(Wilmington) New twist in the "strange" American presidential campaign: Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he would follow "the doctor's instructions" and would not organize electoral rallies because of the COVID pandemic - 19, playing a risky contrast against his rival Donald Trump.
Brendan SMIALOWSKI with Elodie CUZIN in Washington
France Media Agency
Brandishing the very heavy American toll, the new surge of coronavirus cases in the South and West of the country and the exacerbation of deep political divisions, the former vice-president of Barack Obama has exhausted management of the pandemic by the Republican billionaire.
"The Americans have not made these enormous sacrifices in the past four months [...] so that you spoil all these efforts with your tirades and tweets in the middle of the night," said Joe Biden, during a speech at a high school in his city of Wilmington, Delaware.
"They didn't do it so that you could ignore science and make responsible initiatives like wearing a mask a political position. And they certainly didn't, Mr. Chair, so that you can wash your hands of it and turn your back on this responsibility, "he said.
The pandemic suddenly overturned the American presidential campaign. Confined for long weeks at home, Joe Biden did not organize any public outing between 15 March and 25 May.
"This is the strangest campaign in modern history, it seems to me," he said.
For now, she succeeds: Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by more than nine points in the average of the national polls, but also, crucial point, in the key states which make and defeat the elections in the United United by switching from one party to another.
"I will follow the doctor's instructions, not just for me but for the country. And that means I'm not going to organize rallies, "added the 74 year old political veteran.
Joe Biden did not say whether he was talking about his personal physician or the advice of health authorities more generally. And he did not say whether this decision could change if the situation improved.
Risky, this announcement marks a clear contrast to Donald Trump, whom he will face in the ballot boxes on November 3. Presented as a pledge of responsible prudence, it could thus reinforce the image that his rival is trying to paint of an overly old, weakened, fragile candidate.
"Hurry" to debate Trump
Aged 74 years old, the Republican was strongly criticized for having organized the 20 June a rally back in the countryside in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which brought together several thousand people in this southern state in full blaze coronavirus case.
Having not gathered as many people as he had very publicly hoped, the event turned into a fiasco. And his team said Tuesday that they have no date or place to announce for a future rally at this point.
Claiming that he is taking advantage of the pandemic to "hide" at home, the president regularly makes fun of Joe Biden, even questioning his mental abilities.
Known for his blunders and his sometimes confused outbursts, Joe Biden wanted to sweep these accusations with a short sentence: "I really can't wait to compare my cognitive skills with" those of Donald Trump. And the Democrat to say that he was also "looking forward" to participate in the three debates scheduled for the start of the school year.
Everything is turned upside down in this campaign in the era of the coronavirus, including the traditional conventions which will tie up the candidates of each party at the end of August and usually bring together thousands of people.
Joe Biden was also asked about the recent debunking of statues of Confederate Generals, who notably fought against the abolition of slavery during the American Civil War (1861 - 1865). Actions that outraged Donald Trump and his camp.
"It is always better" to withdraw them "peacefully", said the Democrat, very popular with black voters. But he also stressed that the "responsibility" to withdraw them fell primarily to local elected representatives while the country arrived "finally" at a stage where it "could perhaps respond to systemic racism".
And he criticized Donald Trump for his management of the possible Russian bonuses paid to insurgents for killing American soldiers in Afghanistan:
Whether his rival was not informed of these allegations by his intelligence services, as claimed by the White House, or that he did not act when he knew it, he has committed a "breach of duty" as president.