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A28 u.s. news
Diasabra 17 OctOber 2020

Trump, Biden go at it from a distance in town halls

be held virtually following ing to roll back tax cuts for
his COVID-19 diagnosis. the wealthiest Americans. He
The town halls offered a dif- said doing so would save, as
ferent format for the two can- he consulted his notes, “let
didates to present themselves me see ... $92 billion.”
to voters, after the pair held Biden vowed to say before
a chaotic and combative first Election Day whether he
debate late last month. The will support expanding the
difference in the men’s tone number of justices on the
was immediate and striking. Supreme Court if Democrats
Trump was Trump. He was win the presidency and the
loud and argumentative, Senate and hold the House
rebuking his FBI director, after November.
fighting with the host, Savan-
nah Guthrie, complaining He has for weeks refused to
about the questioning — and answer the question but went
eventually saying for the first further Thursday night. He
time that he would honor the said, “I’m still not a fan” of
results of a fair election, but expanding the court, but said
only after casting an extraor- his ultimate decision depend-
dinary amount of doubt on ed on how the confirmation
(AP) — President Don- only testily did so regarding the audience who didn’t get the likeliness of fairness. of Amy Coney Barrett to the
ald Trump and Democrat white supremacists. an opportunity during the Supreme Court “is handled”
Joe Biden squared off, in televised program. “And then they talk, ’Will you and “how much they rush
a way, in dueling televised The Republican president accept a peaceful transfer?'" this.”
town halls that show- also appeared to acknowledge Trump and Biden were sup- Trump said. “And the answer
cased striking differences revelations from a recent posed to spend Thursday is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to Biden also blasted Trump's
in temperament, views New York Times report that night on the same debate be an honest election, and so foreign policy, declaring that
on racial justice and ap- he was in debt and left open stage in Miami. But that does everybody else.” “'America first' has made
proaches to a pandemic the possibility that some of it faceoff was scuttled after He again sought to minimize ‘America alone’" and “This
that has reshaped the na- was owed to a foreign bank. Trump’s coronavirus infec- revelations from a New York president embraces all the
tion. But he insisted that he didn’t tion, which jolted the race Times investigation that he thugs in the world.” He
owe any money to Russia and threatened the health of has more than $400 million turned introspective when
Coming just two and a half or any “sinister people” and the American president. in debt and suggested that re- asked what it would say if he
weeks before Election Day, suggested that $400 million Trump wouldn't say whether ports are wrong that he paid lost.
the events Thursday night in debt was a “very, very small he had tested negative on the little or no federal income “It could say that I’m a lousy
offered crystalizing contrasts percentage” compared to his day of his first debate with taxes in most years over the candidate, that I didn’t do a
and a national, if divided, au- overall assets. Biden on Sept. 29, allowing past two decades. good job,” Biden said. “But
dience. But it seemed unlike- only, “Possibly I did, pos- I think, I hope that it doesn’t
ly to have produced a needed Biden denounced the White sibly I didn’t.” Debate rules Biden, meanwhile, took a say that we’re as racially, eth-
moment for a president run- House’s handling of the vi- required that each candidate, far different, softer approach nically and religiously at odds
ning out of time or opportu- rus, declaring that it was at using the honor system, had with audience questions. The as it appears the president
nities to appeal beyond his fault for closing a pandemic tested negative prior to the former vice president, who wants us to be.”
core base. response office established Cleveland event, but Trump struggled growing up with a
by the Obama administration spoke in circles when asked stutter, stuttered slightly at Biden said he plans to par-
He was defensive about his in which he served. Though when he last tested negative. the start of the program and ticipate in next week’s debate
administration’s handling of vague at times, he suggested at one point squeezed his but he would ask Trump to
the coronavirus, which has he will offer clarity on his The presidential rivals took eyes shut and slowed down take a COVID-19 test before
claimed more than 217,000 position on expanding the questions in different cit- his response to clearly enun- arriving. "It’s just decency”
lives in the United States, and Supreme Court if Trump's ies on different networks: ciate his words. At times his for everyone around him, in-
evasive when pressed about nominee to the bench is seat- Trump on NBC from Mi- answers droned on. cluding non-candidates like
whether he took a required ed before Election Day. ami, Biden on ABC from camera operators, Biden said.
COVID-19 test before his After Biden’s 90-minute Philadelphia. Trump backed Holding a white cloth mask The two men are still sched-
first debate with Biden. An- town hall event formally out of plans for the presiden- in one hand, the Democrat- uled to occupy the same
gry and combative, Trump concluded, the candidate tial faceoff originally sched- ic nominee brought a small space for a debate for a sec-
refused to denounce the QA- spent another half-hour tak- uled for the evening after de- card of notes onstage and ond and final time next week
non conspiracy group — and ing questions from those in bate organizers said it would referred to it while promis- in Nashville.

TV gives viewers a split-screen comparison of Trump, Biden

(AP) — Instead of the ex- network for forcing viewers down a point. She challenged “You're the president,” she nah Guthrie is with Trump?"
pected debate between to choose because the two Trump about some of the said. “You're not like some- tweeted Fox News Channel
President Donald Trump events were held at the same specific beliefs of the QAnon body's crazy uncle who can host Laura Ingraham.
and Democrat Joe Biden, time. group, Trump supporters just retweet anything.” That NBC News chief executive
television viewers were who believe he's the man to exchange led Mary Trump, Cesar Conde said Thursday
left Thursday with what Trump faced a crackling save the country from “deep the president's niece who that NBC scheduled Trump
ABC's David Muir called round of questioning from state” pedophiles. Trump wrote a best-selling book this out of fairness after Biden did
“split-screen America.” Savannah Guthrie of the said he didn't know anything summer criticizing him, to a town hall at the same time
“Today” show, who pressed about them. tweet, “Actually ...” last Thursday. That decision
Biden participated in a him on his personal experi- “I just told you,” Guthrie re- Guthrie's performance sharp- opened the network to sharp
90-minute town hall from ence with COVID-19, his plied. ly divided social media users criticism — including a pro-
Philadelphia on ABC, while finances and his support of She also wondered why between those who thought test letter sent Thursday by
NBC News went ahead with conspiracy theories. Trump would retweet a she was effective in confront- more than 100 Hollywood
its hourlong Trump session In addition to her own sharp false theory by someone on ing Trump and those who creators and celebrities like
in Miami — despite protests questioning, Guthrie would the Internet that the United found her too combative. Amy Schumer, Seth Rogen,
from Hollywood stars and often follow up queries made States didn't really kill Osama “Has any media person ever Sterling K. Brown and Sarah
others who criticized the by audience members to nail bin Laden. challenged Biden like Savan- Silverman.