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U.S. NEWS Monday 25 May 2020
Trump’s pitch to voters: Trust me, economy will soar in 2021

Continued from Front House economist Kevin Economists, however, lines. While a majority of monthly say they’d do so
Hassett and Eric Roseng- warn that the “snap back” Americans in households in the next few weeks if
Trump had already ren, president of the Fede- Trump’s advisers have that lost a job do think it’s they could.
pledged to finally release ral Reserve Bank of Boston been talking up is unlikely, at least probable that the Still, the poll shows that 66%
a Republican health care said in television interviews given the severity of the re- job will return, 70% now of Americans continue to
plan after the polls closed Sunday. “Unfortunately, I cession. It will take years for describe the state of the say that their personal fi-
— despite having served think it’s likely to be double- the economy to recover, nation’s economy as poor, nancial situation is good
more than three years digit unemployment throu- according to the Congres- versus just 29% who say it’s — a number that has re-
in office — along with a gh the end of this year,” sional Budget Office. good — down from 67% in mained steady since be-
postelection tax cut and a Rosengren told CBS’ “Face Polling data suggests January. fore the outbreak began.
“Phase 2” trade deal with the Nation.” To bring back Trump has some work to Trump has been encoura- Americans are also more
China. the low jobless levels seen do to persuade Americans ging states to begin easing likely to expect their per-
Now, Trump is making the at the end of last February, that all will be well next restrictions and reopening sonal finances to improve
case to voters that if he he said it would probably year. their economies. But that than worsen in the next
helped bolster the eco- take a vaccine or “other Americans are split on doesn’t necessarily mean year, 37% to 17%.
nomy once, he can do it medical innovations that whether they think the jobs will return. While most In the end, that’s what is
again. make it much less risky to economy will improve of those who say they got going to matter most, said
“We built the greatest eco- go out.” (41%) or worsen (40%) over a haircut at least monthly Michael Steel, a Republi-
nomy in the world,” Trump Still, Trump and his cam- the coming year, accor- before the outbreak or can political strategist.
says frequently. “I’ll do it a paign are hoping they ding to a poll by The Asso- shopped regularly in per- “This election will turn on
second time.” can convince the public ciated Press-NORC Center son for nonessential items facts more than messa-
It’s not just next year that that Trump, not Democrat for Public Affairs Research. would definitely or proba- ges,” he said. “The presi-
will be a mystery to voters Joe Biden, is the candi- Their opinions differ based bly do so in the next few dent is placing a bet by
on Election Day. Trump date who can turn things on their politics. A majo- weeks if they were allo- reopening the economy
and his team have been around, even as they push rity of Republicans (62%) wed, Americans may be before public health offi-
talking up the fourth quar- the recovery timeline into think the economy will get wary to return to life as nor- cials believe it is safe. If the
ter — October through next year. better in the coming year, mal. economy recovers sharply
December — but econo- “The president has a clear while a majority of Demo- Only about half of those and infection rates remain
mic reports on that period record of building the crats (56%) think it will get who did so at least monthly steady or go down, then
won’t be released until economy to unpreceden- worse. before the outbreak say voters will reward his bold-
2021. Preliminary figures ted heights before it was The poll finds that only 49% they’d travel, go to bars ness, but if we continue
for the third quarter will be artificially interrupted by of Americans now appro- and restaurants, use public to see massive unemploy-
released Oct. 29, days be- the coronavirus, and they ve of how Trump is hand- transportation, or exercise ment and a spike in new
fore the Nov. 3 election. know he will build it a se- ling the economy, com- at a gym or studio. Just 42% infections and deaths, all
And unemployment could cond time,” said Trump pared with 56% in March, of those who went to con- the political wordsmithery
still be in double-digit terri- campaign communicati- though the numbers re- certs, movies, or theater the world will offer won’t
tory by Election Day, White ons director Tim Murtaugh. main split largely on party or sporting events at least help him.”q

Seniors get diplomas on racetracks, chairlifts amid virus

By M.L. PRICE/L. RATHKE parents demanding tradi-
Associated Press tional commencements
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Im- be held later in the year
mediately after giving his if social distancing rules
valedictorian speech, high are eased. Some of those
school senior Philip Root, still virtual events have at-
clad in his cap and gown, tracted famous speakers,
climbed into a borrowed including President Barack
race car and drove up to Obama who gave a com-
the finish line at the Las Ve- mencement address ear-
gas Motor Speedway. lier this month. The televi-
With the yellow tassel of his sion special featured other
graduation cap flapping in celebrities, including NBA
the wind, Root leaned out star LeBron James, actress
the window and posed for Yara Shahidi and actor
a photo as he accepted and singer Ben Platt. But
his diploma — and then for schools pressing ahead
took off on a celebratory with in-person graduations,
lap around the track. Graduates flip their tassels near their cars during a drive-thru graduation for Faith Lutheran High that has meant coming up
Root gave his speech over School at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Las Vegas. with creative ways to hold-
the radio from the broad- Associated Press ing events while adher-
casting booth, which the navirus, Root led his class- The ceremony was part which many haven't seen ing to limitations on crowd
graduating class of Faith Lu- mates as they pulled up of a growing push by high classmates for months and sizes and social distancing
theran High School listened one-by-one to the waving schools across the country missed out on traditional se- guidelines. They are spac-
to as they sat with family in checkered flag to get their to find a way to hold in- nior activities such as proms ing students apart in big
individual cars decked out certificate from administra- person graduations and of- and end-of-school parties. auditoriums with limited
with signs, banners and bal- tors wearing face masks. fer up some added pomp There are still many schools guests, or in one town in
loons. Then, in front of the To mark the milestone, the amid the coronavirus pan- that have settled on virtual New Hampshire, sending
empty grandstands of the students and their families demic. The graduation cer- graduations — something seniors off with a mountain-
racetrack that's been idled whooped and cheered emony is seen by many as that's drawn online peti- top graduation, accessible
for months due to the coro- and then hit the gas pedal. salvaging a school year in tions from students and by chairlift. q