talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-08--How COVID-19 Fundamentally Reshaped Biden’s Campaign For The White House

WILMINGTON , Del .
( AP ) — Joe Biden was fresh off winning the Michigan primary and effectively capturing the Democratic presidential nomination , a prize he ’ d sought for the better part of three decades .
Instead of plotting a strategy to build momentum , he was contemplating an abrupt halt .
He gathered his senior team in a conference room on the 19th floor of his campaign ’ s Philadelphia headquarters , the type of in-person meeting that would soon be deemed a public health risk .
A former surgeon general and Food and Drug Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus began to explode across the United States that March , Biden asked a question that would ultimately guide the campaign ’ s thinking for months : “ What should I be modeling ?
” The health experts recommended the 77-year-old Biden step away from campaigning as soon as possible , both for his safety and that of staff and supporters .
Biden agreed .
He decided that he and every staff member would work from home starting that weekend .
All field offices would be closed .
He wouldn ’ t return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was a decision without precedent in modern American politics .
Barack Obama and John McCain returned to Washington in the final weeks of the 2008 campaign to respond to that year ’ s financial collapse , but only briefly .
In an era when voters are accustomed to seeing their presidential candidates constantly , the idea of a complete withdrawal was unthinkable .
That was especially true for Biden , whose tactile approach to politics is legendary .
“ It was a hard call , ” said Jake Sullivan , a senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no pandemic , he gets a chance to get out and do what he does , which is retail campaigning , meeting people where they are , having the opportunity to sit with folks and speak to crowds and walk down the street .
That ’ s what he would have preferred , obviously.
” For Biden , who has been elected the 46th president of the United States , perhaps no decision was more consequential to his victory , making it possible to flip states such as Arizona and Wisconsin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week of the election .
Still , the cautious approach prompted ridicule from President Donald Trump , who constantly teased Biden for “ hiding in his basement ” and returned to large in-person events much sooner than his rival , and with far fewer precautions .
Some Democrats also worried .
Several state party chairs and down-ballot candidates privately urged the campaign to resume in-person events and canvassing .
Texas Democratic Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa warned that Latino turnout could suffer .
The lack of personal outreach has been blamed for contributing to Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , a battleground that Trump carried .
But Biden refused to change course , defining himself early on as a responsible foil to Trump , someone who could make difficult choices and serve as something of a role model to a country facing a historic set of crises .
It was a theme Biden would return to repeatedly in the months ahead as millions of people lost their jobs , the largest protest movement since the civil rights era bloomed in response to police killings of Black people , and Trump threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost .
This account of Biden ’ s rise to the presidency is based on interviews with more than a dozen people who hold senior positions in the Biden and Trump campaigns along with strategists and donors in each party .
Many spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the turbulent campaign with candor .
They all agree on one thing : The coronavirus fundamentally reshaped the race .
In the early hours of Friday , Oct. 2 , a senior official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleague with a dire message about the fate of Trump ’ s campaign : It was hopeless .
The president had just announced that he and his wife , Melania , had tested positive for the coronavirus , joining the 7 million Americans already infected .
By the end of the day , Trump would be taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Marine One , the short helicopter ride over the Washington skyline captured on live television .
Trump ’ s illness presented serious medical concerns and raised alarm about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At 74 , Trump was at a higher risk of serious complications from the virus .
He refused to temporarily cede power to Vice President Mike Pence as he recovered .
“ I talked to him that night .
I talked to him the whole hospitalization , ” said GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , one of Trump ’ s closest allies in Washington .
“ Friday night , he wasn ’ t feeling good.
” Trump ’ s infection was both a stunning twist and entirely predictable .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , painting Democrats as reactionaries using the pandemic to take away individual rights .
He mocked mask-wearing recommendations from scientists and returned to his trademark rallies , packing thousands of mostly unmasked supporters together , sometimes over the objection of local health officials .
He held large-scale events on the South Lawn of the White House , including the introduction of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett less than a week before his diagnosis .
Perhaps the biggest surprise was that Trump hadn ’ t contracted the virus sooner .
After three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was still infectious , staged a dramatic return to the White House .
Just in time for the evening newscasts on the major networks , the former reality television star climbed the South Portico steps , turned to the cameras and removed his mask to declare “ I feel good.
” He entered the White House , where aides were visible milling about the Blue Room , without wearing a face covering .
The move , less than a month before Election Day , was designed to show a president in control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official wing of his party .
On Capitol Hill , Republicans maintained their public support of Trump , eager to avoid enraged tweets that could threaten their political futures .
But at the RNC , frustration was building that Trump was missing obvious opportunities .
Party officials believed Trump could have been on track to win as much as 60 % of the vote had he taken a more empathetic approach to the pandemic .
Instead , he adopted a combative and dismissive attitude toward the science that guided most of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
The party questioned Trump ’ s spending and messaging .
The campaign spent untold millions on aggressive ads resembling WWE commercials blanketing TV , but none of them moved the needle .
The ads were in many instances approved by Trump personally and aired on stations in Washington , targeted to an audience of one — the president — in a heavily Democratic city .
By early October , the RNC had had enough of the Trump campaign ’ s scattered message and decided to produce its own advertisements offering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The message tested better than anything the Trump campaign had done previously .
Despite their public confidence , Trump ’ s own staff seemed increasingly aware of the impending loss .
In the final weeks of the campaign , White House staff offices began rotating in aides who had not yet been on Air Force One or not as frequently as others , to give them that experience while they still had the chance .
Trump himself was grappling with his fate in public .
“ How the hell can we be tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Carson City , Nevada .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders knew his White House ambitions were over .
Biden assumed a commanding lead in the Democratic primary by late March and the pandemic dashed any hopes of a comeback — or even a spirited exchange of ideas that could last until the summer convention .
But before he exited the race , the progressive icon wanted significant policy concessions on health care and education .
Sanders knew that Biden wouldn ’ t agree to support “ Medicare for All.
” The former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the primary .
But Sanders believed he could get Biden to agree to lower the age for Medicare eligibility .
Sanders wanted Biden to drop the age to 55 from the current 65 .
Senior staff from both sides hammered out a compromise , which was later sealed during a private conversation between Sanders and Biden .
A few days after Sanders formally stepped aside , Biden announced that he supported lowering the Medicare age to 60 .
“ Based on the calls that the senator had with the vice president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious about trying to have common ground — that progressives would not only be involved in the electoral process but also governing , ” said Jeff Weaver , Sanders ’ chief adviser .
For many Democrats , the scars of Sanders ’ 2016 primary battle against Hillary Clinton had never really healed .
Some argued Sanders didn ’ t do enough to support Clinton , damaging her in the general election against Trump .
Progressives countered that the party didn ’ t take Sanders seriously and worked to thwart him .
Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in building trust between the wings of the party .
The relationship was further solidified after Biden agreed to form several policy committees that featured high-profile figures from opposing factions .
Among the participants on Biden ’ s climate committee : former Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , one of Sanders ’ most vocal supporters .
Biden didn ’ t issue the invitation to Ocasio-Cortez personally , but was fully on board with bringing her onto the panel .
She ’ d go on to become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s election , a stark contrast to the 2016 dynamics Clinton faced from the left flank .
Trump suddenly had an opportunity to divert attention from the pandemic .
A round of sometimes violent unrest exploded in Kenosha , Wisconsin , following the police shooting of Jacob Blake , an unarmed Black man , in August .
Some large cities contended with isolated instances of unrest during the summer as part of a broader movement against racial injustice and police violence toward Black Americans .
But the events in Kenosha seemed different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities and in a premier swing state , no less .
Trump had been roundly criticized after mostly peaceful protesters were forcibly removed from a street near the White House in June .
But Kenosha fueled his call for “ law and order , ” the mantra championed by presidential candidates Richard Nixon and George Wallace in 1968 .
Biden ’ s team worried that his consistent lead in critical Upper Midwest states could deteriorate if Trump ’ s appeal to the fears of white voters resonated .
The focus on Kenosha peaked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention , drawing fairly positive reviews for delivering a program aimed at expanding his political coalition .
“ It was a moment that could have gone sideways , ” said Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield .
“ We made a strategic decision to take it head-on.
” On the very day he returned to campaigning after nearly six months at home , Biden delivered a fiery speech in Pennsylvania asking voters if they really believed they were safer under Trump ’ s leadership .
Biden highlighted the pandemic ’ s mounting death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that time — and blamed Trump for causing the divisions that ignited the unrest in the first place .
“ He can ’ t stop the violence because for years he ’ s fomented it , ” Biden charged .
The direct attack on Trump ’ s “ law and order ” messaging was amplified by Democrats across the country who followed Biden ’ s lead .
Within a matter of weeks , any momentum that Trump seemed to have coming out of his convention was forgotten .
“ That was embarrassing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential debate against Trump , Biden shared his disgust about his opponent ’ s performance with family and senior staff in a hold room backstage where they dissected the most chaotic 90 minutes in modern presidential politics .
Biden long believed that the opening debate on Sept. 29 could be an opportunity for Trump to reshape the race , and Biden prepared accordingly .
Biden and his team spent weeks getting ready .
No one was more meticulous than senior adviser Bob Bauer , a White House counsel under Obama who had played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice sessions and agreed to embrace the role of Trump .
Like a football coach preparing for a Super Bowl opponent , Bauer watched hundreds of hours of tape on Trump , studying every primary and debate performance from his 2016 campaign , and virtually every rally and news conference in the four years since .
By the time Bauer and Biden stood behind makeshift podiums for their first full 90-minute mock debate inside Biden ’ s home in Wilmington , Delaware , Bauer had mastered the president ’ s style , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important , the specific attacks Trump was most likely to use and how he would deliver them .
Bauer was ruthless in the private sessions , leaning into deeply personal attacks about Biden ’ s family , his decision to step away from campaigning and the perception that he may not have the physical or mental strength to serve as president .
Yet no amount of preparation could truly prepare Biden for what he faced when the real moment came .
With more than 73 million people watching , a belligerent Trump badgered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceaseless flood of interruptions that rendered the high-profile debate almost unwatchable .
Biden didn ’ t have any notable stumbles , but he lost his patience at times and slapped at Trump with unplanned insults .
“ Will you shut up , man ?
” the Democrat said at one point .
The line would later inspire one of the campaign ’ s bestselling T-shirts .
In the hold room afterward , Biden gathered with his wife , his sister Valerie Biden Owens and a couple of senior aides .
They believed Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was concerned that Trump had debased the debate process itself , something he considered a sacred institution in U.S. politics .
“ It ’ s disappointing that the president of the United States would act like that on the debate stage , ” Biden told them .
In the end , nothing Trump could say or do distracted voters from his fundamental inability to control the pandemic — or even take it seriously as the death toll surged past 232,000 Americans on the eve of the election .
As Biden stayed laser-focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his top lieutenants fought to convince Americans that the pandemic was almost over .
Five days before Election Day , Donald Trump Jr. said on Fox News that coronavirus deaths had dropped to “ almost nothing.
” That same day , the United States reported more than 90,000 new confirmed COVID-19 infections , another single-day record .
The day after Election Day , more than 100,000 Americans tested positive for the first time .
Still , the president kept on mocking Biden ’ s cautiousness .
“ When you ’ re president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t lock yourself into a basement , ” Trump told thousands of Pennsylvania supporters crammed into an outdoor venue , most without masks , the weekend before the election .
Despite the large crowds , people close to Trump were aware that his presidency was hanging by a thread .
The president boarded Air Force One in Miami to start his final day of travel seemingly in a bad mood .
Holding a red MAGA hat , he offered a soft wave to reporters but didn ’ t do a customary wave for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the first of five events that day , he wasn ’ t showing much confidence when asked about Wisconsin , where coronavirus spiked to a new record high on Election Day : “ I could lose it , I could win it , ” Trump said .
Biden , too , was on edge as he watched election returns at home in Wilmington that initially showed a much closer race than pre-election polls had suggested .
But he became increasingly confident as the vote counting stretched into the weekend .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife enjoying an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon when the excited screams of his grandchildren from inside the house confirmed his victory .
In the end , the president-elect earned more than 74 million votes , setting a record and besting Trump by more than 4 million votes nationally .
He won by flipping states Trump previously carried in the Midwest and the Southwest and he was even narrowly ahead in Georgia , a Deep South state no Democrat had claimed in nearly three decades .
Trump pledged to fight the results , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But his inner circle was in disarray as news emerged that his chief of staff had been infected with the coronavirus .
Biden was committed as ever to his health experts ’ recommendations even in victory .
He addressed the nation Saturday night from an outdoor stage in a Wilmington parking lot facing supporters gathered in their cars for a drive-in celebration .
Biden walked on stage for the first time as president-elect wearing a mask .
“ Our work begins with getting COVID under control , ” he said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only by the example of our power , but by the power of our example.
” Peoples reported from New York , Miller reported from Washington and Kinnard from Columbia , South Carolina .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin , Brian Slodysko , Jonathan Lemire and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report .

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden was fresh off winning the Michigan primary and effectively capturing the Democratic presidential nomination, a prize he’d sought for the better part of three decades. Instead of plotting a strategy to build momentum, he was contemplating an abrupt halt.
He gathered his senior team in a conference room on the 19th floor of his campaign’s Philadelphia headquarters, the type of in-person meeting that would soon be deemed a public health risk. A former surgeon general and Food and Drug Administration commissioner joined on speakerphone.
As the coronavirus began to explode across the United States that March, Biden asked a question that would ultimately guide the campaign’s thinking for months: “What should I be modeling?”
The health experts recommended the 77-year-old Biden step away from campaigning as soon as possible, both for his safety and that of staff and supporters. Biden agreed. He decided that he and every staff member would work from home starting that weekend. All field offices would be closed.
He wouldn’t return to in-person campaigning for 174 days.
It was a decision without precedent in modern American politics. Barack Obama and John McCain returned to Washington in the final weeks of the 2008 campaign to respond to that year’s financial collapse, but only briefly. In an era when voters are accustomed to seeing their presidential candidates constantly, the idea of a complete withdrawal was unthinkable.
That was especially true for Biden, whose tactile approach to politics is legendary.
“It was a hard call,” said Jake Sullivan, a senior Biden adviser. “If there’s no pandemic, he gets a chance to get out and do what he does, which is retail campaigning, meeting people where they are, having the opportunity to sit with folks and speak to crowds and walk down the street. That’s what he would have preferred, obviously.”
For Biden, who has been elected the 46th president of the United States, perhaps no decision was more consequential to his victory, making it possible to flip states such as Arizona and Wisconsin, where coronavirus infections and hospitalizations spiked the week of the election. Still, the cautious approach prompted ridicule from President Donald Trump, who constantly teased Biden for “hiding in his basement” and returned to large in-person events much sooner than his rival, and with far fewer precautions.
Some Democrats also worried. Several state party chairs and down-ballot candidates privately urged the campaign to resume in-person events and canvassing. Texas Democratic Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa warned that Latino turnout could suffer. The lack of personal outreach has been blamed for contributing to Biden’s poor showing with Latinos in Florida, a battleground that Trump carried.
But Biden refused to change course, defining himself early on as a responsible foil to Trump, someone who could make difficult choices and serve as something of a role model to a country facing a historic set of crises.
It was a theme Biden would return to repeatedly in the months ahead as millions of people lost their jobs, the largest protest movement since the civil rights era bloomed in response to police killings of Black people, and Trump threatened central elements of American democracy by refusing to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost.
This account of Biden’s rise to the presidency is based on interviews with more than a dozen people who hold senior positions in the Biden and Trump campaigns along with strategists and donors in each party. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the turbulent campaign with candor.
They all agree on one thing: The coronavirus fundamentally reshaped the race.
In the early hours of Friday, Oct. 2, a senior official at the Republican National Committee texted a colleague with a dire message about the fate of Trump’s campaign: It was hopeless.
The president had just announced that he and his wife, Melania, had tested positive for the coronavirus, joining the 7 million Americans already infected. By the end of the day, Trump would be taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Marine One, the short helicopter ride over the Washington skyline captured on live television.
Trump’s illness presented serious medical concerns and raised alarm about the stability of the U.S. government. At 74, Trump was at a higher risk of serious complications from the virus. He refused to temporarily cede power to Vice President Mike Pence as he recovered.
“I talked to him that night. I talked to him the whole hospitalization,” said GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of Trump’s closest allies in Washington. “Friday night, he wasn’t feeling good.”
Trump’s infection was both a stunning twist and entirely predictable. He’d been cavalier about the virus for months, painting Democrats as reactionaries using the pandemic to take away individual rights. He mocked mask-wearing recommendations from scientists and returned to his trademark rallies, packing thousands of mostly unmasked supporters together, sometimes over the objection of local health officials.
He held large-scale events on the South Lawn of the White House, including the introduction of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett less than a week before his diagnosis.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was that Trump hadn’t contracted the virus sooner.
After three nights in the hospital, Trump, who was still infectious, staged a dramatic return to the White House. Just in time for the evening newscasts on the major networks, the former reality television star climbed the South Portico steps, turned to the cameras and removed his mask to declare “I feel good.” He entered the White House, where aides were visible milling about the Blue Room, without wearing a face covering.
The move, less than a month before Election Day, was designed to show a president in control. It also threatened his relationship with the official wing of his party. On Capitol Hill, Republicans maintained their public support of Trump, eager to avoid enraged tweets that could threaten their political futures.
But at the RNC, frustration was building that Trump was missing obvious opportunities.
Party officials believed Trump could have been on track to win as much as 60% of the vote had he taken a more empathetic approach to the pandemic. Instead, he adopted a combative and dismissive attitude toward the science that guided most of his decisions in the election’s final weeks.
The party questioned Trump’s spending and messaging. The campaign spent untold millions on aggressive ads resembling WWE commercials blanketing TV, but none of them moved the needle. The ads were in many instances approved by Trump personally and aired on stations in Washington, targeted to an audience of one — the president — in a heavily Democratic city.
By early October, the RNC had had enough of the Trump campaign’s scattered message and decided to produce its own advertisements offering a more sober message on health care. The message tested better than anything the Trump campaign had done previously.
Despite their public confidence, Trump’s own staff seemed increasingly aware of the impending loss. In the final weeks of the campaign, White House staff offices began rotating in aides who had not yet been on Air Force One or not as frequently as others, to give them that experience while they still had the chance.
Trump himself was grappling with his fate in public.
“How the hell can we be tied?” he said at a rally in Carson City, Nevada.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders knew his White House ambitions were over. Biden assumed a commanding lead in the Democratic primary by late March and the pandemic dashed any hopes of a comeback — or even a spirited exchange of ideas that could last until the summer convention.
But before he exited the race, the progressive icon wanted significant policy concessions on health care and education.
Sanders knew that Biden wouldn’t agree to support “Medicare for All.” The former vice president had aggressively run against it during in the primary. But Sanders believed he could get Biden to agree to lower the age for Medicare eligibility.
Sanders wanted Biden to drop the age to 55 from the current 65. Senior staff from both sides hammered out a compromise, which was later sealed during a private conversation between Sanders and Biden. A few days after Sanders formally stepped aside, Biden announced that he supported lowering the Medicare age to 60.
“Based on the calls that the senator had with the vice president, I think there was confidence they were serious about trying to have common ground — that progressives would not only be involved in the electoral process but also governing,” said Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ chief adviser.
For many Democrats, the scars of Sanders’ 2016 primary battle against Hillary Clinton had never really healed. Some argued Sanders didn’t do enough to support Clinton, damaging her in the general election against Trump. Progressives countered that the party didn’t take Sanders seriously and worked to thwart him.
Biden’s Medicare concession was an important step in building trust between the wings of the party. The relationship was further solidified after Biden agreed to form several policy committees that featured high-profile figures from opposing factions.
Among the participants on Biden’s climate committee: former Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Sanders’ most vocal supporters. Biden didn’t issue the invitation to Ocasio-Cortez personally, but was fully on board with bringing her onto the panel.
She’d go on to become a consistent advocate for the 77-year-old establishment figure’s election, a stark contrast to the 2016 dynamics Clinton faced from the left flank.
Trump suddenly had an opportunity to divert attention from the pandemic.
A round of sometimes violent unrest exploded in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man, in August.
Some large cities contended with isolated instances of unrest during the summer as part of a broader movement against racial injustice and police violence toward Black Americans. But the events in Kenosha seemed different: The unrest was spreading to smaller cities and in a premier swing state, no less.
Trump had been roundly criticized after mostly peaceful protesters were forcibly removed from a street near the White House in June. But Kenosha fueled his call for “law and order,” the mantra championed by presidential candidates Richard Nixon and George Wallace in 1968.
Biden’s team worried that his consistent lead in critical Upper Midwest states could deteriorate if Trump’s appeal to the fears of white voters resonated. The focus on Kenosha peaked just as Trump hosted the Republican National Convention, drawing fairly positive reviews for delivering a program aimed at expanding his political coalition.
“It was a moment that could have gone sideways,” said Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield. “We made a strategic decision to take it head-on.”
On the very day he returned to campaigning after nearly six months at home, Biden delivered a fiery speech in Pennsylvania asking voters if they really believed they were safer under Trump’s leadership.
Biden highlighted the pandemic’s mounting death toll — more than 180,000 Americans at that time — and blamed Trump for causing the divisions that ignited the unrest in the first place.
“He can’t stop the violence because for years he’s fomented it,” Biden charged.
The direct attack on Trump’s “law and order” messaging was amplified by Democrats across the country who followed Biden’s lead. Within a matter of weeks, any momentum that Trump seemed to have coming out of his convention was forgotten.
“That was embarrassing for the country.”
Immediately after his first presidential debate against Trump, Biden shared his disgust about his opponent’s performance with family and senior staff in a hold room backstage where they dissected the most chaotic 90 minutes in modern presidential politics.
Biden long believed that the opening debate on Sept. 29 could be an opportunity for Trump to reshape the race, and Biden prepared accordingly. Biden and his team spent weeks getting ready.
No one was more meticulous than senior adviser Bob Bauer, a White House counsel under Obama who had played Sanders during Biden’s primary debate practice sessions and agreed to embrace the role of Trump.
Like a football coach preparing for a Super Bowl opponent, Bauer watched hundreds of hours of tape on Trump, studying every primary and debate performance from his 2016 campaign, and virtually every rally and news conference in the four years since.
By the time Bauer and Biden stood behind makeshift podiums for their first full 90-minute mock debate inside Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, Bauer had mastered the president’s style, his intonations, gestures and, perhaps most important, the specific attacks Trump was most likely to use and how he would deliver them.
Bauer was ruthless in the private sessions, leaning into deeply personal attacks about Biden’s family, his decision to step away from campaigning and the perception that he may not have the physical or mental strength to serve as president.
Yet no amount of preparation could truly prepare Biden for what he faced when the real moment came.
With more than 73 million people watching, a belligerent Trump badgered Biden and moderator Chris Wallace with a ceaseless flood of interruptions that rendered the high-profile debate almost unwatchable. Biden didn’t have any notable stumbles, but he lost his patience at times and slapped at Trump with unplanned insults.
“Will you shut up, man?” the Democrat said at one point.
The line would later inspire one of the campaign’s bestselling T-shirts.
In the hold room afterward, Biden gathered with his wife, his sister Valerie Biden Owens and a couple of senior aides. They believed Biden had clearly bested his opponent, but he was concerned that Trump had debased the debate process itself, something he considered a sacred institution in U.S. politics.
“It’s disappointing that the president of the United States would act like that on the debate stage,” Biden told them.
In the end, nothing Trump could say or do distracted voters from his fundamental inability to control the pandemic — or even take it seriously as the death toll surged past 232,000 Americans on the eve of the election.
As Biden stayed laser-focused on the health threat, Trump and his top lieutenants fought to convince Americans that the pandemic was almost over. Five days before Election Day, Donald Trump Jr. said on Fox News that coronavirus deaths had dropped to “almost nothing.”
That same day, the United States reported more than 90,000 new confirmed COVID-19 infections, another single-day record. The day after Election Day, more than 100,000 Americans tested positive for the first time.
Still, the president kept on mocking Biden’s cautiousness.
“When you’re president of the United States, you can’t lock yourself into a basement,” Trump told thousands of Pennsylvania supporters crammed into an outdoor venue, most without masks, the weekend before the election.
Despite the large crowds, people close to Trump were aware that his presidency was hanging by a thread.
The president boarded Air Force One in Miami to start his final day of travel seemingly in a bad mood. Holding a red MAGA hat, he offered a soft wave to reporters but didn’t do a customary wave for cameras at the top of the steps.
At the first of five events that day, he wasn’t showing much confidence when asked about Wisconsin, where coronavirus spiked to a new record high on Election Day: “I could lose it, I could win it,” Trump said.
Biden, too, was on edge as he watched election returns at home in Wilmington that initially showed a much closer race than pre-election polls had suggested. But he became increasingly confident as the vote counting stretched into the weekend.
He was sitting in his backyard with his wife enjoying an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon when the excited screams of his grandchildren from inside the house confirmed his victory.
In the end, the president-elect earned more than 74 million votes, setting a record and besting Trump by more than 4 million votes nationally. He won by flipping states Trump previously carried in the Midwest and the Southwest and he was even narrowly ahead in Georgia, a Deep South state no Democrat had claimed in nearly three decades.
Trump pledged to fight the results, making wild and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. But his inner circle was in disarray as news emerged that his chief of staff had been infected with the coronavirus.
Biden was committed as ever to his health experts’ recommendations even in victory. He addressed the nation Saturday night from an outdoor stage in a Wilmington parking lot facing supporters gathered in their cars for a drive-in celebration.
Biden walked on stage for the first time as president-elect wearing a mask.
“Our work begins with getting COVID under control,” he said. He later added: “We will lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.”
___
Peoples reported from New York, Miller reported from Washington and Kinnard from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Brian Slodysko, Jonathan Lemire and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--Trump To Hold Campaign-Style Rallies To Keep Sowing Doubt On Election Defeat With Bogus Fraud Claims

President Donald Trump is reportedly has another gambit in the works to magnify his unfounded accusations that the election , which he lost to Democratic challenger Joe Biden last week , was “ stolen ” from him via election fraud : Going back to holding his beloved rallies .
CNN , Axios , and NBC News report that Trump will be holding campaign-style rallies throughout the country in a few weeks as his legal team continues to fight the election results in court with unproven claims that the election had been plagued with voter fraud .
White House senior adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign senior adviser Jason Miller , and lawyer Rudy Giuliani made the push on the rallies , according to CNN .
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to TPM ’ s request for comment .
CNN Jake Tapper reported via Twitter on both the rallies and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly urging Trump to consider conceding the race .
Miller retweeted Tapper ’ s post and called it “ 100 % false , ” though it appeared his denial was directed at the Meadows aspect of the report , not necessarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth to this report whatsoever , ” the campaign adviser wrote .
“ CoS Meadows , Dave Bossie , Jared Kushner , Rudy , myself and everybody else are on the same page – we all work for @ realDonaldTrump and follow his lead , and there is no daylight between us.
” Later Miller retweeted conservative commentator Dan Bongino ’ s post declaring “ I ’ m down for a Trump RALLY .
”

President Donald Trump is reportedly has another gambit in the works to magnify his unfounded accusations that the election, which he lost to Democratic challenger Joe Biden last week, was “stolen” from him via election fraud: Going back to holding his beloved rallies.
CNN, Axios, and NBC News report that Trump will be holding campaign-style rallies throughout the country in a few weeks as his legal team continues to fight the election results in court with unproven claims that the election had been plagued with voter fraud.
White House senior adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller, and lawyer Rudy Giuliani made the push on the rallies, according to CNN.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.
CNN Jake Tapper reported via Twitter on both the rallies and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly urging Trump to consider conceding the race.
Miller retweeted Tapper’s post and called it “100% false,” though it appeared his denial was directed at the Meadows aspect of the report, not necessarily the rallies.
“There is no truth to this report whatsoever,” the campaign adviser wrote. “CoS Meadows, Dave Bossie, Jared Kushner, Rudy, myself and everybody else are on the same page – we all work for @realDonaldTrump and follow his lead, and there is no daylight between us.”
Later Miller retweeted conservative commentator Dan Bongino’s post declaring “I’m down for a Trump RALLY.”
“Who’s with me?” Bongino asked.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-10--As Trump Whips Up Hysteria, Barr Tells DOJ It Can Probe Election Fraud Claims

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Attorney General William Barr has authorized federal prosecutors across the U.S. to pursue “ substantial allegations ” of voting irregularities , if they exist , before the 2020 presidential election is certified , despite little evidence of fraud .
Barr ’ s action comes days after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump and raises the prospect that Trump will use the Justice Department to try to challenge the outcome .
It gives prosecutors the ability to go around longstanding Justice Department policy that normally would prohibit such overt actions before the election is certified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is instead claiming without evidence that there has been a widespread , multi-state conspiracy by Democrats to skew the vote tally in Biden ’ s favor .
Biden holds a sizable lead in multiple battleground states and there has been no indication of enough improperly counted or illegally cast votes that would shift the outcome .
In fact , election officials from both political parties have publicly stated the election went well , though there have been minor issues that are typical in elections , including voting machines breaking and ballots that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memo to U.S. attorneys , obtained by The Associated Press , Barr wrote that investigations “ may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that , if true , could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State.
” He said any allegations that “ clearly not impact the outcome of a federal election ” should be delayed until after those elections are certified and prosecutors should likely open so-called preliminary inquiries , which would allow investigators and prosecutors to see if there is evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigative measures .
Barr does not identify any specific instances of purported fraud in the memo .
“ While it is imperative that credible allegations be addressed in a timely and effective manner , it is equally imperative that Department personnel exercise appropriate caution and maintain the Department ’ s absolute commitment to fairness , neutrality and non-partisanship , ” Barr wrote .
States have until Dec. 8 to resolve election disputes , including recounts and court contests over the results .
Members of the Electoral College meet Dec. 14 to finalize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of President Donald Trump , helped broadcast Trump ’ s claims of voter fraud before the election , attacking mail-in voting as prone to undue influence and coercion , despite multiple studies debunking the notion of pervasive voter fraud in general and in the vote-by-mail process .
Generally , Justice Department policy is “ not to conduct overt investigations , including interviews with individual voters , until after the outcome of the election allegedly affected by the fraud is certified.
” But Barr argues in the memo that concerns such acts could inadvertently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has concluded and that , in some cases , investigations could not be delayed until the election is certified .
A Justice Department official said Barr had not been asked by Trump , anyone else at the White House or any lawmakers to issue the memo .
The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity .
Barr was in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s office on Capitol Hill on Monday afternoon and refused to answer questions from reporters when he left .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind Trump after a period of post-election silence .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr has authorized federal prosecutors across the U.S. to pursue “substantial allegations” of voting irregularities, if they exist, before the 2020 presidential election is certified, despite little evidence of fraud.
Barr’s action comes days after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump and raises the prospect that Trump will use the Justice Department to try to challenge the outcome. It gives prosecutors the ability to go around longstanding Justice Department policy that normally would prohibit such overt actions before the election is certified.
Trump has not conceded the election and is instead claiming without evidence that there has been a widespread, multi-state conspiracy by Democrats to skew the vote tally in Biden’s favor.
Biden holds a sizable lead in multiple battleground states and there has been no indication of enough improperly counted or illegally cast votes that would shift the outcome. In fact, election officials from both political parties have publicly stated the election went well, though there have been minor issues that are typical in elections, including voting machines breaking and ballots that were miscast and lost.
In a memo to U.S. attorneys, obtained by The Associated Press, Barr wrote that investigations “may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State.”
He said any allegations that “clearly not impact the outcome of a federal election” should be delayed until after those elections are certified and prosecutors should likely open so-called preliminary inquiries, which would allow investigators and prosecutors to see if there is evidence that would allow them to take further investigative measures.
Barr does not identify any specific instances of purported fraud in the memo.
“While it is imperative that credible allegations be addressed in a timely and effective manner, it is equally imperative that Department personnel exercise appropriate caution and maintain the Department’s absolute commitment to fairness, neutrality and non-partisanship,” Barr wrote.
States have until Dec. 8 to resolve election disputes, including recounts and court contests over the results. Members of the Electoral College meet Dec. 14 to finalize the outcome.
Barr, a loyal ally of President Donald Trump, helped broadcast Trump’s claims of voter fraud before the election, attacking mail-in voting as prone to undue influence and coercion, despite multiple studies debunking the notion of pervasive voter fraud in general and in the vote-by-mail process.
Generally, Justice Department policy is “not to conduct overt investigations, including interviews with individual voters, until after the outcome of the election allegedly affected by the fraud is certified.”
But Barr argues in the memo that concerns such acts could inadvertently impact an election are minimized once voting has concluded and that, in some cases, investigations could not be delayed until the election is certified.
A Justice Department official said Barr had not been asked by Trump, anyone else at the White House or any lawmakers to issue the memo. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Barr was in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office on Capitol Hill on Monday afternoon and refused to answer questions from reporters when he left. Earlier Monday, McConnell threw his support behind Trump after a period of post-election silence.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-10--Trump Loyalist In Top Intel Post Is Named NSA General Counsel After Pressure From WH

Michael Ellis , a Trump loyalist who was named senior director for intelligence on the National Security Council earlier this year , has been tapped by the Pentagon general counsel to be the top lawyer at the National Security Agency , according to the Washington Post on Monday .
Officials told the Post that Ellis ’ appointment as the top lawyer at the NSA , which has not been announced , was made Monday .
According to the Post , a person familiar with the matter said the appointment was made under pressure from the White House .
Ellis was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the NSC earlier this year after he was a lawyer for the agency .
Prior to his duties at the NSC , Ellis served as chief counsel to Trump ally Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-CA ) , then-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee .
Ellis has been at the White House since early 2017 .
In March 2017 , Ellis came under scrutiny for his involvement in efforts by Nunes to bolster unfounded claims that the Obama administration had spied on Trump Tower through the White House giving him access to intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ellis reportedly assisted Nunes in accessing the documents late at night .
Additionally , Ellis was wrapped up in the Ukraine scandal that was an attempt to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
Last year , then-NSC official , Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman — who was fired by Trump earlier this year — testified to the House Intelligence Committee that Ellis first proposed moving the record of Trump ’ s phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky into the NSC ’ s top-secret codeword system —a highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of officials can access .

Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist who was named senior director for intelligence on the National Security Council earlier this year, has been tapped by the Pentagon general counsel to be the top lawyer at the National Security Agency, according to the Washington Post on Monday.
Officials told the Post that Ellis’ appointment as the top lawyer at the NSA, which has not been announced, was made Monday. According to the Post, a person familiar with the matter said the appointment was made under pressure from the White House.
Ellis was installed as the senior director for intelligence at the NSC earlier this year after he was a lawyer for the agency. Prior to his duties at the NSC, Ellis served as chief counsel to Trump ally Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), then-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
Ellis has been at the White House since early 2017. In March 2017, Ellis came under scrutiny for his involvement in efforts by Nunes to bolster unfounded claims that the Obama administration had spied on Trump Tower through the White House giving him access to intelligence files.
As a White House official, Ellis reportedly assisted Nunes in accessing the documents late at night.
Additionally, Ellis was wrapped up in the Ukraine scandal that was an attempt to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Last year, then-NSC official, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman — who was fired by Trump earlier this year — testified to the House Intelligence Committee that Ellis first proposed moving the record of Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky into the NSC’s top-secret codeword system —a highly classified server that only a small group of officials can access.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--READ: Trump Camp Recycles Debunked Claims In Hail Mary Bid To Block Biden Win In PA

The Trump campaign sued on Monday to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden ’ s win in Pennsylvania , rehashing debunked claims casting aspersions on the integrity of the election .
Unlike the other lawsuits before it , Trump is aiming big in this one : he ’ s asked a judge to prevent state officials from certifying the results of last week ’ s election , in which Biden currently leads the state by a margin of 45,000 votes .
If a judge denies that request , Trump asked that the state certify the winner , but without ballots that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump is also asking that a judge throw out all ballots cast by voters who were able to cure ballots with supposed errors .
It ’ s a massive request filed in federal court in Harrisburg .
While unlikely to succeed , it takes aim at the results in Pennsylvania , in an attempt to invalidate large classes of freely and fairly cast votes .
The losing campaign sued Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar , and the boards of elections of seven counties in Pennsylvania , all of which Biden won last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state be barred from certifying the results .
Lawyers for the Trump campaign reiterate several narratives about the election that have emerged over the past week , including false allegations that the campaign ’ s observers were prevented from watching .
Some GOP observers themselves discredited that idea , but the lawsuit now claims that “ Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties alone received and processed 682,479 mail-in and absentee ballots without review by the political parties and candidates.
” “ These are unprecedented numbers in Pennsylvania ’ s elections history , ” the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has refused to concede the results of the election , and as senior Republican leaders play along with the charade to preserve the President ’ s ego , damaged by the loss , and to stoke bogus concerns around voter fraud .
So , with a few exceptions , the Trump campaign has begun to throw its energy behind last-ditch efforts to say that the election was stolen and that the result must be overturned .
The suit also claims that the seven counties illegally gave voters the opportunity to cure ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support any of these assertions which , the lawsuit says , threaten “ the integrity of the 2020 Presidential election .
”

The Trump campaign sued on Monday to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden’s win in Pennsylvania, rehashing debunked claims casting aspersions on the integrity of the election.
Unlike the other lawsuits before it, Trump is aiming big in this one: he’s asked a judge to prevent state officials from certifying the results of last week’s election, in which Biden currently leads the state by a margin of 45,000 votes.
If a judge denies that request, Trump asked that the state certify the winner, but without ballots that were cast where GOP observers were not present. Trump is also asking that a judge throw out all ballots cast by voters who were able to cure ballots with supposed errors.
It’s a massive request filed in federal court in Harrisburg. While unlikely to succeed, it takes aim at the results in Pennsylvania, in an attempt to invalidate large classes of freely and fairly cast votes.
The losing campaign sued Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, and the boards of elections of seven counties in Pennsylvania, all of which Biden won last week, but asks that the entire state be barred from certifying the results.
Lawyers for the Trump campaign reiterate several narratives about the election that have emerged over the past week, including false allegations that the campaign’s observers were prevented from watching. Some GOP observers themselves discredited that idea, but the lawsuit now claims that “Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties alone received and processed 682,479 mail-in and absentee ballots without review by the political parties and candidates.”
“These are unprecedented numbers in Pennsylvania’s elections history,” the case reads.
The suit comes after President Trump has refused to concede the results of the election, and as senior Republican leaders play along with the charade to preserve the President’s ego, damaged by the loss, and to stoke bogus concerns around voter fraud.
So, with a few exceptions, the Trump campaign has begun to throw its energy behind last-ditch efforts to say that the election was stolen and that the result must be overturned.
The suit also claims that the seven counties illegally gave voters the opportunity to cure ballots with errors
There’s no evidence to support any of these assertions which, the lawsuit says, threaten “the integrity of the 2020 Presidential election.”
Kate Riga contributed to this report.
Read the lawsuit here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--Even Fox News Isn’t Buying Trumpworld’s Bogus Voter Fraud Claims

Fox News abruptly cut away from the Trump campaign ’ s press conference led by White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , which was another effort to wage more of its bogus election fraud claims , on Monday afternoon .
Claiming to speak in a “ personal capacity ” for the Trump campaign , the White House official began her remarks by attacking Democrats by baselessly claiming that the party opposed an “ honest election ” amid the President ’ s refusal to concede his loss to President-elect Joe Biden .
As soon as McEnany said that the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ every legal vote to be counted , ” Fox News cut out once it became clear that the White House press secretary was launching into a baseless rant on “ illegal voting.
” “ Whoa , whoa , whoa , I just think we have to be very clear : she ’ s charging the other side is welcoming fraud and welcoming illegal voting , ” Cavuto said .
“ Unless she has more details to back that up , I can ’ t in good countenance continue showing this.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that maybe they do have something back that up , ” but fired back at McEnany ’ s “ explosive charge to make at the other side is effectively rigging and cheating.
” “ If she does bring proof of that , we will take you back .
So far , she had started saying that , right at the outset , ‘ welcoming fraud , welcoming illegal voting , ' ” Cavuto said , before exasperatedly adding “ not so fast.
” TPM reached out to Fox News for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his on-and-off favorite network hit a crescendo last week on election night , when Fox News was the first network to project that Biden had won Arizona with 73 percent of the projected vote counted by 11:20 p.m .
ET .
According to the Washington Post , Fox News ’ projection of Biden taking Arizona brought Trump campaign ’ s election night party to a halt .
A senior administration official told the Post that Trump angrily demanded that campaign officials “ get that result changed.
” Watch the moment Fox News cut @ @ @

Fox News abruptly cut away from the Trump campaign’s press conference led by White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, which was another effort to wage more of its bogus election fraud claims, on Monday afternoon.
Claiming to speak in a “personal capacity” for the Trump campaign, the White House official began her remarks by attacking Democrats by baselessly claiming that the party opposed an “honest election” amid the President’s refusal to concede his loss to President-elect Joe Biden.
As soon as McEnany said that the Trump campaign wants “maximum transparency” by demanding that “every legal vote to be counted,” Fox News cut out once it became clear that the White House press secretary was launching into a baseless rant on “illegal voting.”
Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto clearly wasn’t buying into McEnany boosting Trumpworld’s baseless election fraud claims.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, I just think we have to be very clear: she’s charging the other side is welcoming fraud and welcoming illegal voting,” Cavuto said. “Unless she has more details to back that up, I can’t in good countenance continue showing this.”
Cavuto reiterated that he wants to “make sure that maybe they do have something back that up,” but fired back at McEnany’s “explosive charge to make at the other side is effectively rigging and cheating.”
“If she does bring proof of that, we will take you back. So far, she had started saying that, right at the outset, ‘welcoming fraud, welcoming illegal voting,'” Cavuto said, before exasperatedly adding “not so fast.”
TPM reached out to Fox News for comment.
The President’s relationship with his on-and-off favorite network hit a crescendo last week on election night, when Fox News was the first network to project that Biden had won Arizona with 73 percent of the projected vote counted by 11:20 p.m. ET. According to the Washington Post, Fox News’ projection of Biden taking Arizona brought Trump campaign’s election night party to a halt.
A senior administration official told the Post that Trump angrily demanded that campaign officials “get that result changed.”
Watch the moment Fox News cut away below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Slams Criticism From GOP Senators

Georgia ’ s top elections official , a Republican , dismissed a call to resign from Sens .
Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) and David Perdue ( R-GA ) on Monday , telling them in no uncertain terms to focus on their own upcoming races for reelection .
“ Earlier today Senators Loeffler and Perdue called for my resignation , ” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ( R ) said at the top of a lengthy statement .
“ Let me start by saying that is not going to happen.
” What followed was an aggressive response to the paragraph-long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators are up for reelection in two Jan. 5 runoff contests that could determine the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate .
The senators said “ the management of Georgia elections has become an embarrassment for our state.
” They accused Raffensperger of “ failures ” but offered no specifics , other than unexplained concerns about “ mismanagement and lack of transparency.
” Raffensperger , whose office has held regular press conferences and released information daily on the ballot-counting process , wasn ’ t having it .
“ I know emotions are running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politics are involved in everything right now .
If I was Senator Perdue , I ’ d be irritated I was in a runoff .
And both Senators and I are all unhappy with the potential outcome for our President.
” That appeared to be a reference to the narrow margin by which Perdue failed to win his race : The Republican has received 49.7 % of the vote in his race against Democrat Jon Ossoff with 99 % of expected ballots tallied , according to the Associated Press .
Because that falls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid a runoff , the pair will compete in a runoff election in January .
Loeffler also failed to clear the 50 % threshold and will face off against Democrat Raphael Warnock in January .
The results of the races could determine the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate .
Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by more than 11,000 votes in the state , but no major networks have called the state yet for either candidate .
Raffensperger was hardly non-partisan in his statement : He referred to Fulton County , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ongoing , as “ one of our longtime problem Democrat-run counties.
” Separately , the secretary said he was “ sure ” there had been illegal voting , though he offered no evidence to back up the claim .
“ Was there illegal voting ?
I am sure there was , ” Raffensperger wrote .
“ And my office is investigating all of it.
” “ Does it rise to the numbers or margin necessary to change the outcome to where President Trump is given Georgia ’ s electoral votes ?
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Republican closed his remarks with a jab at Loeffler and Perdue .
“ My job is to follow Georgia law and see to it that all legal votes , and no illegal votes , are counted properly and accurately , ” he wrote .
“ As Secretary of State , that is my duty , and I will continue to do my duty .
As a Republican , I am concerned about Republicans keeping the U.S. Senate .
I recommend that Senators Loeffler and Perdue start focusing on that .
”

Georgia’s top elections official, a Republican, dismissed a call to resign from Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) on Monday, telling them in no uncertain terms to focus on their own upcoming races for reelection.
“Earlier today Senators Loeffler and Perdue called for my resignation,” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) said at the top of a lengthy statement. “Let me start by saying that is not going to happen.”
What followed was an aggressive response to the paragraph-long criticism from the Georgia Republicans. Both senators are up for reelection in two Jan. 5 runoff contests that could determine the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate.
The senators said “the management of Georgia elections has become an embarrassment for our state.” They accused Raffensperger of “failures” but offered no specifics, other than unexplained concerns about “mismanagement and lack of transparency.”
Raffensperger, whose office has held regular press conferences and released information daily on the ballot-counting process, wasn’t having it.
“I know emotions are running high,” he said. “Politics are involved in everything right now. If I was Senator Perdue, I’d be irritated I was in a runoff. And both Senators and I are all unhappy with the potential outcome for our President.”
That appeared to be a reference to the narrow margin by which Perdue failed to win his race: The Republican has received 49.7% of the vote in his race against Democrat Jon Ossoff with 99% of expected ballots tallied, according to the Associated Press. Because that falls just shy of the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff, the pair will compete in a runoff election in January. Loeffler also failed to clear the 50% threshold and will face off against Democrat Raphael Warnock in January. The results of the races could determine the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate.
Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by more than 11,000 votes in the state, but no major networks have called the state yet for either candidate.
Raffensperger was hardly non-partisan in his statement: He referred to Fulton County, where an investigation into a minor reporting error is ongoing, as “one of our longtime problem Democrat-run counties.”
Separately, the secretary said he was “sure” there had been illegal voting, though he offered no evidence to back up the claim.
“Was there illegal voting? I am sure there was,” Raffensperger wrote. “And my office is investigating all of it.”
“Does it rise to the numbers or margin necessary to change the outcome to where President Trump is given Georgia’s electoral votes? That is unlikely,” he added.
The Republican closed his remarks with a jab at Loeffler and Perdue.
“My job is to follow Georgia law and see to it that all legal votes, and no illegal votes, are counted properly and accurately,” he wrote. “As Secretary of State, that is my duty, and I will continue to do my duty. As a Republican, I am concerned about Republicans keeping the U.S. Senate. I recommend that Senators Loeffler and Perdue start focusing on that.”
Tierney Sneed contributed reporting.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--Trump Camp Adviser Leading Its Bogus Election Fraud Effort Contracts COVID-19

David Bossie , who was recently appointed by the Trump campaign to oversee its legal efforts as it wages baseless claims of election fraud , has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 .
Bloomberg News was first to report Bossie ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis .
Bossie reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday on the White House campus .
His COVID-19 diagnosis comes on the heels of White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the past week .
Bossie was tapped by the Trump campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meadows tested positive on Wednesday .
Bossie is the president of the conservative nonprofit Citizens United and previously served as a deputy campaign manager on Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
Like Carson and Meadows , Bossie is among the Trumpworld figures who contracted COVID-19 after campaign-related events .
Fellow Trump campaign adviser , Corey Lewandowski , tweeted a photo last week showing that Bossie traveled to a campaign rally in Kenosha , Wisconsin with others in Trump ’ s orbit .
The photo shows Bossie seated at a table with Lewandowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Preibus , first daughter Tiffany Trump and her boyfriend Michael Boulos .
TPM reached out to the Trump campaign for comment .

David Bossie, who was recently appointed by the Trump campaign to oversee its legal efforts as it wages baseless claims of election fraud, has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
Bloomberg News was first to report Bossie’s COVID-19 diagnosis.
Bossie reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday on the White House campus. His COVID-19 diagnosis comes on the heels of White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the past week.
Bossie was tapped by the Trump campaign to assist with its post-election legal strategy after Meadows tested positive on Wednesday.
Bossie is the president of the conservative nonprofit Citizens United and previously served as a deputy campaign manager on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Like Carson and Meadows, Bossie is among the Trumpworld figures who contracted COVID-19 after campaign-related events.
Fellow Trump campaign adviser, Corey Lewandowski, tweeted a photo last week showing that Bossie traveled to a campaign rally in Kenosha, Wisconsin with others in Trump’s orbit. The photo shows Bossie seated at a table with Lewandowski, former Republican National Committee Chair Reince Preibus, first daughter Tiffany Trump and her boyfriend Michael Boulos.
TPM reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--Does Al Gross Actually Have A Chance In The Alaska Senate Race?

Squinting into the sun and clad in a puffy orange Patagonia jacket , Dr. Al Gross made his case .
“ We woke up this morning and saw that there is still well over 40 percent of the votes still to be counted here in Alaska , ” he said in a video posted Wednesday .
“ We knew from the beginning that this race was going to be very close , so we know that those 40 percent are very strong supporters of our race .
Every vote will be counted and at the end of the day we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Gross , an independent who was endorsed by the DNC , is trying to unseat incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan ( R-AK ) in one of the most slow-moving races of the cycle .
Not a whole lot has changed since he tweeted that video .
Election workers won ’ t start counting the remaining early and mail-in ballots until Tuesday .
According to data from the state division of elections , there are currently 157,209 votes to be counted , though that total includes full and partial rejects which will be sorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flux because any absentee ballot postmarked by Election Day and received by Thursday the 13th will be counted .
The deadline for receiving absentee ballots from overseas will push that timeline even later , according to Gail Fenumiai , the state ’ s elections director .
“ We will start counting tomorrow and continue through November 18 which is the last day , by state law , we can receive ballots which were postmarked outside the U.S. , ” she told TPM .
That means it could be another week until Alaska ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But from this vantage point , with ballots still incoming , Gross ’ calculus is tricky .
He currently trails Sullivan by 57,616 votes , according to the Associated Press ’ tally .
About 193,000 Election Day votes and some early votes have already been counted .
To make up his deficit , Gross will have to win the outstanding early and absentee votes , plus ballots still coming in , by extremely large margins — Nat Herz , an Alaska Public Radio reporter , estimated that Gross will have to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s a very steep climb in a solid red state , even if the ballots do tilt Democratic , a dynamic seen elsewhere this election cycle .
“ It is possible but doubtful in my view , ” Forrest Nabors , chair of the political science department at the University of Alaska Anchorage , told TPM .
“ My guess is that the vote might tilt a little more towards Al Gross , but not enough to wipe out Sullivan ’ s substantial lead , with around 60 percent counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its part , is projecting confidence .
“ You know , every ballot is going to be counted , and we ’ re confident , very confident , ” Sullivan said Tuesday night .
“ If you look at the numbers , even if you look at the numbers not only tonight , but the number of absentees , that we ’ re going to have not just a victory — a resounding victory.
” The state ’ s generous deadlines for accepting ballots and extensive security processes are to blame for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated that being right is more important than being fast .
The race has garnered more attention as Democrats were stunned Tuesday by Senate losses in North Carolina and Maine , ultimately flipping only two of their four top targets ( Colorado and Arizona ) .
With Sen. Doug Jones ’ ( D-AL ) loss , that leaves Democrats with a 48-seat minority headed into the next term .
Accordingly , heads have swiveled to the Georgia runoff elections in January .
If Democrats could pick up both , they ’ d have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris as the tie-breaking vote .
While a win in Alaska would take some of the pressure off of those races , Georgia seems like the most likely path to Democrats ’ salvation at present , barring an unexpectedly forceful blue wave ( or glacier ) in the outstanding Alaska vote .

Squinting into the sun and clad in a puffy orange Patagonia jacket, Dr. Al Gross made his case.
“We woke up this morning and saw that there is still well over 40 percent of the votes still to be counted here in Alaska,” he said in a video posted Wednesday. “We knew from the beginning that this race was going to be very close, so we know that those 40 percent are very strong supporters of our race. Every vote will be counted and at the end of the day we still believe we are going to win.”
Gross, an independent who was endorsed by the DNC, is trying to unseat incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in one of the most slow-moving races of the cycle.
Not a whole lot has changed since he tweeted that video. Election workers won’t start counting the remaining early and mail-in ballots until Tuesday. According to data from the state division of elections, there are currently 157,209 votes to be counted, though that total includes full and partial rejects which will be sorted out.
That number is further in flux because any absentee ballot postmarked by Election Day and received by Thursday the 13th will be counted. The deadline for receiving absentee ballots from overseas will push that timeline even later, according to Gail Fenumiai, the state’s elections director.
“We will start counting tomorrow and continue through November 18 which is the last day, by state law, we can receive ballots which were postmarked outside the U.S.,” she told TPM.
That means it could be another week until Alaska’s races can be called with certainty.
But from this vantage point, with ballots still incoming, Gross’ calculus is tricky. He currently trails Sullivan by 57,616 votes, according to the Associated Press’ tally. About 193,000 Election Day votes and some early votes have already been counted.
To make up his deficit, Gross will have to win the outstanding early and absentee votes, plus ballots still coming in, by extremely large margins — Nat Herz, an Alaska Public Radio reporter, estimated that Gross will have to win the remaining vote by around 80 percent. That’s a very steep climb in a solid red state, even if the ballots do tilt Democratic, a dynamic seen elsewhere this election cycle.
“It is possible but doubtful in my view,” Forrest Nabors, chair of the political science department at the University of Alaska Anchorage, told TPM. “My guess is that the vote might tilt a little more towards Al Gross, but not enough to wipe out Sullivan’s substantial lead, with around 60 percent counted now.”
The Sullivan camp, for its part, is projecting confidence.
“You know, every ballot is going to be counted, and we’re confident, very confident,” Sullivan said Tuesday night. “If you look at the numbers, even if you look at the numbers not only tonight, but the number of absentees, that we’re going to have not just a victory — a resounding victory.”
The state’s generous deadlines for accepting ballots and extensive security processes are to blame for the drawn-out suspense, though Fenumiai has unapologetically stated that being right is more important than being fast.
The race has garnered more attention as Democrats were stunned Tuesday by Senate losses in North Carolina and Maine, ultimately flipping only two of their four top targets (Colorado and Arizona). With Sen. Doug Jones’ (D-AL) loss, that leaves Democrats with a 48-seat minority headed into the next term.
Accordingly, heads have swiveled to the Georgia runoff elections in January. If Democrats could pick up both, they’d have 50 seats, plus Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote.
While a win in Alaska would take some of the pressure off of those races, Georgia seems like the most likely path to Democrats’ salvation at present, barring an unexpectedly forceful blue wave (or glacier) in the outstanding Alaska vote.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--McConnell Backs Trump’s Refusal To Concede Despite Decisive Election Result

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) on Monday threw his support behind President Donald Trump ’ s undemocratic rejection of the election results that led to his defeat at the hands of President-elect Joe Biden .
Amid the President ’ s evidence-free claims about “ illegal ” votes and his slew of lawsuits aimed at bolstering those accusations , McConnell backed Trump ’ s weaponization of the courts during a speech on the Senate floor .
Trump has “ has every right to look into allegations and to request recounts under the law , ” McConnell argued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of a magnitude that would effect the outcome , then every single American should want them to be brought to light , ” he said .
“ And if Democrats feel confident they have not occurred , they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny.
” The Senate leader ’ s final jab struck a note of irony given how Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) pressed him on a similar point when McConnell refused to allow witnesses or evidence of Trump ’ s Ukraine scandal to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Monday threw his support behind President Donald Trump’s undemocratic rejection of the election results that led to his defeat at the hands of President-elect Joe Biden.
Amid the President’s evidence-free claims about “illegal” votes and his slew of lawsuits aimed at bolstering those accusations, McConnell backed Trump’s weaponization of the courts during a speech on the Senate floor.
Trump has “every right to look into allegations and to request recounts under the law,” McConnell argued.
“If any major irregularities occurred this time of a magnitude that would effect the outcome, then every single American should want them to be brought to light,” he said. “And if Democrats feel confident they have not occurred, they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny.”
The Senate leader’s final jab struck a note of irony given how Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pressed him on a similar point when McConnell refused to allow witnesses or evidence of Trump’s Ukraine scandal to be presented at the impeachment trial earlier this year.
Watch McConnell below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--Trump Lackeys Defiantly Spurn Concession While POTUS Privately Mulls 2024 Run

President Donald Trump and his flunkies have loudly rejected the notion of conceding the presidential race to President-elect Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ s reported private discussions belie Trumpland ’ s public bluster .
According to Axios and @ @ @ @ @ Trump has been considering the possibility of running again in the next election , signaling @ @ @ @ @ victory .
In the public eye , however , the President has forcefully refused to @ @ @ @ @ lies about mass election fraud while falsely claiming he won the race with “ legal @ @ @ @ @ have fallen faithfully in line with his corrupt efforts to delegitimize the election results .
@ @ @ @ @ kept up the sideshow on Monday morning when Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo asked if @ @ @ @ @ anytime soon .
“ That word is not even in our vocabulary right now , @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re going to go and pursue all these legal means , all the @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump and his flunkies have loudly rejected the notion of conceding the presidential race to President-elect Joe Biden, but the President’s reported private discussions belie Trumpland’s public bluster.
According to Axios and the New York Times, Trump has been considering the possibility of running again in the next election, signaling acceptance of Biden’s victory.
In the public eye, however, the President has forcefully refused to admit defeat and repeatedly peddled lies about mass election fraud while falsely claiming he won the race with “legal” votes. His allies have fallen faithfully in line with his corrupt efforts to delegitimize the election results.
Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller kept up the sideshow on Monday morning when Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo asked if Trump was planning to concede anytime soon.
“That word is not even in our vocabulary right now,” Miller replied. “We’re going to go and pursue all these legal means, all the recount methods.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-09--Ossoff Wants Perdue To ‘Come Out Of Hiding’ With 3 Debates Before GA Senate Runoff

Democratic Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff on Monday asked that his opponent , Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) , participate in three televised debates before their runoff election on January 5 .
In a letter sent to Perdue on Monday requesting the televised debates , Ossoff argued that “ Georgians deserve nothing less ” and that he hopes his GOP rival will agree to give Georgians the debates they deserve .
Ossoff ’ s request for Perdue to participate in debates ahead of their runoff election comes weeks after the incumbent Georgia senator bowed out of what was supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
Perdue decided to join President Trump at his Georgia rally on the night it was originally scheduled instead .
Perdue ’ s decision to call off their debate happened a day after Ossoff roasted Perdue in a scathing takedown during their debate last month that went viral .
Ossoff called Perdue a “ crook ” and roasted him over the legal trouble he ’ s had with his business and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
During an interview Monday morning on MSNBC , Ossoff took aim at Perdue for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate to attend a Trump rally , saying the senator was “ incapable of defending himself ” because he has “ no record to run on.
” Ossoff said that in previous debates , he asked Perdue tough questions about his record on health care , his self-dealing stock trades and “ why he had lied to the people of this state about the severity of this pandemic.
” “ He had no answers and he decided he was going to bow out and refused to debate with just hours until voting started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forum , ” Ossoff said .
Ossoff then argued that upcoming debates would be beneficial not only for himself , but would also give Perdue the opportunity to explain why he deserves to be re-elected , especially now that he faces a runoff election that could determine the balance of the Senate .
“ A majority of Georgians rejected your request in this recent general election .
We ’ re in a runoff , ” Ossoff said .
“ Come out from your hiding place , let ’ s meet in a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your vision .
Make the case for your reelection , and I ’ ll make the case why you need to be defeated.
” TPM has reached out to Perdue ’ s office for comment .

Democratic Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff on Monday asked that his opponent, Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), participate in three televised debates before their runoff election on January 5.
In a letter sent to Perdue on Monday requesting the televised debates, Ossoff argued that “Georgians deserve nothing less” and that he hopes his GOP rival will agree to give Georgians the debates they deserve.
Ossoff’s request for Perdue to participate in debates ahead of their runoff election comes weeks after the incumbent Georgia senator bowed out of what was supposed to be their final debate before the election. Perdue decided to join President Trump at his Georgia rally on the night it was originally scheduled instead.
Perdue’s decision to call off their debate happened a day after Ossoff roasted Perdue in a scathing takedown during their debate last month that went viral. Ossoff called Perdue a “crook” and roasted him over the legal trouble he’s had with his business and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During an interview Monday morning on MSNBC, Ossoff took aim at Perdue for backing out of their final general election debate to attend a Trump rally, saying the senator was “incapable of defending himself” because he has “no record to run on.”
Ossoff said that in previous debates, he asked Perdue tough questions about his record on health care, his self-dealing stock trades and “why he had lied to the people of this state about the severity of this pandemic.”
“He had no answers and he decided he was going to bow out and refused to debate with just hours until voting started rather than face me in an open forum,” Ossoff said.
Ossoff then argued that upcoming debates would be beneficial not only for himself, but would also give Perdue the opportunity to explain why he deserves to be re-elected, especially now that he faces a runoff election that could determine the balance of the Senate.
“A majority of Georgians rejected your request in this recent general election. We’re in a runoff,” Ossoff said. “Come out from your hiding place, let’s meet in a public forum. Discuss your record and discuss your vision. Make the case for your reelection, and I’ll make the case why you need to be defeated.”
TPM has reached out to Perdue’s office for comment.
Watch Ossoff’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-10--Trump’s AZ Election Fraud Lawsuit Fixates On Grand Total Of 180 Votes, According To Attorney

Lawsuit after lawsuit in President Donald Trump and the GOP ’ s attempted delegitimization of the election via the courts has been a bust , and it appears their voter fraud case in Arizona , a key state that helped lead to Trump ’ s defeat against President-elect Joe Biden , isn ’ t looking too compelling either .
Trump ’ s campaign and Republican National Committee ( RNC ) have filed a lawsuit alleging poll workers in Arizona ’ s Maricopa County had allowed voters to submit “ overvotes ” ( ballots that a vote counting machine has flagged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which can happen with smudges or other accidental markings ) without review and thus potentially having those votes disqualified .
The lawsuit has the contours of the debunked “ Sharpiegate ” conspiracy theory .
However , the attorney who is representing the county , Thomas Liddy , pointed out during a preliminary hearing that the tabulator had found fewer than 200 ballots that could potentially be overvotes .
Noting that 155,860 votes had been cast in person on Election Day in the county , Liddy stated that “ of those , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential line.
” “ 180 , that ’ s it , ” Liddy said , asserting that there is “ no possibility of systematic error ” with such a small number out of over 150,000 votes .
Biden is currently ahead of Trump by 14,746 votes in Arizona .

Lawsuit after lawsuit in President Donald Trump and the GOP’s attempted delegitimization of the election via the courts has been a bust, and it appears their voter fraud case in Arizona, a key state that helped lead to Trump’s defeat against President-elect Joe Biden, isn’t looking too compelling either.
Trump’s campaign and Republican National Committee (RNC) have filed a lawsuit alleging poll workers in Arizona’s Maricopa County had allowed voters to submit “overvotes” (ballots that a vote counting machine has flagged as having been marked for two candidates, which can happen with smudges or other accidental markings) without review and thus potentially having those votes disqualified. The lawsuit has the contours of the debunked “Sharpiegate” conspiracy theory.
However, the attorney who is representing the county, Thomas Liddy, pointed out during a preliminary hearing that the tabulator had found fewer than 200 ballots that could potentially be overvotes.
Noting that 155,860 votes had been cast in person on Election Day in the county, Liddy stated that “of those, the tabulator only identified 180 potential overvotes on the presidential line.”
“180, that’s it,” Liddy said, asserting that there is “no possibility of systematic error” with such a small number out of over 150,000 votes.
Biden is currently ahead of Trump by 14,746 votes in Arizona.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-10--COVID Hospitalizations Soar To Record 59,000 By Reuters’ Tally

Hospitals beds on Monday were filled with roughly 59,000 COVID-19 patients across the United States — a new record according to a count by Reuters .
The record high tally comes as new COVID-19 infections have jumped to their highest levels yet for the sixth day in a row — passing the 100,000 mark — as the nation ’ s ability to combat the virus spirals further out of control .
The data shows that the United States is facing what may be the worst phase of the COVID-19 crisis to date .
Meanwhile , even as pharmaceutical giant Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it said was at least 90 % effective in protecting against COVID-19 , President-elect Joe Biden urged Americans to wear masks noting that if approved , distribution of the vaccine to a majority of the population would likely take many months .
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States , has surged around 73 % over the past month to at least 59,008 by Reuters ’ count — a spike that surpasses a high last set in late July when 58,370 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest number of hospitalized patients — more than 6,000 — followed by Illinois and California who reported roughly 4,400 and 4,700 patients respectively , according to the Reuters tally .
President-elect Joe Biden vowed over the weekend to “ marshal the forces of science ” to combat the coronavirus crisis in the United States , and on Monday announced a coalition of scientists and experts who would head up a coronavirus task force in his incoming administration as the country has reported more than 10 million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week also increased by more than 6,600 people , or 15 percent over the previous week ’ s toll –the highest one-week total since mid-August .

Hospitals beds on Monday were filled with roughly 59,000 COVID-19 patients across the United States — a new record according to a count by Reuters.
The record high tally comes as new COVID-19 infections have jumped to their highest levels yet for the sixth day in a row — passing the 100,000 mark — as the nation’s ability to combat the virus spirals further out of control.
The data shows that the United States is facing what may be the worst phase of the COVID-19 crisis to date.
Meanwhile, even as pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced late stage testing of a vaccine that it said was at least 90% effective in protecting against COVID-19, President-elect Joe Biden urged Americans to wear masks noting that if approved, distribution of the vaccine to a majority of the population would likely take many months.
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States, has surged around 73% over the past month to at least 59,008 by Reuters’ count — a spike that surpasses a high last set in late July when 58,370 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized for the virus on July 22.
Texas led with the highest number of hospitalized patients — more than 6,000 — followed by Illinois and California who reported roughly 4,400 and 4,700 patients respectively, according to the Reuters tally.
President-elect Joe Biden vowed over the weekend to “marshal the forces of science” to combat the coronavirus crisis in the United States, and on Monday announced a coalition of scientists and experts who would head up a coronavirus task force in his incoming administration as the country has reported more than 10 million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
COVID-19-related deaths over the past week also increased by more than 6,600 people, or 15 percent over the previous week’s toll –the highest one-week total since mid-August.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-10--Report: WH Instructed Officials Not To Cooperate With Biden Transition Team

The Trump administration has instructed senior government officials against cooperating with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team , a move that is prompting the Biden team to consider legal action , the Washington Post reported late Monday .
“ We have been told : Ignore the media , wait for it to be official from the government , ” a senior administration official told the Post .
According to the Post , the hold up stems from a block by the General Services Administration — a low profile agency headed up by Trump political appointee Emily Murphy .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that releases Biden ’ s $ 6.3 million share of nearly $ 10 million in transition resources and gives his team access to agency officials .
The call to delay transition comes as media organizations on Saturday projected Biden as the winner in an election where President Trump — nearly three days later has continued to refuse to concede loss .
Biden transition officials told the Post during a Monday call with reporters that they had been denied access to State Department-facilitated calls with foreign leaders and access to secure facilities to review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings on agencies ’ projects , budgets , or operations have taken place , the Post said .
The team is evaluating its legal options and growing increasingly alarmed that the stalemate could drag on and impede its work .
The campaign has prepared for weeks for the possibility that Trump would not move forward with a peaceful transfer of power .
The Biden campaign has already started filling top White House jobs such as chief of staff and naming a task force of experts to tackle coronavirus response .
But if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal challenge from the Biden team could target Murphy ’ s authority to independently judge election results when the president who appointed her has a vested stake in blocking Biden .
As Trump officials seek to placate Trump with legal battles to contest the election ’ s results , there ’ s growing fear that those efforts to avoid further bruising Trump ’ s ego as he is relegated to a one-term presidency , could have a lasting impact on national security .

The Trump administration has instructed senior government officials against cooperating with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team, a move that is prompting the Biden team to consider legal action, the Washington Post reported late Monday.
“We have been told: Ignore the media, wait for it to be official from the government,” a senior administration official told the Post.
According to the Post, the hold up stems from a block by the General Services Administration — a low profile agency headed up by Trump political appointee Emily Murphy. The administrator has reportedly refused to sign paperwork that releases Biden’s $6.3 million share of nearly $10 million in transition resources and gives his team access to agency officials.
The call to delay transition comes as media organizations on Saturday projected Biden as the winner in an election where President Trump — nearly three days later has continued to refuse to concede loss.
Biden transition officials told the Post during a Monday call with reporters that they had been denied access to State Department-facilitated calls with foreign leaders and access to secure facilities to review classified information.
Meanwhile, no formal briefings on agencies’ projects, budgets, or operations have taken place, the Post said.
The team is evaluating its legal options and growing increasingly alarmed that the stalemate could drag on and impede its work. The campaign has prepared for weeks for the possibility that Trump would not move forward with a peaceful transfer of power.
The Biden campaign has already started filling top White House jobs such as chief of staff and naming a task force of experts to tackle coronavirus response.
But if the GSA continues to slow transition, a legal challenge from the Biden team could target Murphy’s authority to independently judge election results when the president who appointed her has a vested stake in blocking Biden.
As Trump officials seek to placate Trump with legal battles to contest the election’s results, there’s growing fear that those efforts to avoid further bruising Trump’s ego as he is relegated to a one-term presidency, could have a lasting impact on national security.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-10--DOJ Head Of Election Crimes Branch Resigns After Barr Allows Baseless Voter Fraud Probes

A Justice Department career official who oversees the DOJ ’ s election crimes unit resigned on Monday night , several hours after Attorney General Bill Barr issued a new Trump-friendly policy authorizing investigations into allegations of mass voter fraud before the election results are certified .
Richard Pilger , the director of the election crimes branch at the department ’ s Public Integrity Section ( PIN ) , sent an email to his colleagues announcing that he was stepping down in response to the new rule .
“ Having familiarized myself with the new policy and its ramifications , [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my role as Director of the Election Crimes Branch , ” Pilger wrote .
He told his colleagues that PIN Deputy Chief Robert Heberle would serve as acting director of the branch , and assured them that PIN “ remains committed to operating properly in all of its functions.
” Earlier on Monday evening , Barr released a memo informing federal prosecutors that under the new policy , they may pursue “ substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities prior to the certification of elections ” in their jurisdictions .
Critics slammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeding into President Donald Trump ’ s undemocratic efforts to undermine President-elect Joe Biden ’ s legitimate victory by baselessly crying voter fraud .
A DOJ official claimed in an interview with the New York Times that Trump , who has refused to concede the race to Biden , nor GOP lawmakers had asked Barr to enact the policy .
Trump has been on a crusade to steal the election with bogus accusations that his defeat was caused by mass voter fraud despite the fact that such fraud has not been proven to @ @

A Justice Department career official who oversees the DOJ’s election crimes unit resigned on Monday night, several hours after Attorney General Bill Barr issued a new Trump-friendly policy authorizing investigations into allegations of mass voter fraud before the election results are certified.
Richard Pilger, the director of the election crimes branch at the department’s Public Integrity Section (PIN), sent an email to his colleagues announcing that he was stepping down in response to the new rule.
“Having familiarized myself with the new policy and its ramifications, […] I must regretfully resign from my role as Director of the Election Crimes Branch,” Pilger wrote.
He told his colleagues that PIN Deputy Chief Robert Heberle would serve as acting director of the branch, and assured them that PIN “remains committed to operating properly in all of its functions.”
Earlier on Monday evening, Barr released a memo informing federal prosecutors that under the new policy, they may pursue “substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities prior to the certification of elections” in their jurisdictions. Critics slammed the rule change and accused Barr of feeding into President Donald Trump’s undemocratic efforts to undermine President-elect Joe Biden’s legitimate victory by baselessly crying voter fraud.
A DOJ official claimed in an interview with the New York Times that Trump, who has refused to concede the race to Biden, nor GOP lawmakers had asked Barr to enact the policy.
Trump has been on a crusade to steal the election with bogus accusations that his defeat was caused by mass voter fraud despite the fact that such fraud has not been proven to exist.