US President Trump and his rival Democratic Presidential nominee for WH locked horns in the final Presidential debate over COVID-19, race and corruption in the live TV debate. Biden was in favor of more lockdown and restrictions while Trump stressed on the need to reopen the economy. Trump also cited unfounded claims, alleging the former VP for profiteering form the son’s business deals. The Democrat targeted Trump for the non-payment of taxes.
Biden is enjoying a lead in the early polls with 11 days to got into the November elections. But his lead is slimmer in the key states that could impact the final outcome.
In record-breaking early polling, over 47 million Americans have cast their votes through postal ballots or in person.
The Final Presidential Debate
The final showdown between the two rivals was certainly less Chaotic than the first contest held on Sep 29, 2020 which ended into the two calling each other names and hurling insults at each other as it unfolded. Thursday night’s primetime debate hosted by NBC in Nashville, Tennessee seemed less of an acrimonious duel and presented more substantiveness from the arch-rivals. But it like other debates probably would not affect the polls as it has not changed the trajectory of race. Trump took eager to take on Biden slammed him for failing to find a solution to the institutional racism as a Senator and VP called him a typical politician.
Biden hit back by shredding Republican’s policy terms, his mishandling of COVI-19, healthcare, immigration and economic policies. The former Obama deputy at one point described GOP President as “one of the most racist presidents we have had in modern history.”
The debate was more moderated with the muted microphones rule to not let the candidates interrupt and disrupt each other in the opening statements. However, the overall tone of the debate moderated by Kristen Welker recorded a plethora of personal attacks as their mutual dislike was evident on screen. Offering everything from lockdown to stem the coronavirus to shut down and limit the fossil fuel to support the climate change initiatives, the two contested each other as they took an off from the campaign trail.
Coronavirus Pandemic in United States
The two issued starkly different views on their approach to counter COVID-19 pandemic. Asked about his support for new restrictions, Biden said he will go for it if the health experts recommended it. Trump was though clear to not inflict more damage on the economy because of the disease.
“This is a massive country with a massive economy,” said the president. “People are losing their jobs, they’re committing suicide. There’s depression, alcohol, drugs at a level nobody’s ever seen before.”
Trump, a septuagenarian himself and a COVID-19 survivor said the pandemic is “going away” and that a vaccine would be available by the end of the year while Biden disagreeing with the Republican claimed that the US is moving towards “a dark winter”.
The president said: “We are learning to live with it.” Biden, 77, insisted: “Come on. We are dying with it.” The former VP countered President Trump for being a party to over 220,000 fatalities in America.
“Anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain president of the United States of America,” he said.
The Comments on Race
The distinction between the two candidates on race relations was no less clear with Trump saying: “I am the least racist person in this room.” The Republican brought the attention to the 1994 crime bill in which Biden had a hand and BLM blames the law for the mass internment of African Americans in US.
Biden accused Trump of being “one of the most racist presidents we’ve had in modern history. He pours fuel on every single racist fire.”
He added: “This guy is a racial dog whistle about as big as a fog horn.”
Exchanges on Corruption
During a back and forth on corruption, Trump brought up alleged leaked emails from Biden’s son, Hunter account that purportedly showed his business dealings in mainland China. Biden was quick to deny the unsubstantiated claims for having any involvement in his son’s ventures as a VP at that time.
“I think you owe and explanation to the American people,” said Trump.
Biden said: “I have not taken a single penny from any country whatsoever. Ever.”
The former VP president pointed out the New York Times recent reports that revealed Republican’s financial records in China and a bank account. According to the NY story, Trump had paid USD 188,561 in taxes from 2013 to 2015 in China compared with USD750 as a US taxpayer in 2016-17 after taking charge of the White House.
“I have many bank accounts and they’re all listed and they’re all over the place,” said Trump. “I mean, I was a businessman doing business.”
Climate Change Stance
The two under the mute button threat, which worked, respectfully objected each other’s stance on energy policy. Trump asked Biden: “Would you close down the oil industry?”
“I would transition from the oil industry, yes,” said Biden, adding, “because the oil industry pollutes significantly.”
He insisted that Big Oil must be replaced by renewable green energy consistently to commit to net zero emissions.
“Basically, what he’s saying is he’s going to destroy the oil industry,” said Trump. “Will you remember that, Texas? Will you remember that, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ohio?”
The Biden camp afterwards to avoid any damage cleared that the former VP was referring to ending oil subsidies and not talking of the banning of the oil.
Immigration Policies of Trump
The differences between the two were laid bare on immigration when Trump was inquired about his policy of segregating refugee children from undocumented immigrant adults at southern US border. The GOP President defended his action by saying that migrant children were also detained under Democratic administration of Barrack Obama.
“Who built the cages, Joe?” he said, referring to chain-link enclosures meant to detain unaccompanied migrant kids in Obama-Biden regime. But Biden argued that the Trump administration had gone one step further to separate them from their families and the practice was “criminal”.
