The coronavirus, which has killed more than 221,000 people in the US and the economic pressure facing the country, became a hot topic in the debate.
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By KRIS RAZIANTO MADA
·3 minutes read
AP/JEFF CHIU
Citizens watch from inside a vehicle during the final debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden on a giant screen at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, USA, on Thursday (10/22/2020).
NASHVILLE, FRIDAY— The final debate of the United States presidential candidates between incumbent President Donald Trump (74) and his challenger Joe Biden (77) on Thursday evening or Friday morning Western Indonesian Time (WIB) was more orderly than the first one thanks to the use of a mute button by the elections commission to prevent interruptions.
Trump, a Republican, spoke in a more restrained tone this time. His aggressiveness seemed stifled as his Democratic challenger Biden looked calmer, but sharp when trying to break Trump\'s attacks. The absence of disruptions produced a more substantive debate over a range of topics including the economy, race, climate change, healthcare and immigration.
But the coronavirus, which has killed more than 221,000 people in the US and the economic pressure facing the country, became a hot topic in the debate. The two presidential candidates displayed contrasting views on this matter. Covid-19 has again become the main obstacle for Trump, who is trailing in the polls. On the other hand, Biden used that topic to go higher.
“Anyone who’s responsible for that many deaths should not remain president of the United States of America,” Biden said. Trump, who has put his stewardship of the economy at the center of his campaign, defended his approach to the Covid-19 pandemic. The country could not afford to close businesses activities.
“We’re learning to live with it,” said Trump, who has played down the virus for months. “We have no choice,” he said.
Biden replied to that statement immediately. “Learning to live with it? Come on. We’re dying with it.”
He promises that a Covid-19 vaccine or an effective therapy will be available soon and will allow life to return to normal.
On the contrary, as a person with a business background, low unemployment and a booming stock market has become Trump’s mainstay card. He believes the US economy will recover in the third and fourth quarters of this year and will take off like a "rocket ship" in 2021. He promises that a Covid-19 vaccine or an effective therapy will be available soon and will allow life to return to normal.
AFP/JIM WATSON DAN BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI
This combination of file pictures created on September 28, 2020 shows Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden(L) speaking in Tampa, Florida on September 15, 2020 and US President Donald Trump speaking during an event for black supporters at the Cobb Galleria Centre September 25, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia.
On the other hand, Biden argued that the economy would not be able to fully recover until Covid-19 was brought under control. For a long-term recovery, he proposed broad federal measures to avoid a prolonged recession. He also believes that comprehensive policies are needed to tackle long-standing wealth inequalities that disproportionately affect non-white Americans.
Attacks
Taking a position as an attacker in the debate, Trump was able to put pressure on Biden. He described Biden\'s career as a politician with nearly 50 years of experience as insignificant.
Among other points, he argued the policies he made with Obama helped restored the US economy from the impacts of the 2008 crisis.
Trump argued Biden had done little in his time as a US senator and vice president. "If you do everything you campaign on, I would not run for office. Because you and Obama were incompetent, I was forced to run for office,” he said. The statement was immediately denied by Biden. Among other points, he argued the policies he made with Obama helped restored the US economy from the impacts of the 2008 crisis.
As for Biden, he used the opportunity to criticize Trump\'s presidency. Biden highlighted the economic pressures that US citizens have to face because of the government\'s steps to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
To date, approximately 47 million Americans have turned in ballots. Both candidates will take advantage of 11 days after the debate. Trump will campaign in the state of Florida, where opinion polls show Trump and Biden in a tight competition. Meanwhile, Biden is scheduled to visit Delaware. (AP/REUTERS)
