“History also shows that proceeding as normal with democratic politics amid an epidemic can distort election outcomes. In 1976 incumbent President Gerald Ford ran against Democrat Jimmy Carter amid fears of a so-called swine flu. Two of the most famous virologists of the day, polio vaccine inventors Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, agreed with the CDC that a new form of influenza had emerged that might be as deadly as the 1918 pandemic. In haste, vaccines were manufactured, and a month before the general election mass immunization commenced. Some batches of vaccine caused side effects and were withdrawn, and the entire swine flu issue turned into a fiasco as influenza failed to hit the nation, and hundreds of people complained of lasting damage to their health from the vaccines. The threat of swine flu didn’t prompt any changes in the democratic
process—conventions, rallies, or voting—but it may have contributed to Ford’s loss nevertheless.”
– Laurie Garrett, former senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations
Democrats
Joe Bidencanceled two fundraisers and a GOTV rally in Chicago scheduled for Friday and an event in Florida on Monday because of coronavirus concerns. He announced he is indefinitely suspending large crowd gatherings and will host virtual events, instead.
Priorities USA Action, which planned to remain neutral in the Democratic primary, said it was preparing to run ads to support Biden. “The math is now clear. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee for President and Priorities USA is going to do everything we can to help him defeat Donald Trump in November,” chairman Guy Cecil said.
Bernie Sanders held a press conference on Wednesday where he said he planned to remain in the Democratic primary and would participate in the debate on Sunday. “The American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that goal,” he said.
Sandersdiscussed his campaign, electability, and the coronavirus on The Tonight Show Wednesday night.
Republicans
Donald Trumpcanceled upcoming events in Colorado, Nevada, and Wisconsin on Wednesday due to coronavirus concerns.
Marco Rubio won the Republican convention in Washington, D.C., while Ted Cruz was the winner of Wyoming’s county conventions.
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