Evening Summary
Thanks for reading on this busy afternoon of coronavirus and politics news. Here are some stories to be aware of:
- Trump has been in close contact with members of Congress who have been exposed to coronavirus.
- Mike Pence declined to answer in a press conference on Monday if Trump had been tested for the illness.
- Rep Julia Brownley, a Democrat from California, locked down her Washington, DC offices and is staying home for the next week after potentially coming in contact with the coronavirus.
- Meanwhile, Rep Gohmert has declined to quarantine himself, despite having potentially been in contact with someone who had coronavirus.
- Trump announced in a press conference “major” economic measures to address the impact of coronavirus, including a potential payroll tax.
That’s all from me, take care.
Updated
Former candidate Mike Bloomberg is firing staffers across the country, despite guaranteeing them they would be paid by his campaign into November.
Bloomberg is reportedly encouraging workers to reapply for jobs with his new independent committee and allowing them to keep their Bloomberg-issued iPhones and MacBooks.
The campaign of the former New York City mayor has stated it will start a new independent expenditure to keep staffers in six battleground states and work towards electing Biden. It is unclear how many of his former staffers he will retain for that effort.
Election officials in St Louis, Missouri, are taking measures to stop the spread of coronavirus as they await tomorrow’s elections there.
All 357 polling places in the St Louis area have been sent additional hand sanitizing wipes and liquids, according to STL Today.
There are six states slated to hold Democratic elections on Tuesday: Missouri, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington and Michigan.
Updated
The former wife of George Papadopoulos tweeted on Monday she is leaving the disgraced former Trump administration member, alleging abuse.
Officially divorcing @GeorgePapa19 after the months of abuses and ultimately the huge disrespect he showed this morning in his podcast. I am tired of him and playing his wife . He is a monster t
— Simona Mangiante (@simonamangiante) March 9, 2020
Papadopoulos sparked the US inquiry into Russia election meddling and served 14 days in prison for lying to the FBI during the probe of his meetings with Russia.
The final straw appeared to be being insulted on his podcast this week.
As Trump and Pence held their press conference regarding coronavirus response Monday evening, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, released a list of priorities Democrats have related to the virus.
Those priorities include paid sick leave and enhanced unemployment insurance for those who cannot work or lose work because of the epidemic, measures to support food security, and anti-price gouging protections for medical and non-medical essentials during the emergency.
She also advocated to increase the capacity of the medical system and provide affordable treatment for all as the virus continues to spread.
Updated
Trump announces 'major' economic measures to address impact of coronavirus
Donald Trump spoke at a press briefing regarding coronavirus response on Monday.
He said his administration is proposing measures including working with hourly wage earners to ensure they can take time off and creating loans for small businesses so they can weather the coronavirus outbreak.
“This is something we were thrown into and we have been handling it”, Trump said.
The moves come as the economy has been in a nosedive and coronavirus spreads around the globe. Trump also proposed a payroll tax he said he will discuss on Tuesday with the Senate.
“We are going to take care of, and have been taking care of, the American public and the American economy”, he said.
Trump said he will hold another press conference on Tuesday to announce “major” economic measures he will work with the Senate to create.
“They will be very dramatic,” he said. “We have a very strong economy but this has blindsided the world, I think we have handled it very well,” he said.
Updated
Trump has taken the stage at the task force press briefing.
Republican Rep Gohmert of Texas is refusing to quarantine himself despite interacting with someone at CPAC who has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
This comes despite several of his colleagues quarantining out of an abundance of caution. He said a CDC doctor told him he “shouldn’t be at any risk” so he is returning to Congress and observing “basic hygienic processes” instead of enforcing a quarantine.
He said he would return if he were me and advised that my staff and I should just be careful to observe proper hygiene protocols. I took the advice of the expert and returned to work. No one is panicking and we are observing the recommended precautions." (3/3)
— Louie Gohmert (@replouiegohmert) March 9, 2020
Updated
More members of Congress are now quarantining themselves after potentially being put in contact with the coronavirus.
Rep. Julia Brownley, a Democrat from California is locking down her Washington, D.C. office and remaining at home for the next week after she discovered an individual who tested positive attended her office last week.
The White House is about to hold a press briefing about coronavirus and the task force being used to address it. Stay tuned for updates.
Coronavirus is encroaching on Donald Trump.
The president has had close contact with a number of people exposed to the virus, the Associated Press reported on Monday.
Close congressional confidants — including one who traveled on Air Force One with Trump Monday — have moved to quarantine themselves after exposure to a person infected with the virus.
The potential contact comes after the White House said it was “conducting business as usual,” and Trump sought to project calm as the epidemic poses one of the greatest tests yet to his administration.
On Capitol Hill, at least five lawmakers were in self-quarantine as discussions were underway on how to address the virus outbreak and economic volatility and keep the government functioning.
Hello readers! Kari Paul here, taking over the blog from our West Coast bureau in San Francisco. Stand by for updates.
Today so far
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Kari Paul, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
- The Dow suffered its worst day since 2008, dropping more than 2,000 points amid intensifying fears about the spread of coronavirus.
- Trump downplayed the severity of coronavirus, comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy was humming along even as markets nosedived.
- Two Republican lawmakers who have recently interacted with Trump are self-quarantining. Congressmen Doug Collins and Matt Gaetz said they interacted with a person who tested positive for coronavirus at CPAC and would self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
- Cory Booker and Kamala Harris will appear at Joe Biden’s Detroit rally tonight. The two Democratic senators, both of whom endorsed Biden in recent days, have been listed as potential running mates to the former vice president.
- Polls show Biden leading Bernie Sanders in Michigan, which will hold its primary tomorrow. With 125 pledged delegates up for grabs, Michigan is the most delegate-rich state voting tomorrow and could increase Biden’s lead over Sanders.
Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Dow suffers worst day since 2008
The Dow has closed down more than 2,000 points, or about 7.8%, amid fears about the spread of coronavirus.
The nosedive marks the Dow’s worst day since 2008, at the start of the Great Recession.
For more updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog:
Congressman Matt Gaetz is now also self-quarantining after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus.
While the Congressman is not experiencing symptoms, he received testing today and expects results soon.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020
Under doctor's usual precautionary recommendations, he'll remain self-quarantined until the 14-day period expires this week.
The Florida Republican and close Trump ally attracted attention last week for wearing a gas mask on to the House floor to vote on the $8 billion coronavirus bill.
Reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote. pic.twitter.com/wjJ4YY4VZz
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 4, 2020
But Gaetz’s statement on his self-quarantine claimed he wore the gas mask to illustrate the depth of his concern around the spread of the virus.
“Congressman Gaetz had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor,” the statement reads.
Gaetz also flew back to Washington with Trump on Air Force One today, marking another interaction between the president and someone who has since gone into self-quarantine.
Another Republican lawmaker who attended CPAC is self-quarantining after interacting with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.
Congressman Doug Collins said he was not experiencing symptoms but was going to self-quaratine “out of an abundance of caution.”
This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for #COVID19.
— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) March 9, 2020
While I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
Full statement → pic.twitter.com/74oeaYOBYR
Collins also shook hands with Trump on Friday as the president traveled to the congressman’s home state of Georgia to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rep. Doug Collins — now voluntarily in self-quarantine after interacting with a coronavirus-infected person at CPAC — shook hands with President Trump on Friday ahead of his CDC visit. pic.twitter.com/At5at2Wsoz
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) March 9, 2020
A new national poll found Joe Biden leading Bernie Sanders by almost 20 points.
The Quinnipiac University survey showed that Biden is attracting the support of 54% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, compared to Sanders’ 35%.
Biden is also viewed as more electable than Sanders when it comes to an eventual general election race against Trump.
While 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say Biden is very or somewhat likely to defeat Trump, only 61% say the same of Sanders.
But the poll shows both Biden and Sanders leading against Trump in a hypothetical general election, although Biden’s advantage (9 points) is a bit larger than Sanders’ (7 points).
Joe Biden said he would defer to medical experts on whether to cancel campaign rallies.
Some experts have expressed concern about holding large rallies while the number of coronavirus cases in the US increases.
“If they conclude that there shouldn’t be big indoor rallies, then we’ll stop big indoor rallies,” Biden told NBC News. “We’re going to do whatever they say.”
Trump said on Saturday that his campaign rallies, which he has been using to counterprogram the Democratic primaries, would continue.
“We will have tremendous rallies, and we’re doing very well, and we’ve done a fantastic job with respect to that subject on the virus,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago.
Cory Booker appeared at Joe Biden’s campaign stop in Flint, Michigan, shortly after the New Jersey senator endorsed the former vice president.
In Flint, Michigan, Sen Cory Booker D-NJ here with Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/MLnL0SfnPg
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) March 9, 2020
Booker will also appear at Biden’s rally in Detroit tonight, alongside fellow senator Kamala Harris, both of whom have been listed as potential running mates for Biden.
Polls show Biden leading in Michigan, which will hold its primary tomorrow and award 125 pledged delegates. The state, which went for Bernie Sanders in 2016, could give Biden an even larger delegate lead.
The Dow has dropped more than 1,900 points today, as fears intensify about the spread of coronavirus.
The New York Stock Exchange briefly halted trading this morning as the markets nosedived.
For the latest updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog:
Joe Biden’s campaign dismissed a report about the Democratic frontrunner’s potential Cabinet picks.
Axios reported that the former vice president is considering billionaires Mike Bloomberg and Jamie Dimon for senior roles like head of the World Bank and treasury secretary.
Former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, who has lobbied for stricter regulation of Wall Street, was also listed as a potential treasury secretary in a Biden administration.
“This is like fantasy football for politics, and no one who actually works on this campaign and is engaged in getting Joe Biden elected has the time to play,” said Andrew Bates, Biden’s director of rapid response. “It is laughable speculation and should only be treated as such.”
Poll shows Biden leading Sanders by 15 points in Michigan
Another poll has been released showing Joe Biden beating Bernie Sanders in Michigan, which will hold its primary tomorrow.
According to the Monmouth University survey, Biden is at 51% in the state, whil Sanders is 15 points behind at 36%.
MICHIGAN VOTER POLL: #2020Dem primary:
— MonmouthPoll (@MonmouthPoll) March 9, 2020
51% @JoeBiden
36% @BernieSanders
Biden/Sanders among:
White voters - 50/36
Other race - 53/36
Age 50+ years - 62/24
Age <50 years - 39/49
Women - 53/33
Men - 39/49#MichiganPrimary https://t.co/uoifhp4Uud
The survey is great news for Biden, who is looking to increase his delegate lead tomorrow. With 125 pledged delegates up for grabs, Michigan is the most delegate-rich state voting tomorrow.
But Monmouth includes this important caveat in its press release on the poll: “The 2016 Michigan Democratic primary is considered to be the biggest polling miss of that cycle. Polls released in the week before the state primary showed Hillary Clinton with anywhere from a 10 to 27 point lead – Monmouth’s poll had her up by 13 points – but Sanders ended up winning the contest by just over a percentage point.”
And here’s some good news for all Democrats: Monmouth found Biden and Sanders both leading Trump in the battleground state. Biden is 7 points ahead of the president in a potential general election (48% to 41%), while Sanders is 5 points ahead (46% to 41%). Trump narrowly won Michigan in 2016, besting Clinton by about 10,000 votes.
US troops have begun withdrawing from Afghanistan
Hundreds of US service members have started withdrawing from Afghanistan as part of the initial troop drawdown outlined in the peace agreement with the Taliban.
The AP reports:
Hundreds of troops are heading out of the country as previously planned, but they will not be replaced as the U.S. moves ahead with plans to cut the number of forces in the country from about 13,000 to 8,600, [a US] official said. ...
The pullout comes as Afghanistan’s rival leaders were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies on Monday, creating a complication for the United States as it figures out how to move forward on the deal and end the 18-year war.
The sharpening dispute between President Ashraf Ghani, who was declared the winner of last September’s election, and his rival Abdullah Abdullah, who charged fraud in the vote along with the elections complaints commission, threatens to wreck the next key steps and even risks devolving into new violence.
The initial troop withdrawal comes as reports emerge that Taliban officials have no intention of honoring the promises they agreed to in the peace agreement.
Today so far
Here’s where the day stands so far:
- Trump downplayed the threat of coronavirus, comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy is carrying on, even though the Dow is down nearly 1,600 points today.
- Cory Booker and Kamala Harris will appear at Joe Biden’s Detroit rally tonight after both senators, who have been listed as potential running mates to Biden, endorsed the former vice president.
- Biden criticized Trump’s response to coronavirus, saying the president should “just be quiet” and defer to medical experts.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
The Senate finance committee is considering “targeted tax relief measures” in response to coronavirus.
The Republican chairman of the panel, Chuck Grassley, said the tax relief measures were one of several proposals under consideration as the economy suffers because of the health threat.
A statement from Grassley’s office said, “While we continue to assess the economic impacts, Chairman Grassley is exploring the possibility of targeted tax relief measures that could provide a timely and effective response to the coronavirus.”
Meanwhile, the Dow is down more than 1,600 points today after trading on the New York Stock Exchange was briefly halted this morning.
About half of Democratic voters are enthusiastic about Joe Biden potentially winning the presidential nomination, according to a new poll.
The HuffPost/YouGov survey found that 48% of Democratic voters are ethusiastic about Biden becoming the nominee, versus 40% who say the same of Bernie Sanders.
But there’s a stark age gap in those numbers. Among voters aged 45 and older, 62% say they’re enthusaistic about a Biden nomination, compared to 28% of those under 45.
Sanders similarly sees an age divide in enthusiasm. While 55% of younger voters say they would be enthusiastic about his nomination, only 29% of those over 45 say the same.
But there is broad agreement on one point: a 77% majority of Democratic voters say they expect Biden to win the nomination.
Trump does not appear to have adjusted his behavior as concerns mount about the spread of coronavirus.
The president was seen shaking hands with supporters in Florida as he arrived for a fundraiser.
President Trump shakes hands with people after arriving in Orlando, Florida. pic.twitter.com/rGVDaa9JsA
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 9, 2020
Reports have also been popping up that some of Trump’s aides fear he is not taking the health threat seriously enough, while he simultaneously downplays the impact coronavirus is having on the economy.
White House says it's 'business as usual' amid coronavirus fears
Trump’s press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said the White House is conducting “business as usual” amid fears about the climbing number of coronavirus cases.
“Reports that the White House has issued formal guidelines to staff instructing them to limit in-person interactions and meetings are completely false,” Grisham said.
“While we have asked all Americans to exercise common-sense hygiene measures, we are conducting business as usual.”
The statement came shortly after Trump downplayed the severity of coronavirus by comparing it to the “common Flu” and suggesting the economy is carrying on, even though the Dow is down 1,400 points today.
Biden criticizes Trump's response to coronavirus
Joe Biden expressed concern about Trump’s response to coronavirus, criticizing the president for not deferring more to medical experts.
In an exclusive interview with @Lawrence, former Vice President @JoeBiden reacts to Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and the market turmoil. Watch the full interview Monday at 10pm ET on @MSNBC. pic.twitter.com/IUOiUWPDKW
— The Last Word (@TheLastWord) March 9, 2020
“I wish he would just be quiet,” the Democratic presidential candidate told MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell. “I really mean it. That’s an awful thing to say about a president, but I wish he’d be quiet. Just let the experts speak.”
Biden also said he was worried Trump was trying to minimize the health threat out of fear of political consequences.
“There’s no confidence in the President, in anything he says or does,” Biden said. “He turns everything into what he thinks is a political benefit for himself, when he’s actually imploding in the process. But there’s a lot of innocent bystanders that are being badly hurt.”
Updated
Booker and Harris to appear at Biden rally tonight
Cory Booker will appear alongside Joe Biden in Detroit tonight, after endorsing the former vice president earlier today.
The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose.@JoeBiden won’t only win - he’ll
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 9, 2020
show there's more that unites us than divides us.
He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.
That’s why I’m proud to endorse Joe. pic.twitter.com/RcsnZs5mfQ
Kamala Harris, another former presidential candidate who endorsed Biden over the weekend, will also attend the Detroit rally.
Booker and Harris have both been repeatedly mentioned as potential running mates for Biden, so he may be appearing alongside his future vice president tonight.
Updated
Trump appears to minimize coronavirus
Trump appeared to minimize coronavirus as the Dow is down 1,600 points because of the health threat.
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
The president’s tweet ironically came moments after his health and human services secretary emphasized the severity of coronavirus in a Fox News interview.
“This is a very serious health problem,” Alex Azar told Fox. “Nobody is trying to minimize that.”
Here’s HHS Secretary Azar claiming on Fox News that “nobody is trying to minimize” the public health threat posed by coronavirus six minutes before President Trump posted a tweet doing just that pic.twitter.com/ThRGG2HE1A
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 9, 2020
Trump celebrated crashing oil prices as “good for the consumer,” blaming the market nosedive on Saudi-Russian tensions and “the Fake News.”
Good for the consumer, gasoline prices coming down!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the price and flow of oil. That, and the Fake News, is the reason for the market drop!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
At the risk of stating the obvious, the market slump is tied to very real concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
And while slumping gas prices might be nice for drivers when they go to fill their tanks, they can have a devastating impact on global markets, as we are seeing this morning.
Case in point: the Great Recession caused a steep drop in gas and oil prices.
Some White House advisers are concerned Trump is not taking coronavirus seriously enough, after spending a weekend at Mar-a-Lago fundraising.
The president is again holding fundraisers today as the Dow dropped more than 1,000 points.
Trump will spend the day at a campaign fundraiser in Florida. No other events on his schedule.
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) March 9, 2020
$4 million total to be raised at a lunch with 250 attendees.
So as U.S. markets tank, oil prices plunge and the #coronavirus spreads ... Trump is fundraising.
Trump also continues to downplay the severity of the health threat as the number of cases rise. CNN reports:
For a self-described germophobe, Trump has continued to shake hands and interact with people like normal. While a bottle of hand sanitizer has been a staple in his life for decades now, people said they did not notice the President taking any extra precautions, despite being in the age bracket that health officials say should be most concerned about coronavirus.
That wasn’t the case for all of Mar-a-Lago’s membership, which skews older. People who were at the club this weekend said conversations among guests focused intently on coronavirus and preparations to avoid contracting it. One person said there appeared to be extra sanitizer positioned on side tables throughout the club. Other guests said they didn’t expect to return to the facility until the crisis wanes, wary of mingling with large groups. ...
The weekend left several people around the President questioning how seriously he’s taking the outbreak. He was briefed several times by Vice President Mike Pence, who he has put in charge of leading the administration’s response and also made an appearance at Mar-a-Lago.
Asked Saturday night if he was worried that coronavirus is getting closer to Washington, and therefore the White House, Trump said, ‘No, I’m not concerned at all. No, I’m not.’
A new poll out of Michigan shows Joe Biden leading Bernie Sanders by 24 points, as the former vice president consolidates support after a strong Super Tuesday performance.
According to the EPIC-MRA/Detroit Free Press poll, Biden is at 51% in the state, while Sanders is far behind at 27%.
Michigan is the most delegate-rich state voting tomorrow, awarding 125 delegates to the three remaining Democratic presidential candidates. (Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the race.)
If Biden can pull off a massive victory tomorrow, it will make it even more difficult for Sanders to catch up, so the presidential primary could wrap up quickly.
Trading halted as stocks plummet over coronavirus fears
Trading has temporarily halted at the New York Stock Exchange, as the Dow fell more than 7% over concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
BREAKING: U.S. STOCKS HALTED FOR 15 MINUTES AS S&P 500 PLUNGES 7% https://t.co/uliNPXMKoI pic.twitter.com/7rZi4apQdW
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) March 9, 2020
The nosedive comes a day after Saudi Arabia slashed oil prices amid escalating tensions with fellow oil producer Russia, which triggered fears of a damaging price war.
For the latest updates on coronavirus, follow the Guardian’s live blog:
Bullock announces Senate run
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.
Montana’s governor, Steve Bullock, who suspended his presidential campaign in December, has announced he will run for Senate against Republican incumbent Steve Daines.
I've always fought for the people of Montana. Together, we expanded health care, protected public lands, banned dark money in politics & more. Now I'm taking that fight to the US Senate. Let’s make Washington work more like Montana. Join us: https://t.co/vyPPioB0tJ #MTSen #MTpol pic.twitter.com/6VuCKsNTeW
— Steve Bullock (@stevebullockmt) March 9, 2020
Bullock had been expected to launch a Senate bid, following months of lobbying by top Democrats such as the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer.
The popular governor had initially resisted calls for him to challenge Daines but changed his mind in recent weeks after discussions with his family.
(Joe Biden’s rising fortunes in the presidential primary probably also helped convince Bullock, considering Montana’s very conservative leanings would have made it difficult to run with Bernie Sanders at the top of the ticket.)
Bullock still faces a difficult road ahead in trying to unseat Daines, but it was widely recognized the well known state leader faced the best chance of victory if he chose to enter the race.
Updated
It feels like every Tuesday at the moment could potentially be a decisive moment in the Democrat primaries. Last week certainly re-shaped the race, and this week’s vote could either see Bernie Sanders regain his momentum, indicating that we’ll have a race that goes all the way to the wire, or, if Biden wins well, could effectively be the end of the road.
Here’s a reminder of who is voting, and when:
Michigan
125 delegates, polls close 8pm ET (except four counties in the Central time zone)
There’s been a big ad spend from both campaigns in the state and both candidates are there in person today. Sanders has to repeat his 2016 win - but in recent polling Biden has a small lead.
Washington
89 delegates, polls close 10pm
Sanders won every county here in 2016.
Missouri
68 delegates, polls close 8pm
This was tight between Sanders and Clinton in 2016, and could be tight again.
Mississippi
36 delegates, polls close 8pm
Biden is favourite here, where the electorate is overwhelmingly black
Idaho
20 delegates, polls close 8pm locally, mostly 11pm ET but the state is split across time zones.
Idaho was a strong win for Sanders in 2016. This year it is a primary rather than caucuses
North Dakota
14 delegates, polls close 8pm
Also a Sanders win in 2016.
It might be a dodgy day for stocks and shares, but someone who seems to continue to be able to pull in the cash is Donald Trump. Watchdogs and public records have revealed how Trump properties have raked in millions from Pacs and Republican figures during the president’s time in office.
The America First Action Super Pac, for example, has spent over $540,000 to host events at Trump’s hotel, making it a top source of campaign revenues for the hotel and the Trump family business.
Peter Stone has more - How Trump’s business empire is cashing in on the 2020 campaign
We are just under an hour away from the markets opening in New York, and it is going to be a rough ride for sure. MarketWatch here are suggesting that oil prices will “deliver a punishing blow to Wall Street”. There are already some big pre-opening falls.
You’ll be able to follow what happens on our business live blog.
It isn’t just Kamala Harris and Cory Booker who have been endorsing Joe Biden this weekend. He has also, according to a report from the Associated Press, picked up the endorsement of one of the nation’s largest gun safety groups.
Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund plans to spend $60m on electoral activities this cycle, the AP says, some of which will go toward trying to elect Biden.
An Everytown spokesman said the group typically airs advertisements and engages in grassroots organizing for the candidates it endorses, though it’s unclear when the group will begin to spend on Biden’s behalf.
They boasts 6 million supporters and more than 375,000 grassroots donors, numbers that could help boost attention and support for Biden’s presidential bid nationwide.
In an interview with AP, John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety, said the group chose Biden because working for gun control is “his past, it’s his present, it’s his future”. Asked if Sanders’ record on gun control factored into the group’s decision, Feinblatt said that the group looks at a candidate’s “total record”.
“You can’t confine yourself to just what somebody says they’ll do in the future. You have to look at what they’ve done in the past,” he said. “Unquestionably, Joe is a person who’s dedicated much of his life to the issue of gun safety.”
During his tenure in the House and the Senate, Bernie Sanders opposed a 1993 gun safety bill known as the Brady Bill and supported bills that would give gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits. His position on gun control issues has shifted, and he now has a D-minus rating from the National Rifle Association.
But Sanders’ past votes have been frequent fodder for attacks from his opponents, with Biden charging in a recent TV debate, as he stood next to the Vermont senator, that “my friend on my right and others have given gun manufacturers absolute immunity”.
Biden also has run ads highlighting his work on gun control measures, and on Sunday he received the endorsement of another gun control group, the Brady Campaign.
Updated
Pete Buttigieg has been on the Today show, talking about Joe Biden – and about the significant role that the economy could play in tomorrow’s vote, saying:
My part of Indiana is very similar to those parts of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania where we’ve been told the economy is great. And yet right now we are seeing so many families trying to get ahead, but when your pay does go up it doesn’t keep pace with the cost of higher education, housing, the cost of prescription drugs, and there need to be solutions for that. But that is what vice president Biden has been focussed on for his entire career.
He also suggested that a vote for Trump last time around had been a vote to “burn the house down” out of frustration.
“I think a lot of folks voted the way they did last time around just almost to burn the house down – just out of frustration with everything. Now, the house is on fire, and the question is: What are we going to do to heal this country and move it forward?” -@PeteButtigieg pic.twitter.com/r53OUYUgEe
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 9, 2020
Updated
Michigan is the biggest prize in tomorrow’s primaries, with 125 delegates up for grabs. Tom Perkins has been in Detroit for us, looking at how last time around Sanders’ upset against Hillary Clinton propelled his campaign forwards just as some had begun to write him off. He comes back four years later in need of a similar result.
The latest Michigan polling mirrors others around the country and suggests the state is leaning toward Biden. While Sanders led by as much as nine points in late February, a poll taken after Biden’s huge South Carolina win put Biden up seven. But, despite the appearance of an uphill battle, there is optimism among some Sanders supporters.
Read it here –
Politico’s chief political correspondent Tim Alberta has also been reporting from Michigan, this time Ann Arbor. He says that one of the reasons that Sanders’ victory in the state was significant was not what it meant for the Democratic race, but what it foreshadowed for November’s election.
Where the Vermont senator saw a sudden groundswell of support for his insurgent candidacy Democrats on the ground in Michigan saw something very different. They saw disturbingly low turnout. They saw Clinton failing to energize black voters. They saw young people and independents rebelling against the Democratic front-runner. They saw white working-class voters abandoning her, and the party, in numbers that were once unfathomable.
Alberta argues that if Sanders can’t win in Michigan tomorrow, he can’t at all.
Read it here – Politico: Michigan Was Once Bernie’s Resurrection. Now It Could Be His Burial
The phrase “The economy, stupid!” has echoed down presidential election campaigns through the years, and it might prove to be a significant factor in Michigan. Trump has made much of the US economic performance under his administration but Axios reports:
The counties in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that flipped from blue to red in 2016 all have something in common: they’re heavily reliant on manufacturing and are still struggling amid industrial decline.
Whether Biden or Sanders come out on top tomorrow could be a significant indicator on whether the Democrats have won back those voters – and to which flavour of policies.
Read it here – Axios: Manufacturing counties still struggling ahead of Michigan primary
Updated
Cory Booker endorses Joe Biden
Joe Biden has picked up another big endorsement, this time from the New Jersey senator Cory Booker, who has tweeted that Biden “won’t only win - he’ll show there’s more that unites us than divides us”.
The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose.@JoeBiden won’t only win - he’ll
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 9, 2020
show there's more that unites us than divides us.
He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.
That’s why I’m proud to endorse Joe. pic.twitter.com/RcsnZs5mfQ
Booker ended his own challenge for the nomination back in January, and is another high-profile supporter for Biden after Kamala Harris endorsed the 77-year-old last night.
The FiveThirtyEight endorsement tracker shows just how many of the Democratic party’s major figures have swung behind Biden rather than Sanders.
Updated
Trump attacks media, Democrats over coronavirus again
Trump is on the attack over coronavirus again, tweeting that “The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power to inflame the coronavirus situation”.
The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Surgeon General, “The risk is low to the average American.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
There are a couple of interesting articles this morning looking at Trump’s relationship with the coronavirus and the White House team trying to communicate to the US public about it.
NBC has an article on the mixed messaging sparking internal frustration:
Multiple sources acknowledged that Trump is simply not on the same wavelength as the rest of his team, but they said there isn’t much they can do to change his public tone. Trump has been advised by some close to him to let public health officials, rather than the politicians, take a more forward-facing role. But a person close to the White House said Trump thinks it helps him politically to keep doing what he has been doing.
Read it here - NBC News: Mixed White House messaging on coronavirus sparks internal frustration
The New York Times has an analysis piece that suggests the coronavirus may be immune to the usual Trump tactics. Peter Baker’s view is that:
A president who is at his strongest politically when he has a human target to attack has found it harder to confront a growing outbreak that has rattled the country.
Read it here - New York Times: For Trump, Coronavirus Proves to Be an Enemy He Can’t Tweet Away
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Donald Trump has been very keen during his time in office to take credit for stock market highs. It remains to be seen how happy he will be to take any blame for the market crash that is expected when trading opens later today. CNBC are reporting that the Dow could immediately fall as much as 1,300 points.
The markets won’t be allowed to go into complete free-fall however. There are several “circuit-breakers” built into it which will pause trading on the S&P 500 if it falls below certain thresholds.
Circuit-breakers today:
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) March 9, 2020
* If the S&P 500 declines 7%, (208 points), trading will pause for 15 min
* If declines 13%, (386 pts) trading will again pause for 15 mins
* If falls 20%, (594 pts) the markets would close for the day.
(via @peterschack) @CNBC
You can follow what is likely to be a volatile morning on over on our business live blog with my colleague Graeme Wearden.
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Good morning, on what is likely to prove a busy and eventful day. Not only do we have last-minute campaigning for a whole bunch of Democrat primaries tomorrow on the agenda, but the US will be waking up to news of turmoil in international markets as fears about the coronavirus outbreak have set stocks and shares plunging across Asia and Europe.
Donald Trump is already up and tweeting in campaign mode:
Working hard Lori! https://t.co/awBZuXrLHg
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
He’s also been retweeting the contentious assertion that media coverage of the coronavirus is as dangerous to the US as the outbreak of Covid-19 itself.
The President has a duty to protect the American people from two equally dangerous threats: 1)the coronavirus and 2)the mass hysteria that MSM wants to create with the sole purpose of politically hurting the President.
— Jose Deynes (@josedeynes) March 9, 2020
The president is fundraising in Florida today, and will be back at the White House this afternoon. Mike Pence will lead a White House coronavirus taskforce meeting in the situation room at 4pm ET.
Bernie Sanders is campaigning in Missouri and Michigan. Michigan is the state offering the most delegates tomorrow - 125 of them. Also voting on Tuesday are Idaho, North Dakota, Mississippi, Missouri and Washington. Joe Biden currently leads with 664 pledged delegates to Sanders’ 573.
Biden is in Michigan, too, where he will be appearing alongside former rival for the nomination Senator Kamala Harris at a rally in Detroit. Harris endorsed Biden at the weekend.
And Elizabeth Warren? She’ll be reflecting on going viral at the weekend for her spot on Saturday Night Live, as everybody waits to see whether she is going to endorse one of the two remaining realistic challengers to take on Trump in November.
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