US Presidential Election 2020 LIVE Updates: 'Wear A Mask. Wash Your Hands. Vote Out Donald Trump,' Tweets Biden as Race Hots Up

Early Voting Begins in Crucial Florida as Campaign Enters Closing Stretch | Early voting for the Nov. 3 presidential election begins in the crucial battleground state of Florida on Monday as a record 28 million Americans have already cast ballots with barely two weeks remaining in the campaign. President Donald Trump, running out of time to change the dynamics of a race that polls show him losing, will visit Arizona on Monday after holding a rally in Nevada on Sunday and urging his supporters to vote amid signs that Democrats are leading the surge in early voting, Reuters reported.  Florida is widely seen as a must-win for Trump, whose path to victory becomes razor-thin if he loses the southern state. The state's prize of 29 electoral votes is tied with New York for third most, behind only California and Texas, in the race for the 270 Electoral College votes that determine the presidential winner under the US system.

Praising Indian-Americans, Trump Jr said that the community is near and dear to his heart. "I understand the community pretty well," he said.

COVID Delay: New Coronavirus Relief Slipping Past Election | Congress is past the point at which it can deliver more coronavirus relief before the election, with differences between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, her Senate Republican rivals and President Donald Trump proving insurmountable despite the glaring needs of the country. Trumps GOP allies are reconvening the Senate this week to vote on a virus proposal, but it’s a bill that failed once before, and that Trump himself now derides as too puny, Associated Press reported. The debate promises to bring a hefty dose of posturing and political gamesmanship, but little more. Even the architect of the Senate measure, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., isnt claiming the vote will advance the ball. Once the measure fails, he plans to turn the chamber’s full attention to cementing a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court by confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett. It is likely to be the Senate’s final act before Election Day. In that context, this weeks vote has the chief benefit of giving Republicans in tough reelection races one last opportunity to try to show voters they are prioritizing COVID relief and to make the case to voters that Democrats are the ones standing in the way.

2016 Sequel? Trump's Old Attacks Failing To Land On Biden |  President Donald Trump stood before a crowd in a state that had once been firmly in his grasp. There were fewer than three weeks left in the campaign, one reshaped by a virus that has killed more than 215,000 Americans, and he was running out of time to change the trajectory of the race. He posed a question. Did you hear the news? the president asked the hopeful crowd. Bruce Ohr is finally out of the Department of Justice. There were scattered cheers in the crowd as the president then detailed the fate of a mostly forgotten, minor figure in the Russia probe that feels like a lifetime of news cycles ago. The presidents attempts to recycle attacks he used on Hillary Clinton that year have so far failed to effectively damage Democrat Joe Biden. And Trump has found himself dwelling more and more in the conservative media echo chamber, talking to an increasingly smaller portion of the electorate.

In the Middle of a Campaign Rally, Trump Muses: 'What if I Lose? Maybe I'll Have to Leave the Country' | President Donald Trump fought Friday to recover from sinking election polls by campaigning with a hardline pitch to America's right wing, claiming at rallies in Florida and Georgia that his Democratic opponent Joe Biden would deliver communism and a "flood" of criminal immigrants. While Trump put on a brave face, the fact that he was fighting at all for the two southern states he won four years ago  "Running against the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics puts pressure on me. Could you imagine if I lose?," Trump mused. "What am I gonna do?," he continued. "I'm not gonna feel so good. Maybe I'll have to leave the country. I don't know." Read full story here. 

Twitter Blocks Tweet from Trump Adviser Downplaying Masks | Twitter blocked a post Sunday from an adviser to President Donald Trump who suggested that masks do not work to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Scott Atlas, who joined the White House in August as a science adviser, had tweeted Masks work? NO, and said widespread use of masks is not supported. The tweet violated a Twitter policy that prohibits sharing false or misleading misinformation about COVID-19 that could lead to harm, a company spokesperson said. The policy bans statements that have been confirmed to be false or misleading by experts such as public health authorities. In such cases, Twitter disables the account until its owner deletes the post in question.

Trump Envoy Hopes Israeli-Arab Peace Deals Will Continue Whatever the US Election Result | Donald Trump's Middle East envoy said on Sunday the U.S. President's push for an Israeli-Arab rapprochement was gaining momentum and he hoped more accords would follow even if Trump loses next month's election.  Avi Berkowitz, who accompanied an Israeli delegation which visited Bahrain on Sunday, said the so-called "Abraham Accords" had bipartisan support in the United States and were designed to bear long-term fruit by encouraging grassroots engagement between Israel and its new Arab partners. "Peace is something everybody should celebrate and see as a positive thing for the world," Berkowitz said in an interview. "It's our sincere hope that, no matter who wins the election, the Abraham Accords will continue to grow."

According to the report, 56% Indian-Americans consider themselves Democrats, 15% Republicans, while 22% independents.

'Biden, Could Be Soft on China; Not Good for India': Donald Trump Jr | Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is not good for India as he could be soft on China, US President Donald Trump's son said at an event to celebrate the "success" of his book that talks about graft allegations against the Bidens "We have to understand the threat of China and no one knows that probably better than Indian-Americans," Trump Jr, told a select group of supporters from the community at the event in Long Island, New York. In his book "Liberal Privilege", he has documented allegations of corruption against 77-year-old Joe Biden's family, particularly against his son Hunter Biden. "When you look at our opponents in this race you think the Chinese gave Hunter Biden USD 1.5 billion because he was a great businessman, or because they knew the Bidens could be bought, and therefore soft on China," he said. Therefore, (Joe Biden is) bad for India," he said in his address at the meet and greet event along with Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is leading the fund-raising efforts of Trump's re-election campaign. The book, signed copies of which were handed out to participants of the event, reflects, according to Trmu Jr, on the "corrupt practices" of the Biden family.

Fauci 'Absolutely Not' Surprised Trump Got Covid-19 from 'Superspreader' Rose Garden Event | Dr Anthony Fauci said he is "absolutely not" surprised President Donald Trump contracted Covid-19 after seeing him surrounded by people not wearing face masks and flouting best public health practices. Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, said during an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday, "I was worried that he was going to get sick when I saw him in a completely precarious situation of crowded -- no separation between people, and almost nobody wearing a mask." "When I saw that on TV, I said, 'Oh my goodness. Nothing good can come out of that, that's got to be a problem,'" he continued. "And then sure enough, it turned out to be a super spreader event." Read the full story here. 

Trump and Biden Urge Supporters to Vote Early as this Week's Final Debate Showdown Awaits |President Donald Trump implored supporters in Nevada on Sunday to cast ballots early in a state he narrowly lost in 2016, while Democrat Joe Biden urged North Carolina residents to "go vote today," as the final presidential debate looms later this week. At a rally in Carson City, Nevada, a state where voting started on Saturday, Trump told attendees: "Early voting is under way, so get out and vote." Reuters quoted Trump as saying.  "We gotta keep the incredible momentum going; we can't let up," Biden told a "drive-in rally" in Durham, as attendees sitting in their cars honked in approval. "Don't wait - go vote today." Biden also criticized Trump for saying over the weekend that the United States had "turned the corner" in the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the rate of new cases across the country had risen to the highest level in months

The far-right, neo-fascist and and 'men-only' outfit, with roots in the US and Canada, was classified as an "extremist group with ties to white nationalism" by the FBI in 2018.

“Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Vote out Donald Trump,” Joe Biden tweeted today.  Notably, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden attacked President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic during dueling televised town halls after their second planned debate was canceled.

Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Vote out Donald Trump.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 19, 2020

In 2016, Trump lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton, but won enough states to garner the electoral votes needed to become president.

Iowa : Trump won easily in Iowa four years ago, beating Clinton by nearly 10 points, but the race appears close this time in the midwestern farming state. Trump held a campaign rally in Iowa last week, a sign he is playing defense in a state he had been expected to win. RCP: Biden by 1.2

Arizona: Arizona has been a Republican stronghold for decades, but its electorate is changing, with a growing Latino community and an influx of more liberal Californians. Conservative voters appreciate Trump's efforts to restrict immigration and build a wall on the border with Mexico.But Trump has hurt his prospects by repeatedly denigrating the late senator John McCain, who represented Arizona and still looms large over its politics. McCain's widow, Cindy McCain, has endorsed Biden. RCP: Biden by 4.0

North Carolina: This traditionally conservative state went to Trump by three points four years ago but both parties acknowledge it is now too close to call.  North Carolina's governor is a popular Democrat who has won praise for his balanced response to the pandemic. Republicans based their national convention here, although it ended up being largely online. RCP: Biden by 2.7

Florida: The largest of the swing states anchors the Sun Belt, the band of states across the US South and Southwest rapidly growing in population, and features agriculture, military industry and large numbers of retirees. Republicans are mounting a fierce defense here, with Democrats accusing them of suppressing the vote, particularly in communities of color. The state's huge Latino population will be key, and polls show them aligned with the Democratic ticket less than in 2016. At the same time, polls show seniors swinging away from Trump because of his handling of the pandemic. Most experts say Florida is a Trump firewall; if it's breached, Trump likely loses the White House. RCP: Biden by 1.4.

Wisconsin:  Democrat Hillary Clinton opted against campaigning in America's dairyland in 2016, and voters punished her for it. This year Democrats highlighted Wisconsin, locating their national convention there although the gathering moved online over coronavirus concerns. Trump and Biden have campaigned in the state, while Vice President Mike Pence and Biden running mate Kamala Harris have also visited. RCP: Biden by 6.3

Michigan: Michigan narrowly tipped for Trump in 2016 and is being fiercely contested this year. Trump has visited the Great Lakes state to argue he is ushering in an American comeback, but voters are concerned about the coronavirus' impact on the economy and the president's response to the pandemic. Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has clashed repeatedly with the president and her enforced lockdowns have angered conservatives. Gun-toting protestors staged demonstrations outside the state capitol this summer and members of a right-wing group were arrested recently for plotting to kidnap the governor.

RCP: Biden by 7.2

Key Battlegrounds That Will Decide US Election | The November 3 US presidential election is boiling down to a handful of key states that will decide the race between Democrat Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. This time polls have him behind in all six -- albeit by narrow margins in some. Trump also trails by a slim margin in three other states he won in 2016 -- Georgia, Iowa and Ohio, according to an average of state polls by the website RealClearPolitics (RCP).

Pennsylvania

Biden's birth state is the largest at play in the Rust Belt, a north-central region marked by decades of industrial decline. Trump volunteers are swarming the state, including city suburbs where they are canvassing door-to-door. On the Democratic side, former president Barack Obama is to make his first appearance on the campaign trail on Wednesday at an event in Philadelphia for his former vice president. Pennsylvania's big cities will vote heavily for Biden, while its rural west and conservative central regions are committed to Trump. Its suburbs and northeast will be critical. RCP average: Biden leads by 5.6 percentage points.

Young US Poll Workers Brace for Election Day | After scrambling to replace an aging force of poll workers most at risk from the coronavirus, US election officials face the challenge of running the Nov. 3 voting with untested volunteers tasked with following strict health protocols in an intensely partisan environment. A nationwide drive that recruited hundreds of thousands of younger poll workers - the people who set up equipment, check in voters and process ballots - means most battleground states will not be understaffed, a Reuters review of Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin found. In nearly all of those states, more poll workers have already been recruited than worked the 2016 presidential election, according to data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, state election officials and private poll worker recruitment campaigns. Wisconsin did not have complete data.

How Biden, a Practicing Catholic, Hopes to Persuade Believers | A rosary around his wrist, Joe Biden often speaks of the great comfort his Catholic faith has brought him in overcoming the tragedies that have deeply marked his life. When Americans vote on November 3, the Democratic presidential candidate hopes he will have persuaded enough of his fellow Catholics to back him; a majority of them supported Donald Trump in 2016. Every Sunday, or nearly so, the former vice president attends Mass at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, a small, quaint church in an affluent suburb of Wilmington, Delaware, AFP reported.  

Why is the Electoral College a Controversial Institution |In November 2016, Trump won 306 electoral votes. Indignant, millions of Americans had signed a petition calling on Republican electors to block him. The effort was mostly in vain, as only two electors, in Texas, defected, ultimately giving him 304 votes. Republicans had denounced the move as a desperate attempt by activists refusing to accept defeat, news agency AFP reported. The extraordinary 2016 situation of losing the popular vote but winning the election was not unprecedented. Five presidents in all have risen to the office this way.  John Quincy Adams was the first, in 1824, against Andrew Jackson. More recently, the 2000 election resulted in an epic Florida entanglement between George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. Gore had ultimately won nearly 500,000 more votes nationwide, but when Florida was awarded to Bush, it pushed the Republican's Electoral College total to 271 -- and victory.

What is the US Electoral College and How Does It Work? | The 538 members of the US Electoral College gather in their state's respective capitals every four years after the presidential election to designate the winner, AFP reports.  A presidential candidate must obtain an absolute majority of the college vote -- or 270 of the 538 -- to win. The system originated with the US Constitution in 1787, establishing the rules for indirect, single-round presidential elections. The country's Founding Fathers saw the system as a compromise between direct presidential elections with universal suffrage, and an election by members of Congress -- an approach rejected as insufficiently democratic. Since then, hundreds of amendments have been proposed to Congress in efforts to modify or abolish the Electoral College, but none has succeeded. Debate was rekindled with Trump's victory. If 2020's race is a nail-biter, then the Electoral College will surely return to the spotlight.

There are two main parties in the American political system - The Republicans and the Democrats. The Presidential contest is usually between the candidates fronted by both parties. The Republican…

House Speaker Pelosi Says 'I'm Optimistic' on Coronavirus Relief Deal before US Election |House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday differences remain with President Donald Trump's administration on a wide-ranging coronavirus relief package but she was optimistic legislation could be pushed through before Election Day. Pelosi, the top elected Democrat, said she wanted a bill passed before the Nov. 3 presidential election between Republican Trump and Democrat Joe Biden but acknowledged an agreement would have to come within 48 hours for that to happen. "I'm optimistic because, again, we've been back and forth on all of this," Pelosi said in an interview with ABC's "This Week."

US presidential elections are determined by electoral votes, allotted to U.S. states and territories based largely on their populations, rather than by a tally of the popular vote nationwide. Trump campaigned on Saturday in Michigan and Wisconsin, two battleground states he narrowly won in the 2016 election.

Donald Trump Can Still Win This Race, Warns Biden Campaign Manager |While Trump lags in opinion polls at a national level and in many battleground states, Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said over the weekend that the national figures are misleading because must-win states are close. "We cannot become complacent because the very searing truth is that Donald Trump can still win this race, and every indication we have shows that this thing is going to come down to the wire," she wrote in a memo to donors.

Prez Trump Doesn’t Wear Mask During Nevada Church Service |Trump, a Republican, was spending his Sunday in Nevada, a state he hopes to wrest away from Democrats after narrowly losing it in 2016. Early in-person voting in the state began on Saturday. The president, who rarely goes to church but has remained popular among evangelical Christians for his opposition to abortion and for appointing conservative judges, began his day by attending a service at the International Church of Las Vegas. Trump, who recently came down with his own bout of COVID-19, did not wear a mask for the indoor service.