NEW: @realDonaldTrump’s bout w/ COVID could further focus voters’ attention on the candidates to be the world's most famous second banana, one of whom, @mike_pence, is currently one obese 74-year-old coronavirus patient’s heartbeat away from the presidency.independent.co.uk/voices/kamala-…
DC Uber-lawyer Robert Barnett, who played Pence during @TimKaine's debate prep, said Harris faces "a whole different situation" than Kaine did in 2016 "because there's not going to be one moment of discussion of [Pence's] Indiana record. independent.co.uk/voices/kamala-…
"In 2016, [Pence] had to defend then-candidate Trump as a reality show host and a real estate developer. Now he's got to defend the top of the ticket as a four-year incumbent, and that's a very different burden," Barnett explained. independent.co.uk/voices/kamala-…
NEW: Trumpworld insiders say @realDonaldTrump’s announcement that he’d tested positive for COVID-19 could also signal the end of his re-election hopes, or as one staffer put it: “He’s fucked, we’re fucked.” independent.co.uk/voices/trump-c…
“No matter what we do, the next two weeks or more will be about him not being able to protect himself or us from Covid,” said the staffer.
Dem strategist @Theonlyhonest said Trump’s efforts to change the subject to the economy or “law and order” are now doomed: “Getting infected... after...mocking @JoeBiden for wearing a mask...I think that that's just gonna be the end of it for voters.” independent.co.uk/voices/trump-c…
NOW: On a call with reporters, @BillStepien is attacking the Commission on Presidential @debates: "Those characterizations [as bipartisan/nonpartisan] could not be further from the truth" and CPD chair (and ex-@GOP chair) Frank Fahrenkopf.
.@BillStepien is now recounting several @debates commission co-chairs/board members and political donation records, including former @GOP Senator @OlympiaSnoweME
.@BillStepien is basically complaining that the CPD board is not made up of sycophants.
.@PressSec is about to begin her usual song and dance session (minus singing and dancing). Follow along here for the usual whatever.
.@PressSec opens briefing by noting anniversary of Las Vegas mass shooting, then turns to reciting Judge Barrett's resume.
.@JohnRobertsFox, who asks for "a definitive and declarative statement, without ambiguity, or deflections as the person who speaks for the President" on whether @realDonaldTrump denounces white supremacism and groups that espouse it in all forms.