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U.S. nEwS Diamars 8 september 2020

Trump looms large over campaigns for control of Congress

(AP) - The battle for control strations happening in some Any boost in Trump's stand-
of Congress is solidifying cities. It's an opening for the ing could bolster Republican
into a race about President GOP, an attempt to win back chances, analysts said. Any
Donald Trump, as Republi- wary suburban voters, par- missteps by Biden could hurt
cans hitch their fortunes to ticularly white women, who Democrats.
their party’s leader and Dem- voted for Trump in 2016 but On top of that is the un-
ocrats position themselves as have since drifted away. certainty of the COVID-19
a bulwark against him — and “It’s a winning message,” crisis, which upended cam-
as partners in a potential Joe said Bob Salera, a spokesman paigning. While many Re-
Biden White House. for the National Republican publicans are following
So far, voters are signal- Congressional Committee, Trump's lead, holding events
ing they want to finish the the House GOP's campaign and meeting voters in person,
job they started in 2018 by arm. Democrats are largely match-
installing Democrats for The NRCC used Trump's ing Biden's approach of
House majority control. visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, avoiding health risks by hold-
Now, they're on track to to unleash a flurry of attacks ing campaign events online.A
potentially do the same in against vulnerable Demo- memo from the Democratic
the Senate.“The president crats, primarily those fresh- Congressional Campaign
continues to overshadow men who built the House ma- Committee obtained by ly is trailing Democrat Mark Some of the Democrats elect-
and impact the races for the jority in 2018 from districts The Associated Press said Kelly, a former astronaut. ed in 2018 in places Trump
Senate and the House,” said the president won in 2016. candidates should remind GOP Sen. Susan Collins is won in 2016 were surprise
Nathan Gonzales, the editor One television ad claimed voters “through your ac- relying on her independent winners, like Rep. Kendra
of Inside Elections, which a Democrat was choosing tions” that they take the CO- brand to try to fend off chal- Horn in Oklahoma City,
tracks the campaigns. “criminals over cops.”The VID-19 threat seriously. Re- lenger Sara Gideon in Maine. and they are among the most
Usually, a president at the top Democratic campaigns are publicans mock Democrats' Some incumbent Republi- vulnerable. Rep. Ben McAd-
of the ticket boosts his party's taking an opposite approach. virtual campaigning as hid- can senators walk a fine line ams in Utah faces a challenge
chances, but Trump's slump As their calling card to voters, ing from voters.Republicans on support for Trump. Sen. from Burgess Owens, a for-
is shifting the congressional they are offering health care hold a slim 53-47 majority in Thom Tillis of North Caro- mer NFL player and Black
map, strategists said. House policy — preserving and ex- the Senate. That means they lina distances himself from conservative who delivered a
Democrats are expected to panding the coverage under could afford to lose two or Trump on some issues, but standout speech at the GOP
easily retain the majority, the Affordable Care Act and three seats, while Democrats pulls close on others, and he convention.
without too many losses. The strategies to end the COV- would need to pick up three joined the president for his Some freshman Democrats,
Senate, now in Republican ID-19 crisis. or four for a working major- speech accepting the GOP though, have tried to carve
hands, could almost as easily Ten ads released by House ity. If either party has 50 seats, nomination on the White out brands to steel them-
flip to Democrats. Democrats last week targeted the vice president becomes a House lawn.GOP sena- selves against challenges in
Together, the congressional Republicans who voted to tie breaker. tors in Iowa, Montana and districts where Republicans
races provide a snapshot of repeal and replace “Obam- While election season began Georgia are now facing rac- typically would win.
an American electorate ahead acare” or pushed a quick with the parties on defense, es suddenly in play. Even in Many of the issues once
of a voting season unlike economic reopening despite protecting their incumbent Texas, South Carolina and thought to define the candi-
any other. The coronavirus COVID-19 health risks. senators, it has shifted to a Kentucky, where big-name dates — including the Trump
crisis, a shattered economy Democratic Senate candi- decidedly lopsided Senate GOP senators are up for re- impeachment votes — have
and a new civil rights era are dates are taking similar cues map. Only one Democrat, election — Senate Majority dimmed against the COVID
forcing a reassessment of as they appeal to voters con- Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama, Leader Mitch McConnell in crisis.
the way the federal govern- cerned about health care ac- appears seriously at risk of the Bluegrass State, Lindsey At the same time, Trump’s
ment approaches longstand- cess or costs.“We’re gonna defeat, running in a Deep Graham in the Palmetto State willingness to push the
ing problems. In a volatile win back the Senate,” Biden South state where Trump is — races are becoming costly, norms of executive power
political climate, health care, told donors last week on a more popular than almost even if the seats are not seri- suddenly makes Congress
jobs and even what the par- fundraising call. The former anywhere else.The list of ously in jeopardy. matter not just as a legislative
ties are calling the soul of the vice president is eyeing a potentially endangered Re- In the House, Republicans branch of government, but
nation are all on the ballot. handful of Senate seats he be- publican senators has only face an even tougher haul. one conducting oversight.
As Democrats gain momen- lieves Democrats could wrest grown. Sen. Cory Gardner is They would need to net some Gonzales said after GOP
tum, Republicans are dig- from Republicans, with plans running against popular for- 19 seats to wrest control from losses in 2018 there was an
ging in, echoing Trump’s to campaign in North Caro- mer Gov. John Hickenlooper Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the expectation that Trump atop
harsh criticism of the na- lina, Georgia, Texas and other in Colorado, a state that has Democrats, a tall order in any the ticket would bring back
tionwide protests over police states where Republican sen- become more Democratic election but especially now Republican voters in 2020.
violence, particularly against ators are vulnerable. blue than toss-up purple. in the hard-fought suburban “But President Trump con-
Black people. He sounds dire Two months before the elec- In battleground Arizona, Re- districts with Trump wobbly tinues to drive Democratic
warnings about the demon- tion, the races are still in flux. publican Sen. Martha McSal- at the top of the ticket. energy and turnout,” he said.

Voting in person Nov. 3? Expect drive-thrus, sports arenas

(AP) — Voting will look a little dif- low for social distancing that helps almost entirely by mail, and mail-in vention center to pick up their bal-
ferent this November. States are prevent the spread of the virus, voting is well established in others.In lots, completed them in their cars and
turning to stadiums, drive-thrus and though there are questions about June, Utah broke voter turnout re- then dropped them off in an outdoor
possibly even movie theaters as safe keeping people warm as the weather cords despite not opening traditional parking area. Davis County Clerk
options for in-person polling places gets cold and the possibility that few- polling places because of the virus. Curtis Koch said the system will be
amid the coronavirus pandemic and er traditional neighborhood polling In-person voting will be back in No- in place for the general election, too.
fears about mail-in ballots failing to places could lower voter turnout. vember, but rather than only using Chad Berbert, a 46-year-old Repub-
arrive in time to count. Election Day is expected to bring a schools, churches and public build- lican, said he'll probably vote by mail
The primary season brought voters surge in mail-in voting, but some ings like usual, clerks also are permit- in the fall, but he's glad officials are
to an outdoor wedding-style tent in people may feel more comfortable ted to set up drive-thru or outdoor offering alternative voting methods.
Vermont and the state fairgrounds in casting their ballots in person amid polling places.The family that owns In Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium will
Kentucky. The general election on concerns about recent mail delays the NBA's Utah Jazz also has a chain be used as a vote center as part of a
Nov. 3 is expected to include voting at following a series of operational of movie theaters and offered three as joint effort with More Than A Vote,
NBA arenas around the country, part changes at the U.S. Postal Service and voting sites in November. a voting rights organization launched
of an agreement owners made with President Donald Trump stoking un- One suburban Salt Lake City county by LeBron James that's dedicated to
players to combat racial injustice. founded claims of voter fraud. ran a primary polling place where maximizing Black turnout in No-
Large venues and outdoor spaces al- Several states conduct their elections voters drove through an indoor con- vember.