Welcome to The Hill’s Campaign Report, your daily rundown on all the latest news in the 2020 presidential, Senate and House races. Did someone forward this to you? Click here to subscribe.
We’re Julia Manchester, Max Greenwood and Jonathan Easley. Here’s what we’re watching today on the campaign trail.
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LEADING THE DAY:
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced today he would support a lawsuit that would aim to delay the state’s presidential primary until June 2, amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Hill’s Reid Wilson reports there are more than 50 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the coronavirus in the state. Ohio officials say there are likely thousands more cases that have not yet been diagnosed.
DeWine’s announcement comes less than 24 hours before Illinois, Florida and Arizona are set to hold their primaries. The states, including Ohio, all offer early voting. As of Monday, Florida, Arizona and Illinois had not announced any delays in their planned primaries.
We are aware of voters’ concerns over #COVID19. FL Dept of Health has assured healthy Floridians it’s safe to work the polls for & vote in Tuesday’s election. Supervisors of Elections are ensuring polls are prepared for voters. For latest COVID-19 updates: https://t.co/eLTuhwTGAn
— Laurel M. Lee (@FLSecofState) March 16, 2020
“Much of the voting for this election already has been done. Also, at this point there is no date in the foreseeable future when we can expect greater safety with any certainty,” Matt Dietrich, public information officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, told reporters in a memo. “Taking action to move to an all-mail ballot system, as has been suggested by some media members, fails to take into account the needs of many disabled voters who are unable to cast paper ballots by mail.”
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“We think it’s safe to vote at a polling place on election day,” Arizona’s Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said. “We’re making sure that the counties are implementing common-sense health precautions.”
Meanwhile, President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE weighed in on this issue, saying he would leave the decision of postponing elections to the states, but added that he thought it would be unnecessary.
All of these updates come as governments at all levels roll out restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. Trump announced a number of new guidelines during a briefing on Monday afternoon. Officials also recommend that Americans avoid gatherings of more than 10 people; avoid discretionary travel; avoid eating in bars, restaurants and food courts; and engage in schooling from home when possible. Visit the CDC’s website for more information.
–Julia Manchester
READ MORE:
Ohio governor calls for delaying Tuesday’s primary until June, from Reid.
Kentucky postpones May primary until June 23, by The Hill’s Justine Coleman.
Illinois governor endorses Biden ahead of primary, reports The Hill’s Rebecca Klar.
Sanders: ‘Not sure’ it makes ‘a lot of sense’ to hold primaries right now, by Rebecca.
FROM THE TRAIL:
Biden vowed on Sunday to choose a woman as his running mate should he win the nomination, Max reports. “I commit that I will, in fact, pick a woman to be vice president,” Biden said at a Democratic presidential debate in Washington. “There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow.” Biden has expressed openness in the past to tapping a woman as his VP pick, but his remarks on Sunday marked the first time he has made a firm commitment to doing so.
Sanders, meanwhile, said that he would “in all likelihood” pick a woman running mate, but argued that it was more important to choose a progressive. “There are progressive women out there,” he said.
READ MORE FROM THE DEBATE:
Five takeaways from Sunday night’s Democratic debate, by The Hill’s Jonathan Easley.
Biden, Sanders debate ‘Medicare for All’ as response to coronavirus, by The Hill’s Peter Sullivan
Sanders, Biden talk about coronavirus precautions they’re taking, by Julia
Biden says he would mobilize the military to address coronavirus, by Jonathan
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Sanders, Biden bump elbows ahead of debate, by Julia
The Memo: Biden, Sanders hold unconventional debate amid coronavirus pandemic, by The Hill’s Niall Stanage
Media figures praise audience-free debate format, by The Hill’s Alicia Cohn
Biden responds to Sanders challenging him on super PACs: ‘Give me a break,’ by The Hill’s John Bowden
PERSPECTIVES:
The Chicago Tribune: Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE for sensible Democratic leadership
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Joshua Spivek: Biden and the art of the political resurrection.
David Smith: The acid test for Trump’s leadership is whether he can save himself
Armstrong Williams: Democrats will go broke betting on black voters
FROM CONGRESS AND THE STATES:
The progressive group Democracy for America is endorsing Mckayla Wilkes (D) in Maryland’s 5th District race as she seeks to oust House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Hoyer: House will vote soon on bill to improve ObamaCare Hoyer: Infrastructure package to hit floor this month MORE (D), who is serving his 20th term in Congress. Wilkes, who is 29, has been likened to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezAttorney says 75-year-old man shoved by Buffalo police suffered brain injury How language is bringing down Donald Trump Highest-circulation Kentucky newspaper endorses Charles Booker in Senate race MORE (D-N.Y.), both for her left-leaning politics, her challenge to a longtime Democratic leader and her backstory as a working-class woman of color. The Hill’s Jonathan Easley reports.
MONEY WATCH:
Biden made some news at Sunday night’s Democratic debate with the off-the-cuff revelation that he raised some $33 million in the first half of March, Max reports. The sum is his best yet and suggests that his campaign is reaping the financial benefits of his recent winning streak in the primary contest.
POLL WATCH:
UNIVISION – FLORIDA PRIMARY
Biden: 63 percent
Sanders: 25 percent
Gabbard: 2 percent
NBC NEWS/MARIST – OHIO PRIMARY
Biden: 58 percent
Sanders: 35 percent
Gabbard: 2 percent
NBC NEWS/MARIST – ARIZONA PRIMARY
Biden: 56 percent
Sanders: 36 percent
Gabbard: 1 percent
MONMOUTH – ARIZONA PRIMARY
Biden: 51 percent
Sanders: 31 percent
Gabbard: 1 percent
NBC NEWS/WALL STREET JOURNAL – NATIONAL
Biden: 61 percent (+46)
Sanders: 32 percent (+5)
Gabbard: 4 percent (+3)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
March 17:
-Arizona Democratic primary
-Florida primaries
-Illinois primaries
-Ohio primaries
March 29:
Puerto Rico Democratic primary
ONE FUN THING:
Is anything really fun anymore?
We’ll be back tomorrow with the latest on the 2020 race!
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