million local jobs. Moreover, if the Republicans hold onto the Senate, Collins' seniority puts her in line to lead the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, a position that often provides financial perks to a lawmaker's constituents. Pounding further on the local message, Collins has attacked Gideon recently for her roots, noting that she is a transplant from Rhode Island. "I grew up in Caribou, I've lived in Bangor for 26 years. My family's been in Maine for generations. She's been in Maine for about 15 years and lives in Freeport," Collins said in an interview with Politico published Wednesday. "That's a big difference in our knowledge of the state." While the Gideon campaign has alleged that Collins' time in Washington has alienated her from local interests, Collins has made the opposite point, arguing that her work in the nation's capital has delivered more than Gideon's legislative efforts at home. "Speaker Gideon adjourned the Legislature more than 200 days ago and has been unable and even unwilling to negotiate a bipartisan compromise to bring it back in session," Collins spokeswoman Annie Clark said in an email. "Despite her promises to take state level action to help small businesses back in April, Sara never delivered, and she ignored the state's struggling unemployment insurance system that continues to delay and confuse benefits for Mainers, who are desperate for help," Clark added. In a statement provided to CNBC after this story was originally published, Gideon spokesperson Maeve Coyle responded that it was "clear that Senator Collins has changed and she's willing to say or do anything to stay there." "Senator Collins is clearly desperate to distract from the fact that it's been over five months since the Senate has passed any coronavirus relief, not to mention her record of undermining Mainers' health care and rubberstamping 181 Trump judges," Coyle said in a statement.
Time running out for Collins


cnbc--2020-10-09--Trump to hold in-person event at the White House on Saturday, then head to Florida rally Monday

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks in front of the media in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , DC on June 1 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump plans to hold an in-person event at the White House on Saturday , less than a week after he was in the hospital with the coronavirus , a White House official told CNBC on Friday .
Later Friday , the Trump campaign announced that the president would travel to Sanford , Florida , on Monday to deliver a speech at a Make America Great Again event .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public event since he revealed last week that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19 .
Since that announcement , numerous other people who work at and are connected to the White House have also tested positive .
The event is set to feature `` remarks to peaceful protesters for law and order , '' according to an invitation obtained by ABC News , which first reported the gathering .
The White House official confirmed ABC 's reporting to CNBC .
A crowd is expected to gather on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. , according to the invitation posted by ABC .
Trump will address the attendees from the balcony of the White House at 2 p.m. , multiple outlets reported .
The in-person event comes as Trump faces criticism for downplaying the threat of the pandemic , and for participating in meetings that disregard social distancing recommendations from health experts in his own administration .
The president contracted the virus less than a week after a large , in-person gathering at the White House celebrating the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials who attended that event , including multiple Republican lawmakers , have since tested positive , according to NBC News .
The White House appears to be taking additional precautions for the upcoming event Saturday .
All attendees are required to bring masks with them , and they will be instructed to wear them while on the White House grounds , a source with knowledge of the plans told CNBC .
The participants must also submit to a coronavirus `` screening , '' the source said , which will include a temperature check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and safety of all attendees is our priority and following CDC guidelines is strongly encouraged , '' the source said .
The event was revealed just 25 days away from the presidential election between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden .
Trump , who is down in the polls , has been off the campaign trail since announcing his diagnosis .
But Trump has insisted throughout the week that he no longer feels any Covid-19 symptoms , and White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo Thursday evening that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` safe return to public engagements '' by the weekend .
Trump was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Friday evening , the same day he announced his diagnosis in a tweet .
He was discharged on Monday evening and has continued to be treated at the White House by doctors .
Despite a slew of Covid-19 cases being reported in and around the White House and the Trump administration -- NBC counted 27 as of Friday morning -- the president has not stayed isolated in the White House residence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Oval Office , where he was reportedly briefed on coronavirus stimulus talks and the progress of Hurricane Delta .
The list of positive cases includes White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , immigration policy advisor Stephen Miller and multiple members of the White House press corps .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told CBS News on Friday : `` I think the data speaks for themselves .
We had a super spreader event in the White House . ''
More than 7.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , and at least 212,789 have died , data from Johns Hopkins University shows .

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks in front of the media in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on June 1, 2020.
President Donald Trump plans to hold an in-person event at the White House on Saturday, less than a week after he was in the hospital with the coronavirus, a White House official told CNBC on Friday.
Later Friday, the Trump campaign announced that the president would travel to Sanford, Florida, on Monday to deliver a speech at a Make America Great Again event.
The White House gathering marks Trump's first public event since he revealed last week that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19. Since that announcement, numerous other people who work at and are connected to the White House have also tested positive.
The event is set to feature "remarks to peaceful protesters for law and order," according to an invitation obtained by ABC News, which first reported the gathering. The White House official confirmed ABC's reporting to CNBC.
A crowd is expected to gather on the White House South Lawn beginning at 11:30 a.m., according to the invitation posted by ABC.
Trump will address the attendees from the balcony of the White House at 2 p.m., multiple outlets reported.
The in-person event comes as Trump faces criticism for downplaying the threat of the pandemic, and for participating in meetings that disregard social distancing recommendations from health experts in his own administration.
The president contracted the virus less than a week after a large, in-person gathering at the White House celebrating the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. More than a dozen officials who attended that event, including multiple Republican lawmakers, have since tested positive, according to NBC News.
The White House appears to be taking additional precautions for the upcoming event Saturday. All attendees are required to bring masks with them, and they will be instructed to wear them while on the White House grounds, a source with knowledge of the plans told CNBC. The participants must also submit to a coronavirus "screening," the source said, which will include a temperature check and a brief questionnaire.
"The health and safety of all attendees is our priority and following CDC guidelines is strongly encouraged," the source said.
The event was revealed just 25 days away from the presidential election between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump, who is down in the polls, has been off the campaign trail since announcing his diagnosis.
But Trump has insisted throughout the week that he no longer feels any Covid-19 symptoms, and White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo Thursday evening that he anticipates the president can make a "safe return to public engagements" by the weekend.
On Friday night, Trump told Fox News that he had stopped taking any medication for the coronavirus eight hours before. "Right now, I'm medication free," he said.
Trump was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Friday evening, the same day he announced his diagnosis in a tweet. He was discharged on Monday evening and has continued to be treated at the White House by doctors.
Despite a slew of Covid-19 cases being reported in and around the White House and the Trump administration -- NBC counted 27 as of Friday morning -- the president has not stayed isolated in the White House residence. On Wednesday, Trump returned to the Oval Office, where he was reportedly briefed on coronavirus stimulus talks and the progress of Hurricane Delta.
The list of positive cases includes White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, immigration policy advisor Stephen Miller and multiple members of the White House press corps.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS News on Friday: "I think the data speaks for themselves. We had a super spreader event in the White House."
More than 7.6 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the U.S., and at least 212,789 have died, data from Johns Hopkins University shows.


cnbc--2020-10-09--Joe Biden has spent $500 million on ads this year as he seeks the presidency

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at a carpenters union in Phoenix , Arizona , October 8 , 2020 .
Joe Biden 's presidential campaign has broken the $ 500 million mark on his ad spending in its fight against President Donald Trump .
The campaign has spent that amount on TV , digital and radio ads since the start of the year , according to ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics .
The amount includes what the former vice president spent in his successful battle in the Democratic primaries .
Since he won the nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its checkbooks to target voters through ad buys in key states such as Ohio , Iowa , Pennsylvania , Michigan , Florida , Wisconsin and Texas .
Trump , on the other hand , has gone dark in certain states and shifted his campaigns TV ad spending toward Florida , Georgia , Pennsylvania and North Carolina .
Since early September , Biden has spent just under $ 95 million on TV ads while Trump has put up over $ 41 million , according to the Wesleyan Media Project .
The two are vying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : They are virtually tied in investing into the social media giants ad platform this month .
Each has spent just over $ 5 million on Facebook ads over the course of the week .
The presidential and congressional elections in the 2020 cycle are expected to end up costing $ 10.8 billion .
Biden is ahead of Trump by just under 10 points , according to a Real Clear Politics polling average .

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at a carpenters union in Phoenix, Arizona, October 8, 2020.
Joe Biden's presidential campaign has broken the $500 million mark on his ad spending in its fight against President Donald Trump.
The campaign has spent that amount on TV, digital and radio ads since the start of the year, according to ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics.
The amount includes what the former vice president spent in his successful battle in the Democratic primaries.
Since he won the nomination, Biden's campaign has opened up its checkbooks to target voters through ad buys in key states such as Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin and Texas.
Trump, on the other hand, has gone dark in certain states and shifted his campaigns TV ad spending toward Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Since early September, Biden has spent just under $95 million on TV ads while Trump has put up over $41 million, according to the Wesleyan Media Project.
The two are vying for supremacy with their Facebook ad spending: They are virtually tied in investing into the social media giants ad platform this month. Each has spent just over $5 million on Facebook ads over the course of the week.
The presidential and congressional elections in the 2020 cycle are expected to end up costing $10.8 billion.
Biden is ahead of Trump by just under 10 points, according to a Real Clear Politics polling average.


cnbc--2020-10-09--Trump gets angry when told that findings from Durham probe might not come out before election

President Donald Trump criticized Attorney General William Barr on Friday after being told during a live radio interview that a probe into the origins of the Russia investigation might not be released before Election Day .
Trump , speaking with conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh , had been asked about Axios ' report that Barr has warned Republicans on Capitol Hill not to expect the findings of the probe by the Department of Justice to be released before Nov. 3 .
`` If that 's the case I think it 's terrible .
It 's very disappointing .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said during the roughly two-hour radio interview .
`` I think it 's a disgrace .
It 's an embarrassment , '' he said .
The president said he was previously unaware of Barr 's reported comments .
`` I 'm hearing this for the first time , '' Trump told Limbaugh .
`` If Bill Barr made that statement , I would be very disappointed in him , '' Trump added .
Trump has publicly pressured Barr and the DOJ to quickly wrap up the probe , which is investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then President Barack Obama opened an inquiry into Trump 's presidential campaign in 2016 and its contacts with Russia .
The probe is being overseen by John Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut .
Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the president 's remarks .
In an interview Thursday on Fox Business Network , Trump said of Durham 's probe : `` These are people that spied on my campaign , and we have everything .
Now they say they have much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we got plenty , you do n't need any more . '
'' Trump has asserted that numerous DOJ and Obama administration officials , including former Vice President Joe Biden , his rival in the 2020 election , should face charges .
`` Unless Bill Barr indicts these people for crimes — the greatest political crimes in the history of our country — then we 're going to get little satisfaction unless I win , '' Trump said on Fox Business .
`` But these people should be indicted , this was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our country .
And that includes Obama and it includes Biden . ''
Barr has previously said that Trump 's tweets about a separate case involving his longtime ally Roger Stone `` make it impossible for me to do my job . ''

President Donald Trump criticized Attorney General William Barr on Friday after being told during a live radio interview that a probe into the origins of the Russia investigation might not be released before Election Day.
Trump, speaking with conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, had been asked about Axios' report that Barr has warned Republicans on Capitol Hill not to expect the findings of the probe by the Department of Justice to be released before Nov. 3.
"If that's the case I think it's terrible. It's very disappointing. And I'll tell him to his face," Trump said during the roughly two-hour radio interview.
"I think it's a disgrace. It's an embarrassment," he said.
The president said he was previously unaware of Barr's reported comments. "I'm hearing this for the first time," Trump told Limbaugh.
"If Bill Barr made that statement, I would be very disappointed in him," Trump added.
Trump has publicly pressured Barr and the DOJ to quickly wrap up the probe, which is investigating how the department under the administration of then President Barack Obama opened an inquiry into Trump's presidential campaign in 2016 and its contacts with Russia. The probe is being overseen by John Durham, the U.S. attorney for Connecticut.
Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the president's remarks.
In an interview Thursday on Fox Business Network, Trump said of Durham's probe: "These are people that spied on my campaign, and we have everything. Now they say they have much more, OK. And I say, 'Bill, we got plenty, you don't need any more.'"
Trump has asserted that numerous DOJ and Obama administration officials, including former Vice President Joe Biden, his rival in the 2020 election, should face charges.
"Unless Bill Barr indicts these people for crimes — the greatest political crimes in the history of our country — then we're going to get little satisfaction unless I win," Trump said on Fox Business. "But these people should be indicted, this was the greatest political crime in the history of our country. And that includes Obama and it includes Biden."
Barr has previously said that Trump's tweets about a separate case involving his longtime ally Roger Stone "make it impossible for me to do my job."


cnbc--2020-10-09--Mitch McConnell says a coronavirus stimulus package is 'unlikely in the next three weeks'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) speaks to the media after a lunch with Republican Senators , on Capitol Hill in Washington , September 30 , 2020 .
Congress likely will not pass another coronavirus stimulus package before the Nov. 3 election , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday .
The White House and Democrats have restarted last-ditch talks toward an elusive relief deal .
Speaking in his home state of Kentucky , the Republican told reporters `` the situation 's kind of murky '' while negotiators try to `` elbow for political advantage '' as Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to see us rise above that like we did back in March and April , but I think that 's unlikely in the next three weeks , '' he said .
McConnell and Republicans have pushed to swiftly confirm Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett as Democrats argue the next president should choose who succeeds the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The chamber will move forward with her confirmation hearing on Monday .
Officials in Washington have disagreed over how much money to put in a fifth pandemic aid package as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a sluggish recovery .
After he told his administration to pull out of talks earlier this week , President Donald Trump then renewed his push to inject trillions into the economy during his reelection bid .
In a tweet later Friday , Trump said `` Covid Relief Negotiations are moving along . ''
He added : Go Big ! ''
Shortly before the president tweeted , Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow told Fox Business Network that Trump had approved another offer for Mnuchin to take to Pelosi .
Kudlow , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Pelosi and Mnuchin will talk again Friday .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to the media after a lunch with Republican Senators, on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2020.
Congress likely will not pass another coronavirus stimulus package before the Nov. 3 election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday.
The White House and Democrats have restarted last-ditch talks toward an elusive relief deal. Speaking in his home state of Kentucky, the Republican told reporters "the situation's kind of murky" while negotiators try to "elbow for political advantage" as Americans cast their ballots.
"I'd like to see us rise above that like we did back in March and April, but I think that's unlikely in the next three weeks," he said.
McConnell and Republicans have pushed to swiftly confirm Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett as Democrats argue the next president should choose who succeeds the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The chamber will move forward with her confirmation hearing on Monday.
Officials in Washington have disagreed over how much money to put in a fifth pandemic aid package as economic pain for millions of Americans sharpens during a sluggish recovery. After he told his administration to pull out of talks earlier this week, President Donald Trump then renewed his push to inject trillions into the economy during his reelection bid.
In a tweet later Friday, Trump said "Covid Relief Negotiations are moving along." He added: Go Big!"
Shortly before the president tweeted, Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow told Fox Business Network that Trump had approved another offer for Mnuchin to take to Pelosi. Kudlow, who is not part of the aid talks, said Pelosi and Mnuchin will talk again Friday.


cnbc--2020-10-09--Supreme Court to hold phone hearings through at least end of year due to Covid-19, including Obamaca

Supreme Court to hold phone hearings through at least end of year due to Covid-19, including Obamacare case

The Supreme Court said Friday that it will continue hearing arguments in cases remotely over the telephone for at least the rest of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Yet it raised the prospect it could return to the courtroom in January .
That announcement means the Supreme Court will remotely hear arguments Nov. 10 in a case that could result in the elimination of the Affordable Care Act health-care law , also known as Obamacare .
The decision to continue holding arguments over the phone was expected .
The high court started hearing cases remotely last spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
The hearings can be heard by the public on media livestreams online .
`` The Court will hear all oral arguments scheduled for the November and December sessions by telephone conference , following the same format used for the October teleconference arguments , '' the court 's press office said in a statement .
`` In keeping with public health guidance in response to COVID-19 , the Justices and counsel will all participate remotely .
The Court building remains open for official business only and closed to the public @ @ @ @ @

The Supreme Court said Friday that it will continue hearing arguments in cases remotely over the telephone for at least the rest of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet it raised the prospect it could return to the courtroom in January.
That announcement means the Supreme Court will remotely hear arguments Nov. 10 in a case that could result in the elimination of the Affordable Care Act health-care law, also known as Obamacare.
The decision to continue holding arguments over the phone was expected.
The high court started hearing cases remotely last spring, as the Covid-19 pandemic spread throughout the United States. The hearings can be heard by the public on media livestreams online.
"The Court will hear all oral arguments scheduled for the November and December sessions by telephone conference, following the same format used for the October teleconference arguments," the court's press office said in a statement.
"In keeping with public health guidance in response to COVID-19, the Justices and counsel will all participate remotely. The Court building remains open for official business only and closed to the public until further notice."


cnbc--2020-10-09--Ted Cruz warns the election 'could be a bloodbath of Watergate proportions' for GOP

Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , warned on Friday that Republicans could see `` a bloodbath of Watergate proportions '' if voters are angry and broke when casting their ballots next month .
Cruz blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for holding up a deal to provide a new round stimulus and direct payment checks to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic , although it was President Donald Trump who abruptly called off talks earlier this week .
`` If people are going back to work , if they 're optimistic , if they 're positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fantastic election : the president getting reelected with a big margin , Republicans winning both Houses of Congress , '' Cruz said in an interview on CNBC 's `` Squawk Box . ''
`` But I also think if on Election Day , people are angry and they 've given up hope and they 're depressed , which is what Pelosi and Schumer want them to be , I think it could be a terrible election .
I think we could lose the White House and both houses of Congress , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportions . ''
Cruz was referring to congressional gains Democrats made in 1974 following President Richard Nixon 's resignation over the Watergate scandal .
Democrat Jimmy Carter would go on to win the presidential race in 1976 .
Trump abruptly called off talks until after the election earlier this week , though Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke about a broad stimulus plan on Thursday , according to the speaker 's spokesperson Drew Hammill .
Cruz said he 'd spoken with Trump on Thursday and that the president wants to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communications director Alyssa Farah told reporters the administration wanted to address a variety of stimulus strategies but not as `` part of a larger package . ''
Farah later told reporters `` we 're open to going with something bigger , '' but `` we 're not going to operate from the $ 2.2 trillion that the speaker laid out . ''
A spokesperson for Schumer , D-N.Y. , declined to comment .
A representative for Pelosi , D-Calif. , did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead over Trump has been growing in the polls since the president 's Covid-19 diagnosis , with 25 days to go until Election Day .
Based on Real Clear Politics ' broader average of surveys from Florida , Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , North Carolina and Arizona , Biden holds a 4.6-point advantage .
According to the U.S. Election Project , over 7 million voters have already cast their ballots early or by mail this year .
WATCH : Coronavirus stimulus negotiations stall as Americans are still hurting from the virus fallout

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned on Friday that Republicans could see "a bloodbath of Watergate proportions" if voters are angry and broke when casting their ballots next month.
Cruz blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for holding up a deal to provide a new round stimulus and direct payment checks to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, although it was President Donald Trump who abruptly called off talks earlier this week.
"If people are going back to work, if they're optimistic, if they're positive about the future, we could see a fantastic election: the president getting reelected with a big margin, Republicans winning both Houses of Congress," Cruz said in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"But I also think if on Election Day, people are angry and they've given up hope and they're depressed, which is what Pelosi and Schumer want them to be, I think it could be a terrible election. I think we could lose the White House and both houses of Congress, that it could be a bloodbath of Watergate proportions."
Cruz was referring to congressional gains Democrats made in 1974 following President Richard Nixon's resignation over the Watergate scandal. Democrat Jimmy Carter would go on to win the presidential race in 1976.
Trump abruptly called off talks until after the election earlier this week, though Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke about a broad stimulus plan on Thursday, according to the speaker's spokesperson Drew Hammill.
Cruz said he'd spoken with Trump on Thursday and that the president wants to make a deal. That day, White House communications director Alyssa Farah told reporters the administration wanted to address a variety of stimulus strategies but not as "part of a larger package." Farah later told reporters "we're open to going with something bigger," but "we're not going to operate from the $2.2 trillion that the speaker laid out."
A spokesperson for Schumer, D-N.Y., declined to comment. A representative for Pelosi, D-Calif., did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Democrat Joe Biden's lead over Trump has been growing in the polls since the president's Covid-19 diagnosis, with 25 days to go until Election Day. Based on Real Clear Politics' broader average of surveys from Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Arizona, Biden holds a 4.6-point advantage.
According to the U.S. Election Project, over 7 million voters have already cast their ballots early or by mail this year.
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WATCH: Coronavirus stimulus negotiations stall as Americans are still hurting from the virus fallout