usatoday--2020-02-28--OnPolitics: Coronavirus news, obviously

OnPolitics: Coronavirus news, obviously

Can Pence lead the charge against the Coronavirus ?
President Trump 's decision to put Mike Pence in charge of the nation 's response to the coronavirus drew almost immediate criticism and callbacks to the vice president 's role in an HIV outbreak in Indiana when he was governor .
That decision continued to be a talking point on Thursday as experts debated whether Pence should be the one leading a task force and if the administration 's previous cuts to agencies now dealing with the response will hurt that effort .
• First coronavirus case of unknown origin confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
• Everything to know about COVID-19 , the deadly virus alarming the world • What we know about the White House coronavirus task force Biden appears to be running away with South Carolina Results of a poll released Thursday morning show former Vice President Joe Biden holds a commanding lead in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary , with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and businessman Tom Steyer in a close battle for second .
The Monmouth University poll showed Biden 's support in South Carolina stands at 36 % , with Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was at 8 % and Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , had 6 % .
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar had 4 % , and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was at 1 % .
• Warren ready to take her fight to the convention – even if she 's losing • Why BarackObama is n't endorsing Joe Biden or anyone else for president • How billionaire Michael Bloomberg is campaigning for the White House With so many candidates and so many issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we have answers .
Cut through the noise to dig deep on the candidates for president , where they stand on the issues and how to make sure you 're ready to vote .
• Don ’ t have a lot of time ?
Find FAQs on the key issues • Let ’ s make this easy .
Only people who are registered can vote .
Check your status • Ahead of the 2020 election , we ’ re asking voters about the issue most important to them .
This is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 presidential candidates their thoughts on medical and recreational marijuana and how they would handle the opioid crisis .
Here ’ s what they said

OnPolitics: Coronavirus news, obviously
Show Caption Hide Caption Is the U.S. prepared for a coronavirus pandemic? A previous version of this video incorrectly stated how many people the 1918 Spanish influenza killed. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Can Pence lead the charge against the Coronavirus?
President Trump's decision to put Mike Pence in charge of the nation's response to the coronavirus drew almost immediate criticism and callbacks to the vice president's role in an HIV outbreak in Indiana when he was governor.
That decision continued to be a talking point on Thursday as experts debated whether Pence should be the one leading a task force and if the administration's previous cuts to agencies now dealing with the response will hurt that effort.
First coronavirus case of unknown origin confirmed in US. What does that mean?
Everything to know about COVID-19, the deadly virus alarming the world
What we know about the White House coronavirus task force
Biden appears to be running away with South Carolina
Results of a poll released Thursday morning show former Vice President Joe Biden holds a commanding lead in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and businessman Tom Steyer in a close battle for second.
Prepare to read math.
The Monmouth University poll showed Biden's support in South Carolina stands at 36%, with Sanders receiving 16% and Steyer at 15%. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was at 8% and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, had 6%. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar had 4%, and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was at 1%.
Your vote matters
With so many candidates and so many issues, you probably have questions. Well, we have answers. Cut through the noise to dig deep on the candidates for president, where they stand on the issues and how to make sure you're ready to vote.


usatoday--2020-02-27--Mike Pence's crisis manager skills put to the test in new role leading coronavirus response

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump 's decision to put Mike Pence in charge of the administration 's coronavirus response will test the vice president 's ability to manage a rapidly growing crisis as stock prices plunge and critics charge the administration is n't doing enough .
As the Trump administration staffs up and prepares for a potentially broader coronavirus outbreak , one challenge that awaits Pence will be coordinating a response for a president who is prone to second-guessing the advice of experts and has proposed deep cuts to key agencies in charge of public health .
During a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump contradicted a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the spread of the virus in the United States is inevitable .
`` I don ’ t think it ’ s inevitable , '' Trump said .
`` I think that we 're doing a really good job in terms of maintaining borders '' and making sure people coming in the country are checked .
US case : First coronavirus case of unknown origin confirmed in US .
What does that mean ?
Coronavirus , explained : Everything to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarming the world Trump 's decision to put Pence in charge is a good sign of how the administration is prioritizing its response , said Ned Price , who served as spokesman for the National Security Council in the Obama administration during its response to the Ebola outbreak .
But having Pence coordinate the effort is `` not an appropriate substitute '' for someone who could devote their full attention to the issue , such as Ebola `` czar '' Ronald Klain had been appointed to do for the Obama administration , Price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his official duties to carry out , and unless he 's going to take a sabbatical from his role as the vice president , I think it 's it 's substituting one problem for another , '' Price said , noting Pence had spoken at the Conservative Political Action Conference on the same day as his first meeting with the coronavirus response task force Trump signaled confidence in Pence ’ s ability to coordinate the administration ’ s response when he announced the appointment Wednesday .
“ He ’ s got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said as Pence stood at his side , along with officials from the CDC and other agencies .
More : Trump picks Pence to lead coronavirus response , critics point out his handling of HIV outbreak Some question whether Pence is the right choice , arguing that a health care professional would be better positioned to monitor and react to a virus that already has spawned more than 80,000 cases around the world , including 60 in the U.S. Top health officials like Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and National Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci are `` highly qualified '' to handle the crisis , said John Holdren , who was the senior science and technology adviser to President Barack Obama .
`` I just have to wonder whether President Trump will ever be listening , '' Holdren said .
Asha George , who heads a bipartisan group of former government officials who analyze the U.S. 's capacity to defend against biological threats , applauded Trump ’ s decision to put Pence in charge of the coronavirus response .
More : Mike Pence is leading coronavirus efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana .
Multiple agencies are involved in such an effort , which can make a coordinated response difficult , said George , executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense .
`` You need somebody with enough power and authority to direct everybody and make sure everybody is doing what they 're supposed to be doing , '' she said .
The vice president `` carries a lot of weight and is pretty much the only person short of the president who can get this sort of thing done , especially in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now , '' she said .
Pence announced Thursday that he has tapped Debbie Birx , who is in charge of U.S. efforts to fight HIV and AIDS , to help manage the response to the coronavirus threat .
The administration also added three new members to its coronavrius task force : Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , Surgeon General Jerome Adams , and National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow .
Pence 's selection of Birx could ease concerns of some lawmakers who called for the Trump administration to put someone with expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Debbie Birx is a highly qualified public health expert who is kind of battle tested , '' said Tom Frieden , who served as director of the CDC and commissioner of the New York City Health Department .
`` She 's a veteran and has extensive experience with the CDC and other parts of the U.S. government .
I think that 's a good choice . ''
Trump 's budgets have routinely proposed to cut funding for the agencies like the CDC and the NIH that are now on the front lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the news briefing Wednesday , Trump said the coronavirus threat did not make him question those previously proposed cuts .
`` We know all the people .
We know all the good people , '' Trump said , adding , `` we can get them back very quickly '' if staff are cut .
Price told USA TODAY top officials on the National Security Council who were tasked with biodefense readiness had been sacked or departed the administration , with their positions since unfilled .
`` There 's not a point person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues , '' he said .
`` President Trump dismissed the senior director and his team responsible for pandemics and preparedness . ''
George said those cuts and recent efforts by the administration to purge employees whom it considers disloyal to the president could make it more challenging to battle the coronavirus .
`` I ’ m sure people are concerned , '' she said .
`` They are worried about their jobs .
They have seen other people come and go based on their performance .
It ’ s a tough challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it adds additional stress . ''
Juliette Kayyem , who had served as the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama administration , helping coordinate the response to the H1N1 outbreak , said she was concerned by the number of acting officials rather than appointed officials .
Kayyem called DHS 's current state `` gutted out , '' with `` acting ( officials ) in almost every major position . ''
She pointed to acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf 's rocky testimony before a Senate Appropriations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is ill-prepared to provide the states and localities that are going to be on the front line with the information , standards , and policies that are going to have to be directed . ''
Under questioning from Sen. John Kennedy , R-La.
, Wolf appeared not to know some basic statistics about the virus , misstating its fatality rate and not knowing how many cases had come from cruise ships .
`` You 're supposed to keep us safe .
And the American people deserve some straight answers on the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from you , '' Kennedy told Wolf .
What Kayyem also saw as a breakdown in the response process were some of the political interventions of lawmakers in the response to the virus .
Sen. Richard Shelby , R-Ala. , had called Trump to ask him and successfully asked him not to quarantine virus patients from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Alabama , something Kayyem said should not have happened .
`` A senator does n't have operational control over what a state or local jurisdiction does , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President was responsive is just proof that all these mechanisms ( for intergovernmental cooperation ) have fallen apart . ''

Michael Collins and Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY

Mike Pence's crisis manager skills put to the test in new role leading coronavirus response
Show Caption Hide Caption Is the U.S. prepared for a coronavirus pandemic? A previous version of this video incorrectly stated how many people the 1918 Spanish influenza killed. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's decision to put Mike Pence in charge of the administration's coronavirus response will test the vice president's ability to manage a rapidly growing crisis as stock prices plunge and critics charge the administration isn't doing enough.
As the Trump administration staffs up and prepares for a potentially broader coronavirus outbreak, one challenge that awaits Pence will be coordinating a response for a president who is prone to second-guessing the advice of experts and has proposed deep cuts to key agencies in charge of public health.
During a news conference Wednesday to announce Pence's appointment, Trump contradicted a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the spread of the virus in the United States is inevitable.
"I don’t think it’s inevitable," Trump said. "I think that we're doing a really good job in terms of maintaining borders" and making sure people coming in the country are checked.
US case: First coronavirus case of unknown origin confirmed in US. What does that mean?
Coronavirus, explained: Everything to know about COVID-19, the deadly virus alarming the world
Trump's decision to put Pence in charge is a good sign of how the administration is prioritizing its response, said Ned Price, who served as spokesman for the National Security Council in the Obama administration during its response to the Ebola outbreak.
Donald Trump picks Mike Pence to head government response to coronavirus President Donald Trump declares that the U.S. is ready for whatever the coronavirus threat brings, as he puts Vice President Mike Pence in charge of overseeing the nation's response. (Feb. 26) AP
But having Pence coordinate the effort is "not an appropriate substitute" for someone who could devote their full attention to the issue, such as Ebola "czar" Ronald Klain had been appointed to do for the Obama administration, Price said.
"He still has all of his official duties to carry out, and unless he's going to take a sabbatical from his role as the vice president, I think it's it's substituting one problem for another," Price said, noting Pence had spoken at the Conservative Political Action Conference on the same day as his first meeting with the coronavirus response task force
Trump signaled confidence in Pence’s ability to coordinate the administration’s response when he announced the appointment Wednesday.
“He’s got a certain talent for this,” Trump said as Pence stood at his side, along with officials from the CDC and other agencies.
More: Trump picks Pence to lead coronavirus response, critics point out his handling of HIV outbreak
Some question whether Pence is the right choice, arguing that a health care professional would be better positioned to monitor and react to a virus that already has spawned more than 80,000 cases around the world, including 60 in the U.S.
Top health officials like Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases Director Anthony Fauci are "highly qualified" to handle the crisis, said John Holdren, who was the senior science and technology adviser to President Barack Obama.
"I just have to wonder whether President Trump will ever be listening," Holdren said.
Asha George, who heads a bipartisan group of former government officials who analyze the U.S.'s capacity to defend against biological threats, applauded Trump’s decision to put Pence in charge of the coronavirus response.
More: Mike Pence is leading coronavirus efforts. This was his health record in Indiana.
Multiple agencies are involved in such an effort, which can make a coordinated response difficult, said George, executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense.
"You need somebody with enough power and authority to direct everybody and make sure everybody is doing what they're supposed to be doing," she said.
The vice president "carries a lot of weight and is pretty much the only person short of the president who can get this sort of thing done, especially in the midst of a response, as we are now," she said.
Pence announced Thursday that he has tapped Debbie Birx, who is in charge of U.S. efforts to fight HIV and AIDS, to help manage the response to the coronavirus threat. The administration also added three new members to its coronavrius task force: Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow.
Pence's selection of Birx could ease concerns of some lawmakers who called for the Trump administration to put someone with expertise in charge of the federal response.
"Debbie Birx is a highly qualified public health expert who is kind of battle tested," said Tom Frieden, who served as director of the CDC and commissioner of the New York City Health Department. "She's a veteran and has extensive experience with the CDC and other parts of the U.S. government. I think that's a good choice."
Proposed budget cuts
Trump's budgets have routinely proposed to cut funding for the agencies like the CDC and the NIH that are now on the front lines of the fight against the virus.
At the news briefing Wednesday, Trump said the coronavirus threat did not make him question those previously proposed cuts.
"We know all the people. We know all the good people," Trump said, adding, "we can get them back very quickly" if staff are cut.
Price told USA TODAY top officials on the National Security Council who were tasked with biodefense readiness had been sacked or departed the administration, with their positions since unfilled.
"There's not a point person on the NSC really responsible for these issues," he said. "President Trump dismissed the senior director and his team responsible for pandemics and preparedness."
George said those cuts and recent efforts by the administration to purge employees whom it considers disloyal to the president could make it more challenging to battle the coronavirus.
"I’m sure people are concerned," she said. "They are worried about their jobs. They have seen other people come and go based on their performance. It’s a tough challenge for anyone there. ... I think it adds additional stress."
'Gutted out' agencies
Juliette Kayyem, who had served as the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama administration, helping coordinate the response to the H1N1 outbreak, said she was concerned by the number of acting officials rather than appointed officials.
Kayyem called DHS's current state "gutted out," with "acting (officials) in almost every major position."
She pointed to acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf's rocky testimony before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee as "reflective of an agency that is ill-prepared to provide the states and localities that are going to be on the front line with the information, standards, and policies that are going to have to be directed."
Under questioning from Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., Wolf appeared not to know some basic statistics about the virus, misstating its fatality rate and not knowing how many cases had come from cruise ships.
"You're supposed to keep us safe. And the American people deserve some straight answers on the coronavirus. And I'm not getting them from you," Kennedy told Wolf.
What Kayyem also saw as a breakdown in the response process were some of the political interventions of lawmakers in the response to the virus.
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., had called Trump to ask him and successfully asked him not to quarantine virus patients from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Alabama, something Kayyem said should not have happened.
"A senator doesn't have operational control over what a state or local jurisdiction does," she said. "But I think the fact that the President was responsive is just proof that all these mechanisms (for intergovernmental cooperation) have fallen apart."
I just got off the phone with the President. He told me that his administration will not be sending any victims of the Coronavirus from the Diamond Princess cruise ship to Anniston, Alabama. Thank you, @POTUS, for working with us to ensure the safety of all Alabamians. — Richard Shelby (@SenShelby) February 23, 2020
More: Dow plunges 1,191 points, its biggest one-day point drop, as coronavirus fears escalate


usatoday--2020-02-27--New Monmouth poll shows Joe Biden with 20-point lead in South Carolina primary

GREENVILLE , S.C. – Results of a poll released Thursday morning show former Vice President Joe Biden holds a commanding lead in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary , with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and businessman Tom Steyer in a close battle for second .
The Monmouth University Poll showed Biden 's support in South Carolina stands at 36 % , with Sanders receiving 16 % and Steyer at 15 % .
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was at 8 % and Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , had 6 % .
U.S. Sen. Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was at 1 % .
Results of a Clemson University Palmetto Poll released Wednesday showed Biden leading with 35 % , Steyer in second at 17 % and Sanders third with 13 % .
The Monmouth and Clemson polls indicate that Biden has a larger lead in the first-in-the-South Democratic primary than other recent surveys , including one poll released Monday showing Biden with only a 1-point lead over Sanders .
All of these polls were conducted before influential U.S. Rep. James Clyburn endorsed Biden on Wednesday .
`` Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ core support among African Americans in South Carolina , '' said Patrick Murray , director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute , in a statement accompanying the survey 's results .
`` The recent endorsement by Rep. James Clyburn should help solidify that . ''
Black voters are expected to cast more than half of the ballots in Saturday 's primary , which comes three days before nominating contests in 14 states and one U.S. territory on Super Tuesday .
The Monmouth poll showed 45 % of black voters in South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steyer and 13 % for Sanders .
Biden needs a win in South Carolina to revive his campaign after disappointing showings earlier this month in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary and a second-place finish in the Nevada caucuses last Saturday .
`` A key metric for Biden in this make-or-break state is that his support appears to be firm , '' Murray said .
`` There is still a large chunk of the electorate who are undecided , but they are mainly moderate black voters .
That 's a group that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Monmouth poll are based on the responses of 454 South Carolina voters who are likely to cast ballots Saturday .
The survey has a margin of error of 4.6 % .

New Monmouth poll shows Joe Biden with 20-point lead in South Carolina primary
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden leader in social media Palmetto Poll by Clemson University Political Science experts Biden leader in social media Palmetto Poll by Clemson University Political Science experts Ken Ruinard, The Greenville News
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Results of a poll released Thursday morning show former Vice President Joe Biden holds a commanding lead in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and businessman Tom Steyer in a close battle for second.
The Monmouth University Poll showed Biden's support in South Carolina stands at 36%, with Sanders receiving 16% and Steyer at 15%. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was at 8% and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, had 6%. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar had 4%, and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was at 1%.
Results of a Clemson University Palmetto Poll released Wednesday showed Biden leading with 35%, Steyer in second at 17% and Sanders third with 13%.
The Monmouth and Clemson polls indicate that Biden has a larger lead in the first-in-the-South Democratic primary than other recent surveys, including one poll released Monday showing Biden with only a 1-point lead over Sanders. All of these polls were conducted before influential U.S. Rep. James Clyburn endorsed Biden on Wednesday.
"Biden appears to be holding on to his core support among African Americans in South Carolina," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, in a statement accompanying the survey's results. "The recent endorsement by Rep. James Clyburn should help solidify that."
Black voters are expected to cast more than half of the ballots in Saturday's primary, which comes three days before nominating contests in 14 states and one U.S. territory on Super Tuesday.
The Monmouth poll showed 45% of black voters in South Carolina back Biden, with 17% supporting Steyer and 13% for Sanders.
What is Super Tuesday and why is it important? A previous version of this video displayed an incorrect date in a graphic. It was 1988 when 14 Southern and border states held their primaries. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Palmetto Poll: Joe Biden has big lead in South Carolina primary
Biden needs a win in South Carolina to revive his campaign after disappointing showings earlier this month in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary and a second-place finish in the Nevada caucuses last Saturday.
"A key metric for Biden in this make-or-break state is that his support appears to be firm," Murray said. "There is still a large chunk of the electorate who are undecided, but they are mainly moderate black voters. That's a group that tends to like Biden."
Results of the Monmouth poll are based on the responses of 454 South Carolina voters who are likely to cast ballots Saturday. The survey has a margin of error of 4.6%.
Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM


usatoday--2020-02-27--'I'm staying in this race': Warren ready to take fight to convention – even if she's losing

WASHINGTON – Sen. Elizabeth Warren is ready to stay in the race for the presidential nomination through the Democratic National Convention in July .
During a CNN town hall event Wednesday night , the senator from Massachusetts said that she would take her fight all the way to the convention floor , even if she is trailing another candidate in delegates .
`` A lot of people made $ 5 contributions to my campaign to keep me in it , '' Warren said .
`` And as long as they want me to stay in this race , I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I 've done a lot of pinkie promises out there so I got ta stay in this .
I 've told little girls , 'We persist . '
'' Theoretically , the candidate who holds the most delegates heading into the convention could be denied the nomination if they did not win more than half of the delegates up for grabs in the primaries and caucuses .
According to therules laid out by the Democratic National Committee , a candidate must have the support of a majority of the 3,979 available pledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first ballot .
If no candidate has the 1,991 votes needed , the `` contested convention '' moves to a second ballot , which would include 771 unpledged delegates – better known as `` superdelegates '' – who are composed of elected officials and Democratic Party leaders .
'He 's a socialist and I 'm not ' : Will moderates warm up to Bernie Sanders as Super Tuesday approaches ?
At Wednesday 's town hall , a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders told Warren that that process `` essentially means the will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the superdelegates and the DNC , which is basically undemocratic . ''
`` You do know that was Bernie 's position in 2016 , '' Warren shot back .
`` The way I see this is , you write the rules before you know where everybody stands .
And then , you stick with those rules . ''
In his 2016 run for president , Sanders kept up his campaign for the nomination even after then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had secured a majority of the delegates , which included the lion 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were counted on the first ballot that year .
Though Sanders had long complained the superdelegates gave Clinton an unfair advantage , at that point in 2016 , he pinned his hopes on enough of them jumping ship to give him the majority at the convention .
Despite the claims from Sanders ' supporters ( and President Donald Trump ) that superdelegates subverted the will of the voters in 2016 , Clinton won a majority of the popular vote and pledged delegates .
The only way Sanders could have won would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those votes , according to PolitiFact .
Sanders ended up endorsing Clinton about two weeks before the 2016 Democratic National Convention .
Warren claimed Sanders `` had a big hand '' in the rule change that consigned the superdelegates to the second ballot .
`` Everybody got into the race thinking that was the set of rules .
I do n't see how come you get to change it just because he now thinks there 's an advantage to him to doing it , '' Warren said .
At the Democratic debate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except Sanders agreed that the nominee should be determined at the convention if no one had secured a majority of the delegates .
`` The will of the people should prevail , '' Sanders said at the debate .
`` The person who has the most votes should become the nominee . ''

'I'm staying in this race': Warren ready to take fight to convention – even if she's losing
Show Caption Hide Caption How the DNC changed its rules since Sanders, Clinton in 2016 The primaries are here! How does one get elected in the first place and what is in store for the Democratic National Convention in 2020? We explain. Just the FAQs
WASHINGTON – Sen. Elizabeth Warren is ready to stay in the race for the presidential nomination through the Democratic National Convention in July.
During a CNN town hall event Wednesday night, the senator from Massachusetts said that she would take her fight all the way to the convention floor, even if she is trailing another candidate in delegates.
"A lot of people made $5 contributions to my campaign to keep me in it," Warren said. "And as long as they want me to stay in this race, I'm staying in this race. That, and I've done a lot of pinkie promises out there so I gotta stay in this. I've told little girls, 'We persist.'"
Theoretically, the candidate who holds the most delegates heading into the convention could be denied the nomination if they did not win more than half of the delegates up for grabs in the primaries and caucuses.
According to the rules laid out by the Democratic National Committee, a candidate must have the support of a majority of the 3,979 available pledged delegates to lock up the nomination on the first ballot. If no candidate has the 1,991 votes needed, the "contested convention" moves to a second ballot, which would include 771 unpledged delegates – better known as "superdelegates" – who are composed of elected officials and Democratic Party leaders.
'He's a socialist and I'm not': Will moderates warm up to Bernie Sanders as Super Tuesday approaches?
At Wednesday's town hall, a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders told Warren that that process "essentially means the will of the voters could be denied by the superdelegates and the DNC, which is basically undemocratic."
"You do know that was Bernie's position in 2016," Warren shot back. "The way I see this is, you write the rules before you know where everybody stands. And then, you stick with those rules."
In his 2016 run for president, Sanders kept up his campaign for the nomination even after then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had secured a majority of the delegates, which included the lion's share of the superdelegates – whose votes were counted on the first ballot that year.
Though Sanders had long complained the superdelegates gave Clinton an unfair advantage, at that point in 2016, he pinned his hopes on enough of them jumping ship to give him the majority at the convention.
Despite the claims from Sanders' supporters (and President Donald Trump) that superdelegates subverted the will of the voters in 2016, Clinton won a majority of the popular vote and pledged delegates. The only way Sanders could have won would have been through the support of superdelegates going against those votes, according to PolitiFact.
Sanders ended up endorsing Clinton about two weeks before the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Warren claimed Sanders "had a big hand" in the rule change that consigned the superdelegates to the second ballot.
"Everybody got into the race thinking that was the set of rules. I don't see how come you get to change it just because he now thinks there's an advantage to him to doing it," Warren said.
At the Democratic debate in Las Vegas this month, every candidate except Sanders agreed that the nominee should be determined at the convention if no one had secured a majority of the delegates.
"The will of the people should prevail," Sanders said at the debate. "The person who has the most votes should become the nominee."
South Carolina debate: Front-runner Bernie Sanders takes brunt of attacks ahead of primary


usatoday--2020-02-27--Obama demands South Carolina TV stations stop airing 'despicable' ad

Barack Obama is demanding South Carolina TV stations and a pro-Trump group stop airing a `` despicable '' ad that @ @ @ @

Obama demands 'despicable' ad misusing his words stop airing
Barack Obama is demanding South Carolina TV stations and a pro-Trump group stop airing a "despicable" ad that misuses his voice.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-02-27--Huge staff, ad blitzes, free T-shirts: How billionaire Michael Bloomberg is campaigning for the Whit

RICHMOND , Va. – Sean Mee walked the streets of this city 's trendy Fan District with a simple message : Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg will `` get it done . ''
Mee , whose late wife spent 10 years battling cancer , said he was convinced that the self-funding billionaire Bloomberg could deliver on his highest priority of providing healthcare for those who need it .
The 63-year-old retiree was initially interested in Pete Buttigieg but after hearing the former South Bend mayor make a big fundraising appeal for his Super Tuesday push , Mee said he decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win the White House .
`` I do n't know how you ca n't take the fight to President Trump when you 're struggling like that , '' he told USA TODAY .
Mee was among a handful of volunteers who spread out on Sunday from the Bloomberg campaign ’ s office in the Fan District , walking through the neighborhood lined with historic Victorian homes .
On Monument Avenue , a main boulevard in the Fan District , statues of Confederate leaders like Robert E. Lee coexist with a statue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple miles west of the city 's downtown , the Bloomberg field office occupied a former dance studio on the city 's busy Broad Street sandwiched between a cell phone shop on one side , and a dentist on the other .
A boba shop sat just down the block from the office for staff and volunteers to get their fill of milk tea .
Democratic candidates and their supporters were in favorable territory in the heavily Democratic city , where Hillary Clinton won 78.6 % of the vote in the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside : Bloomberg 's rivals 'shocked ' after he suggests they leave the race Although Bloomberg has spent more than a half-billion dollars nationwide on digital , radio , and TV ads and offered high pay scales for staff , the campaign was running what seemed to be a traditional ground game in Richmond – every volunteer had a clipboard , a map , and a list of houses to knock on .
Bloomberg , who joined the presidential race in November , is staking everything on Super Tuesday , when a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic nomination are up for grabs .
With 99 pledged delegates at stake , Virginia is a state that could be crucial for him .
Other large Super Tuesday states include California , Texas and North Carolina .
The former New York City mayor has had to scale up quickly .
The Fan District office opened just two weeks ago , and three others in Arlington , Roanoke , and Charlottesville opened earlier in the month .
The campaign has since hired over 80 staffers , added three other offices in Manassas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deluged the state in at least $ 4.8 million in radio and television advertisements , according to ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics .
According to analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project , of the 2,697 ad airings in the Richmond media market from Jan. 1 until Feb. 23 , 87 % of the ads were from the Bloomberg campaign .
Who is running for president in 2020 ?
An interactive guide Bernie Sanders , the Democratic frontrunner , has two offices in Virginia and has spent a little over $ 12,000 on ads , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced a `` six-figure '' ad buy in eight Super Tuesday states on Wednesday , though his team had not aired ads before then .
Recent polling suggests Bloomberg ’ s strategy may have paid off , with a Monmouth University poll from earlier in February putting him and Sanders tied at 22 % in the state among Democratic voters .
Both Bloomberg and Sanders would beat Trump in head-to-head matchups , according to a Roanoke College poll released Feb. 24 .
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggles to raise cash after weak showings in the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire , some residents were curious about Bloomberg .
Like countless other volunteers who had given time to presidential campaigns , the Bloomberg volunteers knocked on doors , pitched their candidate , and then marked down the results of their conversations .
Over a couple of hours , Mee knocked on the doors of 11 homes where residents seemed receptive to Bloomberg ’ s message .
The backlash Bloomberg faced from protesters a week and a half earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Richmond was not evident as volunteers walked around .
“ I like him too !
” said some residents out walking their golden retriever who noticed Mee ’ s Bloomberg 2020 sticker and clipboard .
Another man shouted as Mee walked away , `` we 're old and have mortgages '' to explain why he and others on his block would be supporting Bloomberg instead of Sanders .
Another man flashed his `` I like Mike '' yard sign after he opened his front door and saw the Bloomberg volunteer .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's record as New York City mayor and reducing gun violence , and if they wanted one , a volunteer offered to drop off a yard sign .
Fiery debate : Sanders takes brunt of attacks in showdown ahead of Super Tuesday Kathey Moore , a 69-year-old retiree out canvassing to collect signatures for Virginia Democrats Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Donald McEachin , said “ I like Mike ” as Mee passed by .
Moore told USA TODAY she viewed the former New York City mayor as a “ problem solver ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in the White House .
She backed Sanders in the 2016 election as a protest vote against Hillary Clinton , viewing her as too “ corporate.
” But this year , she 's worried that candidates too far to the left might not be able to win in the general election on Nov. 3 .
Bloomberg 's support was tested in his first debate last week in Nevada where he faced an onslaught of criticism from the other candidates , but his supporters did not seem to mind .
Moore acknowledged Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ horrible ” to watch .
Moore said , though , that Bloomberg had to explain his decisions to “ one of the toughest audiences , '' and in her opinion , he did a `` fabulous job as mayor ” Mee also said the Nevada debate was `` hard to watch , '' but in his mind , the country was n't looking to hire a `` chief debater '' but was `` hiring a chief executive of the United States . ''
For the Bloomberg volunteers , their support for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of electability against Trump .
Another volunteer , Sammie Hubbard , told USA TODAY he decided to support Bloomberg after a lot of research on the other candidates .
Walking back to the Bloomberg field office after canvassing , the 29-year-old EMT said he was a committed Democrat and a `` fan of Bernie '' but believes Sanders ca n't win .
Despite the candidate 's wealth – which Forbes estimates at over $ 59 billion – the Richmond field office of the Bloomberg campaign was a spartan affair – the mirrors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been papered over .
Two tables laid out in the front of the office were covered in campaign paraphernalia and snacks like chips and Costco-brand sparkling water .
`` I like Mike '' signs covered the walls in the campaign 's red-and-blue hue , and piles of neatly stacked T-shirts sat on shelves .
All merchandise on the campaign website was sold at-cost , and shirts and lawn signs were free for the taking inside the office .
Because of Bloomberg 's resources , he 's been able to offer higher-than-average salaries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff in almost all states .
A month after Bloomberg entered the race , the campaign said it had over 170 staff working across 20 states .
Now , according to the Bloomberg campaign , they have over 2,400 staff , with 2,000 staff deployed in 43 states and territories , and 400 staff in their Times Square headquarters in New York City .
They have poured resources into other Super Tuesday states , opening 24 offices in California , 19 in Texas , eight in North Carolina , and seven in Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field organizer position advertised a $ 6,000 per month salary – $ 72,000 on an annualized basis .
The Sanders campaign advertised a $ 42,000 a year salary for a field organizer in Nevada , or about $ 3,500 per month .
Tom Manatos , who runs a prolific political jobs board , told USA TODAY in a phone interview the Bloomberg campaign was offering “ far and above the best salary and accommodations for campaign staffers.
” Tavarris Spinks , who had been active in local Democratic politics and was the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told USA TODAY the Bloomberg campaign had also been hiring `` at least a few '' people from the Richmond City Democratic Committee .
`` He 's really going hard in Richmond and Virginia , '' Spinks said , noting his home had already been canvassed twice by the Bloomberg campaign , though he supported Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass .
The campaign had made up for its late entry into the race by picking up talent from defunct campaigns , too .
Tyler Tucker , the deputy Virginia state director , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adnan Mohamed , the Virginia political director , previously worked for Beto O'Rourke and Seth Moulton .
And Renzo Olivari , the Virginia communications director , previously worked for Kamala Harris .
Sanders ' campaign did not allow USA TODAY to visit its field office in the city , but the campaign 's presence is still felt .
Despite his lopsided loss to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary at both the city and state level , a building-sized mural of Sanders decorated the side of an art gallery off Broad Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was created after the 2016 Virginia primary by two muralists who wanted to show their support for the Vermont senator , according to RVA Magazine .
The wall used to have `` Feel the Bern '' painted next to it , but the block letters had since been painted over .
Despite the outreach and spending by the campaigns , other Richmond voters were still weighing their options .
Byron Hunter , a 36-year-old healthcare administrator walking along the city 's waterfront , said he was still undecided , but he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappointed '' by Bloomberg ’ s performance in the Nevada debate .
Hannah Kissel-Smith , a 27-year-old resident physician , told USA TODAY she was trying to vote from a “ strategic point of view , ” which led her to support Warren , because Kissel-Smith thought she could “ win more moderate voters than Sanders.
” She had supported entrepreneur Andrew Yang before he dropped out of the race .
The election still elicited excitement from other residents .
Maya Blacken , a 20-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student , said she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` decent one to have as my first time , and it 's important enough '' she said .
She wanted to vote for a candidate who `` I think has the best chance of winning since I do n't want Trump to win '' – which led her to both Biden and Sanders as potential choices .

Huge staff, ad blitzes, free T-shirts: How billionaire Michael Bloomberg is campaigning for the White House
Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Bloomberg is staking it all on Super Tuesday Mike Bloomberg's strategy is to spend big for Super Tuesday, when one third of delegates will be assigned to Democratic presidential candidates. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY
RICHMOND, Va. – Sean Mee walked the streets of this city's trendy Fan District with a simple message: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg will "get it done."
Mee, whose late wife spent 10 years battling cancer, said he was convinced that the self-funding billionaire Bloomberg could deliver on his highest priority of providing healthcare for those who need it.
The 63-year-old retiree was initially interested in Pete Buttigieg but after hearing the former South Bend mayor make a big fundraising appeal for his Super Tuesday push, Mee said he decided his campaign lacked the war chest needed to win the White House.
"I don't know how you can't take the fight to President Trump when you're struggling like that," he told USA TODAY.
Mee was among a handful of volunteers who spread out on Sunday from the Bloomberg campaign’s office in the Fan District, walking through the neighborhood lined with historic Victorian homes. On Monument Avenue, a main boulevard in the Fan District, statues of Confederate leaders like Robert E. Lee coexist with a statue of black tennis star Arthur Ashe.
Just a couple miles west of the city's downtown, the Bloomberg field office occupied a former dance studio on the city's busy Broad Street sandwiched between a cell phone shop on one side, and a dentist on the other. A boba shop sat just down the block from the office for staff and volunteers to get their fill of milk tea.
Democratic candidates and their supporters were in favorable territory in the heavily Democratic city, where Hillary Clinton won 78.6% of the vote in the 2016 general election.
No, you step aside: Bloomberg's rivals 'shocked' after he suggests they leave the race
What is Super Tuesday and why is it important? A previous version of this video displayed an incorrect date in a graphic. It was 1988 when 14 Southern and border states held their primaries. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Although Bloomberg has spent more than a half-billion dollars nationwide on digital, radio, and TV ads and offered high pay scales for staff, the campaign was running what seemed to be a traditional ground game in Richmond – every volunteer had a clipboard, a map, and a list of houses to knock on.
Bloomberg, who joined the presidential race in November, is staking everything on Super Tuesday, when a third of the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination are up for grabs. With 99 pledged delegates at stake, Virginia is a state that could be crucial for him. Other large Super Tuesday states include California, Texas and North Carolina.
The former New York City mayor has had to scale up quickly. The Fan District office opened just two weeks ago, and three others in Arlington, Roanoke, and Charlottesville opened earlier in the month.
The campaign has since hired over 80 staffers, added three other offices in Manassas, Hampton Roads, and Danville, and deluged the state in at least $4.8 million in radio and television advertisements, according to ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics.
According to analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project, of the 2,697 ad airings in the Richmond media market from Jan. 1 until Feb. 23, 87% of the ads were from the Bloomberg campaign.
Bernie Sanders, the Democratic frontrunner, has two offices in Virginia and has spent a little over $12,000 on ads, Advertising Analytics says. The Biden campaign announced a "six-figure" ad buy in eight Super Tuesday states on Wednesday, though his team had not aired ads before then.
Recent polling suggests Bloomberg’s strategy may have paid off, with a Monmouth University poll from earlier in February putting him and Sanders tied at 22% in the state among Democratic voters. Both Bloomberg and Sanders would beat Trump in head-to-head matchups, according to a Roanoke College poll released Feb. 24.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. But as the former vice president struggles to raise cash after weak showings in the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, some residents were curious about Bloomberg.
'I like Mike!'
Like countless other volunteers who had given time to presidential campaigns, the Bloomberg volunteers knocked on doors, pitched their candidate, and then marked down the results of their conversations.
Over a couple of hours, Mee knocked on the doors of 11 homes where residents seemed receptive to Bloomberg’s message.
The backlash Bloomberg faced from protesters a week and a half earlier at the Virginia Democratic Party's Gala in Richmond was not evident as volunteers walked around.
“I like him too!” said some residents out walking their golden retriever who noticed Mee’s Bloomberg 2020 sticker and clipboard.
Another man shouted as Mee walked away, "we're old and have mortgages" to explain why he and others on his block would be supporting Bloomberg instead of Sanders.
Another man flashed his "I like Mike" yard sign after he opened his front door and saw the Bloomberg volunteer.
Every home was offered campaign brochures touting Bloomberg's record as New York City mayor and reducing gun violence, and if they wanted one, a volunteer offered to drop off a yard sign.
Fiery debate: Sanders takes brunt of attacks in showdown ahead of Super Tuesday
Kathey Moore, a 69-year-old retiree out canvassing to collect signatures for Virginia Democrats Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Donald McEachin, said “I like Mike” as Mee passed by.
Moore told USA TODAY she viewed the former New York City mayor as a “problem solver” who would “assemble an excellent team” in the White House.
She backed Sanders in the 2016 election as a protest vote against Hillary Clinton, viewing her as too “corporate.” But this year, she's worried that candidates too far to the left might not be able to win in the general election on Nov. 3.
Bloomberg's support was tested in his first debate last week in Nevada where he faced an onslaught of criticism from the other candidates, but his supporters did not seem to mind.
Moore acknowledged Bloomberg's performance in the first debate was “horrible” to watch. Moore said, though, that Bloomberg had to explain his decisions to “one of the toughest audiences," and in her opinion, he did a "fabulous job as mayor”
Mee also said the Nevada debate was "hard to watch," but in his mind, the country wasn't looking to hire a "chief debater" but was "hiring a chief executive of the United States."
For the Bloomberg volunteers, their support for the former mayor came down to a test of electability against Trump.
Another volunteer, Sammie Hubbard, told USA TODAY he decided to support Bloomberg after a lot of research on the other candidates.
Walking back to the Bloomberg field office after canvassing, the 29-year-old EMT said he was a committed Democrat and a "fan of Bernie" but believes Sanders can't win.
An army of staff
Despite the candidate's wealth – which Forbes estimates at over $59 billion – the Richmond field office of the Bloomberg campaign was a spartan affair – the mirrors in the former dance studio had only recently been papered over.
Two tables laid out in the front of the office were covered in campaign paraphernalia and snacks like chips and Costco-brand sparkling water.
"I like Mike" signs covered the walls in the campaign's red-and-blue hue, and piles of neatly stacked T-shirts sat on shelves. All merchandise on the campaign website was sold at-cost, and shirts and lawn signs were free for the taking inside the office.
Because of Bloomberg's resources, he's been able to offer higher-than-average salaries, allowing him to amass an army of staff in almost all states.
A month after Bloomberg entered the race, the campaign said it had over 170 staff working across 20 states. Now, according to the Bloomberg campaign, they have over 2,400 staff, with 2,000 staff deployed in 43 states and territories, and 400 staff in their Times Square headquarters in New York City.
They have poured resources into other Super Tuesday states, opening 24 offices in California, 19 in Texas, eight in North Carolina, and seven in Tennessee.
A posting for a Bloomberg campaign field organizer position advertised a $6,000 per month salary – $72,000 on an annualized basis. The Sanders campaign advertised a $42,000 a year salary for a field organizer in Nevada, or about $3,500 per month.
Tom Manatos, who runs a prolific political jobs board, told USA TODAY in a phone interview the Bloomberg campaign was offering “far and above the best salary and accommodations for campaign staffers.”
Tavarris Spinks, who had been active in local Democratic politics and was the former Secretary of the Richmond City Democratic Committee, told USA TODAY the Bloomberg campaign had also been hiring "at least a few" people from the Richmond City Democratic Committee.
"He's really going hard in Richmond and Virginia," Spinks said, noting his home had already been canvassed twice by the Bloomberg campaign, though he supported Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
The campaign had made up for its late entry into the race by picking up talent from defunct campaigns, too.
Tyler Tucker, the deputy Virginia state director, had worked for Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign. Adnan Mohamed, the Virginia political director, previously worked for Beto O'Rourke and Seth Moulton. And Renzo Olivari, the Virginia communications director, previously worked for Kamala Harris.
Sanders' campaign did not allow USA TODAY to visit its field office in the city, but the campaign's presence is still felt.
Despite his lopsided loss to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary at both the city and state level, a building-sized mural of Sanders decorated the side of an art gallery off Broad Street, a main thoroughfare in Richmond. It was created after the 2016 Virginia primary by two muralists who wanted to show their support for the Vermont senator, according to RVA Magazine.
The wall used to have "Feel the Bern" painted next to it, but the block letters had since been painted over.
Richmond residents split
Despite the outreach and spending by the campaigns, other Richmond voters were still weighing their options.
Byron Hunter, a 36-year-old healthcare administrator walking along the city's waterfront, said he was still undecided, but he had followed the debates and was "slightly disappointed" by Bloomberg’s performance in the Nevada debate.
Hannah Kissel-Smith, a 27-year-old resident physician, told USA TODAY she was trying to vote from a “strategic point of view,” which led her to support Warren, because Kissel-Smith thought she could “win more moderate voters than Sanders.” She had supported entrepreneur Andrew Yang before he dropped out of the race.
The election still elicited excitement from other residents. Maya Blacken, a 20-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student, said she was voting in her first presidential election – a "decent one to have as my first time, and it's important enough" she said.
She wanted to vote for a candidate who "I think has the best chance of winning since I don't want Trump to win" – which led her to both Biden and Sanders as potential choices.


usatoday--2020-02-27--Mike Bloomberg is staking it all on Super Tuesday after missing early states

Mike Bloomberg is staking it all on Super Tuesday Mike Bloomberg 's strategy is to spend big for Super Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ delegates will be assigned to Democratic presidential candidates .

Mike Bloomberg is staking it all on Super Tuesday
Mike Bloomberg's strategy is to spend big for Super Tuesday, when one third of delegates will be assigned to Democratic presidential candidates.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-02-27--President Trump held press conference to discuss U.S. response to coronavirus outbreak

President Trump , Alex Azar and Anthony Fauci speak about what the U.S. is doing to control the coronavirus outbreak @

Coronavirus: President Trump discusses U.S. response
President Trump, Alex Azar and Anthony Fauci speak about what the U.S. is doing to control the coronavirus outbreak.
Associated Press, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-02-27--OnPolitics: How is Trump responding to the coronavirus?

President Donald Trump said the nation is prepared for the coronavirus during a Wednesday press conference where he announced that Vice President Mike Pence would lead the administration 's response .
`` We 're very , very ready for this , '' Trump said .
`` The risk to the American people remains very low . ''
Trump said he trusted the advice from his top health officials , but he also at times appeared to contradict him .
The president repeatedly said he didn ’ t believe it was inevitable that the virus would spread in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would .
Politics provided us with a smattering of news today that came from all sides .
Want Democratic candidates updates or to learn why ABC news fired a veteran journalist ?
We got you .
• America has a history of lynching , but it 's not a federal crime .
The House just voted to change that • Trump campaign sues New York Times in libel lawsuit involving opinion piece on Russia • Joe Biden has a big lead in South Carolina primary , per Clemson University 's Palmetto Poll • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The answer is the key to this year 's Democratic primary • Sanders plays defense and other moments from the South Carolina Democratic debate • Obama demands TV stations and Pro-Trump PAC stop misusing his words in 'despicable ' anti-Biden ad

OnPolitics: How is Trump responding to the coronavirus?
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus explained: Symptoms, spread, treatment Coronavirus has spread from Wuhan, China, to countries across the world. But how do you know you have it? Here are some signs to watch out for. Just the FAQs
Trump says we're ready
President Donald Trump said the nation is prepared for the coronavirus during a Wednesday press conference where he announced that Vice President Mike Pence would lead the administration's response.
"We're very, very ready for this," Trump said. "The risk to the American people remains very low."
Trump said he trusted the advice from his top health officials, but he also at times appeared to contradict him. The president repeatedly said he didn’t believe it was inevitable that the virus would spread in the United States but acknowledged that it “probably” would.
Schumer counters Trump, announces $8.5-billion proposal for emergency coronavirus funding
Lawsuits and undercover videos
Politics provided us with a smattering of news today that came from all sides. Want Democratic candidates updates or to learn why ABC news fired a veteran journalist?
We got you.


usatoday--2020-02-27--Obama demands TV stations stop airing 'despicable' anti-Biden ad from Pro-Trump PAC that misuses his

WASHINGTON – Former President Barack Obama demanded South Carolina television stations and a pro-Trump group stop airing a `` despicable '' ad that misuses his voice to attack his former Vice President Joe Biden .
`` Joe Biden promised to help our community .
It was a lie .
Here 's President Obama , '' the ad begins , then continues to play an audio passage from Obama 's 1995 memoir , `` Dreams from My Father , '' to allude that Biden supports `` plantation politics '' and describes how the black community had been wrongfully treated .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that knocked Biden 's history on race , and concludes : `` Enough .
Joe Biden wo n't represent us , defend us , or help us .
Do n't believe Biden 's empty promises . ''
Want to talk more about politics ?
: Join our Facebook group : ‘ Across the Aisle , Across the Nation.
’ PolitiFact found that the audio is Obama reading a quotation from a barber about Chicago 's first black mayor , Harold Washington , where the man says , “ Plantation politics .
Black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police brutality rampant .
But when the so-called black committeemen came around election time , we ’ d all line up and vote the straight Democratic ticket .
Sell our souls for a Christmas turkey.
” The ad comes from the Committee to Defend the President , and aired on local CBS affiliates in South Carolina before Tuesday night 's Democratic debate in Charleston .
Obama 's office said his lawyers would be sending the PAC a cease-and-desist letter .
Obama spokeswoman Katie Hill told USA TODAY in a statement that , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight out of the Republican disinformation playbook , and it ’ s clearly designed to suppress turnout among minority voters in South Carolina by taking President Obama ’ s voice out of context and twisting his words to mislead viewers . ''
`` In the interest of truth in advertising , we are calling on TV stations to take this ad down and stop playing into the hands of bad actors who seek to sow division and confusion among the electorate , ” the statement continues .
Biden , who struggled in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to South Carolina for help .
He is counting on his support within the African American community to help him win the state .
Hill said that though Obama has many `` friends '' competing for the Democratic nomination , including Biden , he is is not endorsing anyone in the primary , `` because he believes that in order for Democrats to be successful this fall , voters must choose their nominee . ''
Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates called the ad a `` despicable torrent of misinformation '' and said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are absolutely terrified that Joe Biden will defeat him in November . ''
This is not the first time a pro-Trump PAC has used the sound bite .
Great America Alliance used the same bite in 2017 to inveigle black voters away from Democrats , targeting Georgia ’ s 6th Congressional District ’ s special election , according to the Washington Post .

Obama demands TV stations stop airing 'despicable' anti-Biden ad from Pro-Trump PAC that misuses his words
Show Caption Hide Caption Obama demands 'despicable' ad misusing his words stop airing Barack Obama is demanding South Carolina TV stations and a pro-Trump group stop airing a "despicable" ad that misuses his voice. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Former President Barack Obama demanded South Carolina television stations and a pro-Trump group stop airing a "despicable" ad that misuses his voice to attack his former Vice President Joe Biden.
"Joe Biden promised to help our community. It was a lie. Here's President Obama," the ad begins, then continues to play an audio passage from Obama's 1995 memoir, "Dreams from My Father," to allude that Biden supports "plantation politics" and describes how the black community had been wrongfully treated.
The ad simultaneously flashes headlines across the screen that knocked Biden's history on race, and concludes: "Enough. Joe Biden won't represent us, defend us, or help us. Don't believe Biden's empty promises."
Want to talk more about politics?: Join our Facebook group: ‘Across the Aisle, Across the Nation.’
PolitiFact found that the audio is Obama reading a quotation from a barber about Chicago's first black mayor, Harold Washington, where the man says, “Plantation politics. Black people in the worst jobs.The worst housing. Police brutality rampant. But when the so-called black committeemen came around election time, we’d all line up and vote the straight Democratic ticket. Sell our souls for a Christmas turkey.”
Our new ad playing in South Carolina: @JoeBiden joined segregationists, wrote a bill that disproportionately jailed African Americans, & blamed black parents for inequality. He will not represent us. pic.twitter.com/9qkiOOYn0V — Defend Trump (@Defend_Trump) February 26, 2020
The ad comes from the Committee to Defend the President, and aired on local CBS affiliates in South Carolina before Tuesday night's Democratic debate in Charleston. Obama's office said his lawyers would be sending the PAC a cease-and-desist letter.
Obama spokeswoman Katie Hill told USA TODAY in a statement that, "[T]his despicable ad is straight out of the Republican disinformation playbook, and it’s clearly designed to suppress turnout among minority voters in South Carolina by taking President Obama’s voice out of context and twisting his words to mislead viewers."
"In the interest of truth in advertising, we are calling on TV stations to take this ad down and stop playing into the hands of bad actors who seek to sow division and confusion among the electorate,” the statement continues.
Biden, who struggled in early primary and caucus states, is looking to South Carolina for help. He is counting on his support within the African American community to help him win the state.
Hill said that though Obama has many "friends" competing for the Democratic nomination, including Biden, he is is not endorsing anyone in the primary, "because he believes that in order for Democrats to be successful this fall, voters must choose their nominee."
Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates called the ad a "despicable torrent of misinformation" and said it shows that Trump "and his allies are absolutely terrified that Joe Biden will defeat him in November."
This is not the first time a pro-Trump PAC has used the sound bite. Great America Alliance used the same bite in 2017 to inveigle black voters away from Democrats, targeting Georgia’s 6th Congressional District’s special election, according to the Washington Post.


usatoday--2020-02-27--Trump puts Vice President Mike Pence in charge of coronavirus response, says nation is 'very ready'

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said the nation is prepared for the coronavirus during a Wednesday press conference where he announced that Vice President Mike Pence would lead the administration 's response .
`` We 're very , very ready for this , '' Trump said .
`` The risk to the American people remains very low . ''
Trump said he trusted the advice from his top health officials , but he also at times appeared to contradict him .
The president repeatedly said he didn ’ t believe it was inevitable that the virus would spread in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably ” would .
Asked if he thought schools and other public institutions should prepare for the virus to attain a more widespread reach , he said he thought they should , adding that people should prepare the same way they prepare for flu season .
The president slammed congressional Democrats who have criticized his response and who have suggested that the administration ’ s initial request for $ 2.5 billion in emergency funding was inadequate .
But Trump also acknowledged that some Republicans , including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He seemed open to that , without citing a new number he thought might be appropriate .
“ If they want to do more , ” he said , “ we ’ ll do more.
” Trump , who held the rare press conference after markets closed , also fired back at criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , saying that she was “ incompetent ” and “ trying to create panic.
” But the president was vague about the need to take additional immediate steps .
He said he would consider travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand it now .
Both Trump and Pence indicated that the White House would bring on additional staff to deal with the virus .
“ At the right time we may do that , ” Trump said of travel restrictions to countries such as South Korea and Italy that have experienced recent spikes in cases .
“ But right now it ’ s not the right time.
” Anthony Fauci , who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , appeared to throw cold water on Trump ’ s early assertion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to developing a vaccine .
Fauci said that it could take a year to 18 months , if testing went well , before a vaccine could be effectively applied to respond to the virus .
Trump , who suggested two weeks ago that the threat would go away once temperatures warmed in April , huddled earlier Wednesday at the White House with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to go over the administration ’ s strategy for dealing with the virus .
Lawmakers from both parties expressed concern that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare for a possible U.S. outbreak of the virus that has spawned more than 80,000 cases around the world , including 59 confirmed cases in the USA .
Trump fired off a series of tweets early Wednesday in which he said health officials are doing “ a great job ” in addressing the global health epidemic .
The day before , he described the epidemic as “ very well under control in our country ” despite a sharp increase in cases .
Financial markets have fallen sharply amid concerns over the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of not doing enough .
`` Democrats talking point is that we are doing badly , '' Trump tweeted .
`` If the virus disappeared tomorrow , they would say we did a really poor , and even incompetent , job .
Not fair , but it is what it is . ''
“ The coronavirus story has changed in the past few days and led to a sharp market sell-off on Tuesday as fears of the virus spreading increased , ” said Republican political consultant Matt Mackowiak .
“ At this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration develop a bipartisan plan and communicate facts on this subject to the public.
” The White House requested $ 2.5 billion in emergency funding to deal with the outbreak , but congressional Democrats slammed the request as `` woefully insufficient . ''
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York offered a counterproposal for an emergency spending package of $ 8.5 billion and ridiculed the president as `` incompetent and dangerous . ''
`` You reduced our ability to prevent epidemics .
You proposed cuts to CDC funding .
You just trusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle this , '' Schumer wrote on Twitter .
`` You can spin this any way you want , but it 's incompetence . ''
Some Republicans condemned the administration ’ s response as well .
Sen. John Kennedy , R-La.
, ripped into acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf during a hearing Tuesday , arguing the administration has not provided the public with critical information about the virus .
Kennedy asked Wolf how many coronavirus cases the administration expects in the USA .
Wolf didn ’ t know , prompting Kennedy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of Homeland Security , and your job is to keep us safe .
… Don ’ t you think you ought to check on that ?
” Ken Cuccinelli , a top member of Trump ’ s coronavirus task force , turned to Twitter for help Monday after he had trouble calling up an online map produced by Johns Hopkins University to show the virus ’ spread .
“ Has the Johns Hopkins map of the coronavirus stopped working for other people , or just me ?
” he asked , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the map behind a paywall .
“ Seems like bad timing to stop helping the world with this ( previously ) useful resource , ” Cuccinelli wrote .
“ Here 's hoping it goes back up soon.
” Other Twitter users cited Cuccinelli ’ s tweets as an example of what they said was the administration ’ s inept response to the outbreak and pointed out that , as acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security , he should have direct access to the same numbers through the CDC .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with jurisdiction over health care , said the United States needs to redouble its efforts to combat the virus .
Asked if the administration ’ s request for $ 2.5 billion was enough to fight the outbreak , Alexander said , “ We ’ ll see.
” “ We ’ ve done a good job so far , ” he said , noting the slow spread of the virus among Americans .
“ The problem is , it ’ s very aggressive , it ’ s spreading among other countries , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed back on criticism that the administration is not prepared to combat the virus .
“ We 're better prepared than anybody else .
It does n't mean you 're going to escape through this with absolutely no impact , ” said Rep. Tom Cole , R-Okla. , who sits on the House Appropriations Committee .
McCarthy said that if anyone is to blame for a tepid response , it 's China .
“ The lack of accountability from China harms the entire world , ” he said , adding that China ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , including when it was discovered , prevented quicker action .
“ The challenge here is the lack of accountability coming from China , ” McCarthy said .

Michael Collins and John Fritze, USA TODAY

Trump puts Vice President Mike Pence in charge of coronavirus response, says nation is 'very ready'
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: President Trump discusses U.S. response President Trump, Alex Azar and Anthony Fauci speak about what the U.S. is doing to control the coronavirus outbreak. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said the nation is prepared for the coronavirus during a Wednesday press conference where he announced that Vice President Mike Pence would lead the administration's response.
"We're very, very ready for this," Trump said. "The risk to the American people remains very low."
Trump said he trusted the advice from his top health officials, but he also at times appeared to contradict him. The president repeatedly said he didn’t believe it was inevitable that the virus would spread in the United States but acknowledged that it “probably” would.
Asked if he thought schools and other public institutions should prepare for the virus to attain a more widespread reach, he said he thought they should, adding that people should prepare the same way they prepare for flu season.
The president slammed congressional Democrats who have criticized his response and who have suggested that the administration’s initial request for $2.5 billion in emergency funding was inadequate.
But Trump also acknowledged that some Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, have suggested more money made be needed. He seemed open to that, without citing a new number he thought might be appropriate.
“If they want to do more,” he said, “we’ll do more.”
Trump, who held the rare press conference after markets closed, also fired back at criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying that she was “incompetent” and “trying to create panic.”
But the president was vague about the need to take additional immediate steps. He said he would consider travel restrictions but said the situation did not demand it now. Both Trump and Pence indicated that the White House would bring on additional staff to deal with the virus.
“At the right time we may do that,” Trump said of travel restrictions to countries such as South Korea and Italy that have experienced recent spikes in cases. “But right now it’s not the right time.”
Anthony Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared to throw cold water on Trump’s early assertion that the U.S. was getting “close” to developing a vaccine. Fauci said that it could take a year to 18 months, if testing went well, before a vaccine could be effectively applied to respond to the virus.
Donald Trump picks Mike Pence to head government response to coronavirus President Donald Trump declares that the U.S. is ready for whatever the coronavirus threat brings, as he puts Vice President Mike Pence in charge of overseeing the nation's response. (Feb. 26) AP
Trump, who suggested two weeks ago that the threat would go away once temperatures warmed in April, huddled earlier Wednesday at the White House with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to go over the administration’s strategy for dealing with the virus.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed concern that the administration isn’t doing enough to prepare for a possible U.S. outbreak of the virus that has spawned more than 80,000 cases around the world, including 59 confirmed cases in the USA.
Trump fired off a series of tweets early Wednesday in which he said health officials are doing “a great job” in addressing the global health epidemic. The day before, he described the epidemic as “very well under control in our country” despite a sharp increase in cases.
Financial markets have fallen sharply amid concerns over the global outbreak, and critics accused the president of not doing enough.
"Democrats talking point is that we are doing badly," Trump tweeted. "If the virus disappeared tomorrow, they would say we did a really poor, and even incompetent, job. Not fair, but it is what it is."
“The coronavirus story has changed in the past few days and led to a sharp market sell-off on Tuesday as fears of the virus spreading increased,” said Republican political consultant Matt Mackowiak. “At this point, it is urgently important that the administration develop a bipartisan plan and communicate facts on this subject to the public.”
2020 race: Top moments from Tuesday's Democratic debate
Wuhan, coronavirus: How central China's biggest city affects the world With coronavirus sweeping across the world, it's easy to forget the epicenter of the disease, Wuhan. Wuhan can be compared to Pittsburgh or Chicago. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The White House requested $2.5 billion in emergency funding to deal with the outbreak, but congressional Democrats slammed the request as "woefully insufficient."
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York offered a counterproposal for an emergency spending package of $8.5 billion and ridiculed the president as "incompetent and dangerous."
"You reduced our ability to prevent epidemics. You proposed cuts to CDC funding. You just trusted other governments (like China) to handle this," Schumer wrote on Twitter. "You can spin this any way you want, but it's incompetence."
Some Republicans condemned the administration’s response as well.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., ripped into acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf during a hearing Tuesday, arguing the administration has not provided the public with critical information about the virus.
Kennedy asked Wolf how many coronavirus cases the administration expects in the USA. Wolf didn’t know, prompting Kennedy to exclaim, “You’re the head of Homeland Security, and your job is to keep us safe. … Don’t you think you ought to check on that?”
Ken Cuccinelli, a top member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, turned to Twitter for help Monday after he had trouble calling up an online map produced by Johns Hopkins University to show the virus’ spread.
“Has the Johns Hopkins map of the coronavirus stopped working for other people, or just me?” he asked, adding that it appeared the hospital had put the map behind a paywall.
“Seems like bad timing to stop helping the world with this (previously) useful resource,” Cuccinelli wrote. “Here's hoping it goes back up soon.”
Has the Johns Hopkins map of the coronavirus stopped working for other people, or just me? https://t.co/36uda8fm6P — Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) February 24, 2020
Other Twitter users cited Cuccinelli’s tweets as an example of what they said was the administration’s inept response to the outbreak and pointed out that, as acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security, he should have direct access to the same numbers through the CDC.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate committee with jurisdiction over health care, said the United States needs to redouble its efforts to combat the virus.
Asked if the administration’s request for $2.5 billion was enough to fight the outbreak, Alexander said, “We’ll see.”
“We’ve done a good job so far,” he said, noting the slow spread of the virus among Americans. “The problem is, it’s very aggressive, it’s spreading among other countries, and it will inevitably spread here.”
House Republicans pushed back on criticism that the administration is not prepared to combat the virus.
“We're better prepared than anybody else. It doesn't mean you're going to escape through this with absolutely no impact,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
McCarthy said that if anyone is to blame for a tepid response, it's China.
“The lack of accountability from China harms the entire world,” he said, adding that China’s resistance to releasing facts about the virus, including when it was discovered, prevented quicker action.
“The challenge here is the lack of accountability coming from China,” McCarthy said.
Contributing: Christal Hayes, Nicholas Wu
Chuck Schumer: Dem counters Trump, announces $8.5 billion proposal for emergency coronavirus funding


usatoday--2020-02-27--AG William Barr laments 'massively consolidated' mainstream press; claims journalists now 'less obje

Attorney General William Barr , the focus of intense public scrutiny for revising a stiff sentencing recommendation for longtime GOP operative Roger Stone , took aim at the press Wednesday lamenting a `` massively consolidated '' media landscape in which journalists are increasingly abandoning objectivity .
In a speech before the National Religious Broadcasters Convention , the attorney general referred to the press as `` remarkably monolithic in viewpoint , '' adding that journalists `` see themselves less as objective reporters of the facts and more as agents of change . ''
`` These developments have given the press an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the public on a national scale and direct that opinion in a particular direction , '' Barr said .
`` Not only does it become easier for the press to mobilize a majority , but the mobilized majority becomes more powerful and overweening with the press as its ally . ''
Barr 's biting criticism appeared to echo the dark appraisals of President Donald Trump who has labeled large segments of the press as the `` fake news '' for its reporting on the Trump administration .
Earlier Wednesday , Trump suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed by the deadly coronavirus and contributing to a national panic .
Trump said reporters were `` doing everything possible to make the coronavirus look as bad as possible , '' blaming press reports for the recent stock market plunge .
In his remarks in Nashville , Tennessee , Barr said the evolution of the media represented a less-than-positive cycle .
`` I think it is fair to say that it puts the press ’ role as a breakwater for the tyranny of the majority in jeopardy , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that vital role is to cultivate a greater diversity of voices in the media . ''
Speaking directly to his audience , Barr called the group of broadcasters `` the last holdouts in the consolidation of organs and viewpoints of the press . ''
`` It is , therefore , essential that you continue your work and continue to supply the people with diverse , divergent perspectives on the news of the day , '' he said .
`` And in this secular age , it is especially vital that your religious perspective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Stone case ignited a firestorm , which raised new questions about the Justice Department 's independence from the White House .
While Barr said that Trump did not influence his decision to revise the sentencing referral , Trump publicly commended the attorney general for intervening on behalf of the president 's friend .
Last week , Stone was sentenced to just more than three years in prison on seven felony convictions in a case that emerged from Justice special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into Russia 's interference in the 2016 @ @

AG William Barr laments 'massively consolidated' mainstream press; claims journalists now 'less objective'
Show Caption Hide Caption William Barr: Trump's tweets make it 'impossible for me to do my job' Attorney General Barr claims he makes his own decisions and President Trump does not intervene in criminal cases, including Roger Stone's case. USA TODAY
Attorney General William Barr, the focus of intense public scrutiny for revising a stiff sentencing recommendation for longtime GOP operative Roger Stone, took aim at the press Wednesday lamenting a "massively consolidated" media landscape in which journalists are increasingly abandoning objectivity.
In a speech before the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, the attorney general referred to the press as "remarkably monolithic in viewpoint," adding that journalists "see themselves less as objective reporters of the facts and more as agents of change."
"These developments have given the press an unprecedented ability to mobilize a broad segment of the public on a national scale and direct that opinion in a particular direction," Barr said. "Not only does it become easier for the press to mobilize a majority, but the mobilized majority becomes more powerful and overweening with the press as its ally."
Barr's biting criticism appeared to echo the dark appraisals of President Donald Trump who has labeled large segments of the press as the "fake news" for its reporting on the Trump administration.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump suggested that the press was overstating the threat posed by the deadly coronavirus and contributing to a national panic.
Trump said reporters were "doing everything possible to make the coronavirus look as bad as possible," blaming press reports for the recent stock market plunge.
In his remarks in Nashville, Tennessee, Barr said the evolution of the media represented a less-than-positive cycle.
"I think it is fair to say that it puts the press’ role as a breakwater for the tyranny of the majority in jeopardy," he said. "The key to restoring the press in that vital role is to cultivate a greater diversity of voices in the media."
Speaking directly to his audience, Barr called the group of broadcasters "the last holdouts in the consolidation of organs and viewpoints of the press."
"It is, therefore, essential that you continue your work and continue to supply the people with diverse, divergent perspectives on the news of the day," he said. "And in this secular age, it is especially vital that your religious perspective is voiced."
Barr's intervention in the Stone case ignited a firestorm, which raised new questions about the Justice Department's independence from the White House. While Barr said that Trump did not influence his decision to revise the sentencing referral, Trump publicly commended the attorney general for intervening on behalf of the president's friend.
Last week, Stone was sentenced to just more than three years in prison on seven felony convictions in a case that emerged from Justice special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election.


usatoday--2020-02-26--Pete Buttigieg responds to Trump tweet implying he can 'live with' Buttigieg as president

By all appearances , President Donald Trump is going into the 2020 election as a confident incumbent set on securing four more years .
But does a Wednesday morning tweet from the president mean that Trump would be OK taking an L as long as he 's dethroned by a certain Hoosier from South Bend ?
Shortly before 11:20 a.m. Wednesday , Trump tweeted , `` Eric , I can live with that ! ''
in response to conservative political commentator Eric Bolling sharing his praise of former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
In the tweet , Bolling makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Team Trump .
He also says that if he has to live in America with any of the current Democratic presidential candidates as commander-in-chief , Mayor Pete would be his pick .
`` He seems smart , even tempered and as moderate as any on the stage , '' Bolling tweeted Tuesday night .
`` Holds his own with career pols . ''
What 's unclear is exactly what Trump meant in the tweet .
Is he OK with the idea of President Pete ?
Or is he simply OK with his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
With no follow-up tweet to clarify , your guess is as good as mine .
What Buttigieg says about Trump 's tweet What is crystal clear , however , is that Buttigeig is n't keen on receiving any kind of praise from Trump .
Around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday , Buttigieg responded to the president 's tweet by saying , `` What none of us can live with is four more years of your chaos , cruelty , and division . ''
He then shared a link to campaign website , telling Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump out of the White House . ''
This is n't the first time Buttigieg and Trump have had back-and-forths that have spilled onto social media .
Their most notable exchange came in May 2019 when Trump gave Buttigieg the nickname `` Alfred E. Neuman '' during an interview with Politico .
Buttigieg fired back by saying that he had no idea who the MAD Magazine mascot was , calling it `` a generational thing . ''
That of course led the MAD Magazine tweeting , `` Who ’ s Pete Buttigieg ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ About a week later , when asked how he would deal with Trump 's tweets and insults should he win the Democratic nomination , Buttigieg said he did n't care about the social media jabs .
That response came just a few hours after Trump tweeted that `` Alfred E. Newman ( sic ) will never be President ! ''
But the interactions have n't been all negative .
Earlier this month , on the day of the New Hampshire primary , Trump again had kind words of Buttigieg and his competitive showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go on to narrowly defeat Buttigieg in New Hampshire .
Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138 .
Follow him on Twitter : @ justinlmack .

Pete Buttigieg responds to Trump tweet implying he can 'live with' Buttigieg as president
Show Caption Hide Caption Can Pete Buttigieg maintain momentum after New Hampshire and Iowa? IndyStar's Chris Sikich breaks down Pete Buttigieg's path going forward, after being well-positioned after Iowa and New Hampshire contests. Robert Scheer, robert.scheer@indystar.com
By all appearances, President Donald Trump is going into the 2020 election as a confident incumbent set on securing four more years.
But does a Wednesday morning tweet from the president mean that Trump would be OK taking an L as long as he's dethroned by a certain Hoosier from South Bend?
Shortly before 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Trump tweeted, "Eric, I can live with that!" in response to conservative political commentator Eric Bolling sharing his praise of former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
In the tweet, Bolling makes it clear that he is 100% Team Trump. He also says that if he has to live in America with any of the current Democratic presidential candidates as commander-in-chief, Mayor Pete would be his pick.
"He seems smart, even tempered and as moderate as any on the stage," Bolling tweeted Tuesday night. "Holds his own with career pols."
Eric, I can live with that! https://t.co/TtNdK9pg06 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2020
What's unclear is exactly what Trump meant in the tweet. Is he OK with the idea of President Pete? Or is he simply OK with his supporters accepting Buttigieg as president if he wins?
With no follow-up tweet to clarify, your guess is as good as mine.
What Buttigieg says about Trump's tweet
What is crystal clear, however, is that Buttigeig isn't keen on receiving any kind of praise from Trump.
Around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Buttigieg responded to the president's tweet by saying, "What none of us can live with is four more years of your chaos, cruelty, and division."
He then shared a link to campaign website, telling Twitter users to "donate now to kick Trump out of the White House."
What none of us can live with is four more years of your chaos, cruelty, and division. https://t.co/ikc6CXoYvd — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 26, 2020
This isn't the first time Buttigieg and Trump have had back-and-forths that have spilled onto social media.
Their most notable exchange came in May 2019 when Trump gave Buttigieg the nickname "Alfred E. Neuman" during an interview with Politico. Buttigieg fired back by saying that he had no idea who the MAD Magazine mascot was, calling it "a generational thing."
That of course led the MAD Magazine tweeting, "Who’s Pete Buttigieg? Must be a generational thing."
About a week later, when asked how he would deal with Trump's tweets and insults should he win the Democratic nomination, Buttigieg said he didn't care about the social media jabs.
That response came just a few hours after Trump tweeted that "Alfred E. Newman (sic) will never be President!"
But the interactions haven't been all negative. Earlier this month, on the day of the New Hampshire primary, Trump again had kind words of Buttigieg and his competitive showing against Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Sanders would go on to narrowly defeat Buttigieg in New Hampshire.
Bootedgeedge (Buttigieg) is doing pretty well tonight. Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money. Very interesting! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.