Notable Quote of the Day

“A politically inexperienced and highly divisive president, a presidential campaign waged under the shadow of a deadly pandemic, and an establishment candidate from the opposing party who promises to restore the country to a less turbulent time.

Those were the elements of the U.S. presidential election exactly 100 years ago that swept Warren G. Harding into office. The similarities to the 2020 race and Joe Biden‘s quest to unseat Donald Trump in November are unmissable.”

– Ryan Teague Beckwith, Bloomberg

Democrats

• Joe Biden won the Alaska Democratic primary, which was moved to April 10 from April 4 and made a vote-by-mail election. More than 71,000 ballots were sent to registered Democrats; more than 19,000 were returned on time. This was double the participation the 2016 caucus saw.

• Biden wrote an op-ed in The New York Times titled “My Plan to Safely Reopen America.” First, he said social distancing should continue, frontline workers should receive the supplies and equipment they need, and the federal government should be more responsive. Second, he said there should be widespread testing and a contact tracing strategy. Third, Biden said the healthcare system should be ready for flare-ups.

Republicans

• Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee together raised $212 million in the first quarter of 2020. Their fundraising total for March alone was $63 million, down from a record high for the campaign of $86 million in February.

• The Trump campaign is attacking Biden on his position on China, including releasing a digital ad that presents Biden as friendly towards the country.

Flashback: April 13, 2016

Hillary Clinton proposed establishing an Office of Immigrant Affairs, which would coordinate immigration policies across federal, state, and local governments.