Biden, Trump scramble to replan nomination speeches

The US election dived deeper into unprecedented territory Wednesday when challenger Joe Biden announced he would accept his nomination virtually and US President Donald Trump recommended breaking tradition by holding his personal ceremony at the White House.

Quoting COVID-19 health risks, Biden campaign stated he would make his speech — the high point of a candidate’s race — from his Delaware home where he has spent most of the last months.

Biden had planned to accompany the August 17-20 Democratic convention in Milwaukee, which was already heavily scaled-down from the massive event typical before US elections.

But the party assumed the risk was still too high and turned to a fully virtual affair.

POTUS Donald Trump, whose reelection bid is struggling with a badly wounded economy and surging COVID-19 pandemic, signaled he may also allow his nomination from home — in his case, the White House.

“I love the building. I’m there right now. I spend a lot of time here,” Donald Trump told Fox News.

Trump’s August 27 acceptance speech was basically designed for North Carolina, but that was scrapped due to the coronavirus, as was the back-up location, leaving the Republican scrambling for alternatives.

Still, presidents are obliged to separate their personal campaigning from taxpayer-funded governing. If he goes ahead, POTUS Trump would be busting at the very least with presidential behavior by turning the White House South Lawn into his personal campaign stage.

Trump endorsed the idea as “by far the least expensive” and stated that logistically it would require far less movement of staff and guests.

This article has been posted by a News Hour Correspondent. For queries, please contact through [email protected]
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