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| Cory Booker and Kamala Harris to appear at Biden rally after endorsements – live | Cory Booker and Kamala Harris to appear at Biden rally after endorsements – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New Michigan poll shows Biden leading Sanders by 24 points while Trump appears to minimize coronavirus compared to common flu | New Michigan poll shows Biden leading Sanders by 24 points while Trump appears to minimize coronavirus compared to common flu |
| Another poll has been released showing Joe Biden beating Bernie Sanders in Michigan, which will hold its primary tomorrow. | |
| According to the Monmouth University survey, Biden is at 51% in the state, whil Sanders is 15 points behind at 36%. | |
| The survey is great news for Biden, who is looking to increase his delegate lead tomorrow. With 125 pledged delegates up for grabs, Michigan is the most delegate-rich state voting tomorrow. | |
| But Monmouth includes this important caveat in its press release on the poll: “The 2016 Michigan Democratic primary is considered to be the biggest polling miss of that cycle. Polls released in the week before the state primary showed Hillary Clinton with anywhere from a 10 to 27 point lead – Monmouth’s poll had her up by 13 points – but Sanders ended up winning the contest by just over a percentage point.” | |
| And here’s some good news for all Democrats: Monmouth found Biden and Sanders both leading Trump in the battleground state. Biden is 7 points ahead of the president in a potential general election (48% to 41%), while Sanders is 5 points ahead (46% to 41%). Trump narrowly won Michigan in 2016, besting Clinton by about 10,000 votes. | |
| Hundreds of US service members have started withdrawing from Afghanistan as part of the initial troop drawdown outlined in the peace agreement with the Taliban. | Hundreds of US service members have started withdrawing from Afghanistan as part of the initial troop drawdown outlined in the peace agreement with the Taliban. |
| The AP reports: | The AP reports: |
| The initial troop withdrawal comes as reports emerge that Taliban officials have no intention of honoring the promises they agreed to in the peace agreement. | The initial troop withdrawal comes as reports emerge that Taliban officials have no intention of honoring the promises they agreed to in the peace agreement. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Trump downplayed the threat of coronavirus, comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy is carrying on, even though the Dow is down nearly 1,600 points today. | Trump downplayed the threat of coronavirus, comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy is carrying on, even though the Dow is down nearly 1,600 points today. |
| Cory Booker and Kamala Harris will appear at Joe Biden’s Detroit rally tonight after both senators, who have been listed as potential running mates to Biden, endorsed the former vice president. | Cory Booker and Kamala Harris will appear at Joe Biden’s Detroit rally tonight after both senators, who have been listed as potential running mates to Biden, endorsed the former vice president. |
| Biden criticized Trump’s response to coronavirus, saying the president should “just be quiet” and defer to medical experts. | Biden criticized Trump’s response to coronavirus, saying the president should “just be quiet” and defer to medical experts. |
| The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| The Senate finance committee is considering “targeted tax relief measures” in response to coronavirus. | The Senate finance committee is considering “targeted tax relief measures” in response to coronavirus. |
| The Republican chairman of the panel, Chuck Grassley, said the tax relief measures were one of several proposals under consideration as the economy suffers because of the health threat. | The Republican chairman of the panel, Chuck Grassley, said the tax relief measures were one of several proposals under consideration as the economy suffers because of the health threat. |
| A statement from Grassley’s office said, “While we continue to assess the economic impacts, Chairman Grassley is exploring the possibility of targeted tax relief measures that could provide a timely and effective response to the coronavirus.” | A statement from Grassley’s office said, “While we continue to assess the economic impacts, Chairman Grassley is exploring the possibility of targeted tax relief measures that could provide a timely and effective response to the coronavirus.” |
| Meanwhile, the Dow is down more than 1,600 points today after trading on the New York Stock Exchange was briefly halted this morning. | Meanwhile, the Dow is down more than 1,600 points today after trading on the New York Stock Exchange was briefly halted this morning. |
| About half of Democratic voters are enthusiastic about Joe Biden potentially winning the presidential nomination, according to a new poll. | About half of Democratic voters are enthusiastic about Joe Biden potentially winning the presidential nomination, according to a new poll. |
| The HuffPost/YouGov survey found that 48% of Democratic voters are ethusiastic about Biden becoming the nominee, versus 40% who say the same of Bernie Sanders. | The HuffPost/YouGov survey found that 48% of Democratic voters are ethusiastic about Biden becoming the nominee, versus 40% who say the same of Bernie Sanders. |
| But there’s a stark age gap in those numbers. Among voters aged 45 and older, 62% say they’re enthusaistic about a Biden nomination, compared to 28% of those under 45. | But there’s a stark age gap in those numbers. Among voters aged 45 and older, 62% say they’re enthusaistic about a Biden nomination, compared to 28% of those under 45. |
| Sanders similarly sees an age divide in enthusiasm. While 55% of younger voters say they would be enthusiastic about his nomination, only 29% of those over 45 say the same. | Sanders similarly sees an age divide in enthusiasm. While 55% of younger voters say they would be enthusiastic about his nomination, only 29% of those over 45 say the same. |
| But there is broad agreement on one point: a 77% majority of Democratic voters say they expect Biden to win the nomination. | But there is broad agreement on one point: a 77% majority of Democratic voters say they expect Biden to win the nomination. |
| Trump does not appear to have adjusted his behavior as concerns mount about the spread of coronavirus. | Trump does not appear to have adjusted his behavior as concerns mount about the spread of coronavirus. |
| The president was seen shaking hands with supporters in Florida as he arrived for a fundraiser. | The president was seen shaking hands with supporters in Florida as he arrived for a fundraiser. |
| Reports have also been popping up that some of Trump’s aides fear he is not taking the health threat seriously enough, while he simultaneously downplays the impact coronavirus is having on the economy. | Reports have also been popping up that some of Trump’s aides fear he is not taking the health threat seriously enough, while he simultaneously downplays the impact coronavirus is having on the economy. |
| Trump’s press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said the White House is conducting “business as usual” amid fears about the climbing number of coronavirus cases. | Trump’s press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said the White House is conducting “business as usual” amid fears about the climbing number of coronavirus cases. |
| “Reports that the White House has issued formal guidelines to staff instructing them to limit in-person interactions and meetings are completely false,” Grisham said. | “Reports that the White House has issued formal guidelines to staff instructing them to limit in-person interactions and meetings are completely false,” Grisham said. |
| “While we have asked all Americans to exercise common-sense hygiene measures, we are conducting business as usual.” | “While we have asked all Americans to exercise common-sense hygiene measures, we are conducting business as usual.” |
| The statement came shortly after Trump downplayed the severity of coronavirus by comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy is carrying on, even though the Dow is down 1,400 points today. | The statement came shortly after Trump downplayed the severity of coronavirus by comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy is carrying on, even though the Dow is down 1,400 points today. |
| Joe Biden expressed concern about Trump’s response to coronavirus, criticizing the president for not deferring more to medical experts. | Joe Biden expressed concern about Trump’s response to coronavirus, criticizing the president for not deferring more to medical experts. |
| “I wish he would just be quiet,” the Democratic presidential candidate told MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell. “I really mean it. That’s an awful thing to say about a president, but I wish he’d be quiet. Just let the experts speak.” | “I wish he would just be quiet,” the Democratic presidential candidate told MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell. “I really mean it. That’s an awful thing to say about a president, but I wish he’d be quiet. Just let the experts speak.” |
| Biden also said he was worried Trump was trying to minimize the health threat out of fear of political consequences. | Biden also said he was worried Trump was trying to minimize the health threat out of fear of political consequences. |
| “There’s no confidence in the President, in anything he says or does,” Biden said. “He turns everything into what he thinks is a political benefit for himself, when he’s actually imploding in the process. But there’s a lot of innocent bystanders that are being badly hurt.” | “There’s no confidence in the President, in anything he says or does,” Biden said. “He turns everything into what he thinks is a political benefit for himself, when he’s actually imploding in the process. But there’s a lot of innocent bystanders that are being badly hurt.” |
| Cory Booker will appear alongside Joe Biden in Detroit tonight, after endorsing the former vice president earlier today. | Cory Booker will appear alongside Joe Biden in Detroit tonight, after endorsing the former vice president earlier today. |
| Kamala Harris, another former presidential candidate who endorsed Biden over the weekend, will also attend the Detroit rally. | Kamala Harris, another former presidential candidate who endorsed Biden over the weekend, will also attend the Detroit rally. |
| Booker and Harris have both been repeatedly mentioned as potential running mates for Biden, so he may be appearing alongside his future vice president tonight. | Booker and Harris have both been repeatedly mentioned as potential running mates for Biden, so he may be appearing alongside his future vice president tonight. |
| Trump appeared to minimize coronavirus as the Dow is down 1,600 points because of the health threat. | Trump appeared to minimize coronavirus as the Dow is down 1,600 points because of the health threat. |
| The president’s tweet ironically came moments after his health and human services secretary emphasized the severity of coronavirus in a Fox News interview. | The president’s tweet ironically came moments after his health and human services secretary emphasized the severity of coronavirus in a Fox News interview. |
| “This is a very serious health problem,” Alex Azar told Fox. “Nobody is trying to minimize that.” | “This is a very serious health problem,” Alex Azar told Fox. “Nobody is trying to minimize that.” |
| Trump celebrated crashing oil prices as “good for the consumer,” blaming the market nosedive on Saudi-Russian tensions and “the Fake News.” | Trump celebrated crashing oil prices as “good for the consumer,” blaming the market nosedive on Saudi-Russian tensions and “the Fake News.” |
| At the risk of stating the obvious, the market slump is tied to very real concerns about the spread of coronavirus. | At the risk of stating the obvious, the market slump is tied to very real concerns about the spread of coronavirus. |
| And while slumping gas prices might be nice for drivers when they go to fill their tanks, they can have a devastating impact on global markets, as we are seeing this morning. | And while slumping gas prices might be nice for drivers when they go to fill their tanks, they can have a devastating impact on global markets, as we are seeing this morning. |
| Case in point: the Great Recession caused a steep drop in gas and oil prices. | Case in point: the Great Recession caused a steep drop in gas and oil prices. |
| Some White House advisers are concerned Trump is not taking coronavirus seriously enough, after spending a weekend at Mar-a-Lago fundraising. | Some White House advisers are concerned Trump is not taking coronavirus seriously enough, after spending a weekend at Mar-a-Lago fundraising. |
| The president is again holding fundraisers today as the Dow dropped more than 1,000 points. | The president is again holding fundraisers today as the Dow dropped more than 1,000 points. |
| Trump also continues to downplay the severity of the health threat as the number of cases rise. CNN reports: | Trump also continues to downplay the severity of the health threat as the number of cases rise. CNN reports: |
| A new poll out of Michigan shows Joe Biden leading Bernie Sanders by 24 points, as the former vice president consolidates support after a strong Super Tuesday performance. | A new poll out of Michigan shows Joe Biden leading Bernie Sanders by 24 points, as the former vice president consolidates support after a strong Super Tuesday performance. |
| According to the EPIC-MRA/Detroit Free Press poll, Biden is at 51% in the state, while Sanders is far behind at 27%. | According to the EPIC-MRA/Detroit Free Press poll, Biden is at 51% in the state, while Sanders is far behind at 27%. |
| Michigan is the most delegate-rich state voting tomorrow, awarding 125 delegates to the three remaining Democratic presidential candidates. (Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the race.) | Michigan is the most delegate-rich state voting tomorrow, awarding 125 delegates to the three remaining Democratic presidential candidates. (Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the race.) |
| If Biden can pull off a massive victory tomorrow, it will make it even more difficult for Sanders to catch up, so the presidential primary could wrap up quickly. | If Biden can pull off a massive victory tomorrow, it will make it even more difficult for Sanders to catch up, so the presidential primary could wrap up quickly. |
| Trading has temporarily halted at the New York Stock Exchange, as the Dow fell more than 7% over concerns about the spread of coronavirus. | Trading has temporarily halted at the New York Stock Exchange, as the Dow fell more than 7% over concerns about the spread of coronavirus. |
| The nosedive comes a day after Saudi Arabia slashed oil prices amid escalating tensions with fellow oil producer Russia, which triggered fears of a damaging price war. | The nosedive comes a day after Saudi Arabia slashed oil prices amid escalating tensions with fellow oil producer Russia, which triggered fears of a damaging price war. |
| For the latest updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog: | For the latest updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog: |
| This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam. | This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam. |
| Montana’s governor, Steve Bullock, who suspended his presidential campaign in December, has announced he will run for Senate against Republican incumbent Steve Daines. | Montana’s governor, Steve Bullock, who suspended his presidential campaign in December, has announced he will run for Senate against Republican incumbent Steve Daines. |
| Bullock had been expected to launch a Senate bid, following months of lobbying by top Democrats such as the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer. | Bullock had been expected to launch a Senate bid, following months of lobbying by top Democrats such as the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer. |
| The popular governor had initially resisted calls for him to challenge Daines but changed his mind in recent weeks after discussions with his family. | The popular governor had initially resisted calls for him to challenge Daines but changed his mind in recent weeks after discussions with his family. |
| (Joe Biden’s rising fortunes in the presidential primary probably also helped convince Bullock, considering Montana’s very conservative leanings would have made it difficult to run with Bernie Sanders at the top of the ticket.) | (Joe Biden’s rising fortunes in the presidential primary probably also helped convince Bullock, considering Montana’s very conservative leanings would have made it difficult to run with Bernie Sanders at the top of the ticket.) |
| Bullock still faces a difficult road ahead in trying to unseat Daines, but it was widely recognized the well known state leader faced the best chance of victory if he chose to enter the race. | Bullock still faces a difficult road ahead in trying to unseat Daines, but it was widely recognized the well known state leader faced the best chance of victory if he chose to enter the race. |