Only one major newspaper endorses Trump

Only 1 major US newspaper has endorsed Trump for reelection

Oma Seddiq

Oct 23, 2020, 12:51 PM

Only a single major American newspaper has endorsed President Donald Trump for reelection, far below the dozens of publications that have announced their support for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

The major outlet in favor of Trump is the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

"For all his flaws, Donald J. Trump stands in forceful contrast to the relentless progressive attacks on this nation that deny and minimize the advances we have made over the decades to better reflect and honor our founding ideals," the Las Vegas Review-Journal's editorial board wrote. "He deserves a second term."

The Las Vegas Review-Journal — owned by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, a GOP mega-donor and casino magnate who has poured millions into Trump's reelection effort — had also endorsed Trump back in 2016.

The University of California Santa Barbara tracks major newspaper endorsements, which it defines as the largest 100 newspapers by circulation. The UCSB's American Presidency Project also cited an editorial by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette as a Trump endorsement, but its publisher told Insider that the paper declined to explicitly endorse either candidate.

Nonetheless, the editorial raised many questions about Biden and offered reasons to support Trump. It concludes: "If Biden wins and the Democrats take the Senate and end the filibuster rule--and along with a Democratic House pass much of the radical far left agenda--will Biden really veto it? We doubt it. A vote for Trump instead of Biden might be the best check on that becoming a reality in America."

Trump's lack of major newspaper endorsements is in line with his 2016 campaign, which was an unprecedented low for a major party nominee. An overwhelming chunk of newspapers went to his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

By this stage in the election cycle, most voters have already made up their mind on who they'll tick at the ballot box. Whether newspaper endorsements impact electoral outcomes remains up for debate, but they've typically been made to help nudge those who are still undecided toward a candidate. Historically, newspapers tended to favor Republican nominees, though in recent decades the numbers have balanced out.

Though most editorial boards have already stood by Biden, who's gained at least 39 major endorsements thus far. His support comes from a slew of major city newspapers as well as national outlets including USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Arkansas Democrat Gazette endorsed Trump. Its editorial cited many reasons to support Trump and oppose Biden, but it did not endorse the president

Above is from:  https://www.businessinsider.com/only-2-major-us-newspapers-have-endorsed-trump-for-reelection-2020-10

Should VP Pence be back on the campaign trail?

Pence to keep up travel despite contact with infected aide

By ZEKE MILLER and JILL COLVINan hour ago

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Vice President Mike Pence speaks to supporters Saturday Oct. 24, 2020 in Tallahassee, Fla. Battleground Florida was again a central focus of the presidential campaign Saturday as President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and former President Barack Obama all had high-profile events in the state. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence plans to maintain an aggressive campaign schedule this week despite his exposure to a top aide who tested positive for the coronavirus, the White House said Saturday.

Pence himself tested negative, his office said. Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, the vice president is considered a “close contact” of his chief of staff, Marc Short, but will not quarantine, said spokesman Devin O’Malley.

O’Malley said Pence decided to maintain his travel schedule “in consultation with the White House Medical Unit” and “in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.” Those guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people.

O’Malley said Pence and his wife, Karen, both tested negative on Saturday “and remain in good health.”

President Donald Trump commented on Short early Sunday after his plane landed at Joint Base Andrews, outside Washington. “I did hear about it just now,” he said. “And I think he’s quarantining. Yeah. I did hear about it. He’s going to be fine. But he’s quarantining.”

Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease expert at George Mason University, called Pence’s decision to travel “grossly negligent” regardless of the stated justification that Pence is an essential worker.

“It’s just an insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response,” she said. “I also find it really harmful and disrespectful to the people going to the rally” and the people on Pence’s own staff who will accompany him.

“He needs to be staying home 14 days,” she added. “Campaign events are not essential.”

After a day of campaigning in Florida on Saturday, Pence was seen wearing a mask as he returned to Washington aboard Air Force Two shortly after the news of Short’s diagnosis was made public. He is scheduled to hold a rally on Sunday afternoon in Kinston, NC.

Pence, who has headed the White House coronavirus task force since late February, has repeatedly found himself in an uncomfortable position balancing political concerns with the administration’s handling the pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 Americans. The vice president has advocated mask-wearing and social distancing, but often does not wear one himself and holds large political events where many people do not wear face-coverings.

By virtue of his position as vice president, Pence is considered an essential worker. The White House did not address how Pence’s political activities amounted to essential work.

Short’s diagnosis comes weeks after the coronavirus spread through the White House, infecting President Donald Trump, the first lady, and two dozen other aides, staffers and allies.

Short, Pence’s top aide and one of his closest confidants, did not travel with the vice president on Saturday.

Pence’s handling of his exposure to a confirmed positive case stands in contrast to how Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris responded when a close aide and a member of her campaign plane’s charter crew tested positive for the virus earlier this month. She took several days off the campaign trail citing her desire to act out of an abundance of caution.

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This version corrects in the news summary that Pence tested negative.

Above is from:  https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-michael-pence-941dfeccc8cc315872796af20f6c3e16

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CDC has some less strict rules for “essential critical worker” however they should avoid crowded places.  That would seeming rule out campaigning.

Essential critical workers who have been exposed to COVID-19

Steps for workers

Do

• Take your temperature before work.
• Wear a face mask at all times.
• Practice social distancing in the workplace as work duties permit.

Don’t

• Stay at work if you become sick.
• Share headsets or objects used near face.
• Congregate in the break room or other crowded places.

Above is from:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/Essential-Critical-Workers_Dos-and-Donts.pdf