Oct 2, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Biden tests negative for COVID-19

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Image

Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris both tested negative for COVID-19 Friday. Harris is moving forward with her previously planned campaign stop in Las Vegas today, as well.

Driving the news: "Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 today and COVID-19 was not detected. I am reporting this out in my capacity as both Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden's primary care physician," read a statement from the Biden campaign.

  • A Harris aide told Axios that Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff have both tested negative.
  • Biden tweeted: "I'm happy to report that Jill and I have tested negative for COVID. Thank you to everyone for your messages of concern. I hope this serves as a reminder: wear a mask, keep social distance, and wash your hands."

Why it matters: Biden appeared with President Trump at Tuesday's debate. Trump tweeted late Thursday that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive and will begin quarantining.

  • It ensures the pandemic will be the focus and it forces both sides to be more cautious about how they're campaigning — just as Biden's team started increasing his in-person events.

Driving the news: Hope Hicks, one of the president's closest confidants and West Wing aides, also tested positive after traveling to attend the debate — where she and the president's family did not wear masks.

  • Biden and his campaign didn't find out about Hope Hicks or Trump testing positive before anyone else — they learned from the news reports, a source familiar told Axios.
  • Before this, Biden and Harris were getting tested "regularly" for COVID-19, per the campaign. Staff who work closely with them have also been tested frequently.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include Biden's tweet.

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer
Updated Oct 21, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Biden has huge cash advantage over Trump as Election Day nears

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Wilmington, Del., on Monday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had $177.3 million in the bank at the end of September, per the latest Federal Election Commission filings.

Why it matters: President Trump's re-election campaign reported having $63.1 million in the bank at the end of last month, as campaigning enters the final stretch ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Shawna Chen
Oct 21, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Man charged over threats to kidnap and kill Biden and Harris

Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

A Maryland man has been arrested and charged for allegedly threatening to kidnap and kill former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), according to a criminal complaint filed by the Secret Service Wednesday.

The big picture: Fears of potential political violence are running high with just two weeks until Election Day. Earlier this month, the FBI foiled an alleged militia plot to kidnap the Democratic governors of Michigan and Virginia.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Orion Rummler
Oct 21, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Poll: 92% of battleground state voters are "extremely motivated to vote"

Voters stand in line at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 13. Photo: Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images

91% of likely voters nationally say they are "extremely motivated to vote," including 92% in battleground states Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to a Change Research/CNBC Poll.

Why it matters: The 2020 election could see record-breaking levels of voter turnout. Voters last week cast ballots at nearly five times the rate they did at this point in the 2016 election, per the U.S. Elections Project. Over 39 million ballots have been cast in early voting states as of Wednesday.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow