The Hill’s Campaign Report: Campaigns scale back amid coronavirus threat

Welcome to The Hill’s Campaign Report, your daily rundown on all the latest news in the 2020 presidential, Senate and House races. Did someone forward this to you? Click here to subscribe.

We’re Julia Manchester, Max Greenwood and Jonathan Easley. Here’s what we’re watching today on the campaign trail. 

 

LEADING THE DAY:

It is a strange time on the campaign trail, as candidates, operatives and voters dramatically scale back their activities in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Former Vice President Joe Biden notched three more resounding victories on Tuesday night, routing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Florida, Illinois and Arizona.

Because several states decided to postpone their primaries, the next scheduled elections aren’t until April 4.

Biden has opened up a commanding — and nearly insurmountable — lead in delegates. Sanders is “assessing” his way forward, campaign manager Faiz Shakir said on Tuesday.

But for all intents and purposes, the Democratic presidential race has been settled in favor of Biden.

Sanders has dramatically scaled back his campaign, rolling back fundraising efforts, suspending digital advertising and speaking to supporters about what needs to be done to address the coronavirus, rather than drawing contrasts with Biden.

The Vermont senator lashed out at reporters asking about his political future on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

“I’m dealing with a f—— global crisis. Right now, right now I’m trying to do my best to make sure that we don’t have an economic meltdown and that people don’t die. Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?” Sanders said to CNN’s Manu Raju.

There are still scores of House and Senate primaries that need to be settled. Many of these candidates have drawn back their campaigning as well. It’s unclear whether upcoming states will continue to allow voters to cast ballots in person.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance saying that everyone should avoid crowds, which is in direct conflict with Election Day activities that draw hundreds into packed rooms and long lines at public facilities across the country.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is urging states not to postpone their elections, but rather to expand mail-in and absentee voting, while extending ballot box hours in an effort to diminish crowds and lines.

— Jonathan Easley

 

READ MORE: 

Niall Stanage: Biden subdues Sanders amid virus upheaval

Jonathan Easley: Five takeaways from Tuesday’s elections

Max Greenwood: Tuesday primary turnout slumps amid coronavirus anxiety

Tal Axelrod: McSally campaign to suspend TV ads, canvassing amid pandemic

 

FROM THE TRAIL:

Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld (R) is ending his longshot primary challenge to President Trump. Jonathan has the details. 

 

Axios issued an apology Wednesday after incorrectly reporting that Sanders suspended his presidential campaign. Tal has more.

 

PERSPECTIVES: 

Abby Vesoulis: Will coronavirus turn Andrew Yang’s $1,000 payments into a reality?

Susan Crabtree: With Biden’s wins, the coronavirus election is here

 

FROM CONGRESS AND THE STATES:

Senate and House candidates across the country are transforming their campaigns into digital spaces as the threat of coronavirus throws the art of retail politics into uncharted territory. A number of campaigns have taken to holding tele-town halls and Facebook Lives after suspending in-person activities. However, the changes have also led to questions about how the candidates will promote their campaign as the coronavirus consumes the news cycle, and how they will raise money in an unsteady economy, by Julia Manchester and Juliegrace Brufke.

 

Alabama is postponing its GOP Senate runoff scheduled for later this month to July 14 amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Tal and Reid Wilson report.

 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a proclamation Wednesday that would allow local elections to be postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak, Tal reports.

 

Progressive challenger Marie Newman narrowly defeated Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) in the primary in Illinois’s 3rd Congressional District in one of the country’s most-watched House contests. Lipinski was one of the last remaining anti-abortion Democrats on the national scene.

 

POLL WATCH:

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION – GEORGIA PRIMARY

Biden: 66 percent

Sanders: 22 percent

Gabbard: 1 percent

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

(Keep in mind these dates could change because of the outbreak.)

April 4:

Alaska Democratic primary

Hawaii Democratic primary

Wyoming Democratic caucuses

April 7:

Wisconsin Democratic primary

April 26:

Puerto Rico Democratic primary

April 28:

Connecticut primaries

Delaware primaries

New York primaries

Pennsylvania primaries

Rhode Island primaries

 

ONE HELPFUL THING

The coronavirus outbreak has made it incredibly difficult for people with pre-existing conditions and the elderly to take trips to the grocery store because they are so much more at risk than younger people with stronger immune systems. 

Thankfully, grocery stores in a number of countries have put aside certain hours for those who are most vulnerable to the virus to come in and shop. 

Grocery stores are adopting ‘elderly only’ hours to help seniors stock up safely during the coronavirus crisis pic.twitter.com/7lshnTrXpc

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 17, 2020

 

Here’s a look from Australia, where the trend started at Woolworth:

“Even though it was just for 1 hour, it gave us a chance to slowly do our shop.”

Australia has given the elderly an hour in the mornings to do their shopping so they can avoid panic buying caused by the #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/cxZvym79FF

— QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) March 17, 2020

 

One Twitter user said Finnish grocery stores were also implementing the idea

This is happening in Finland already. 6am some grocery stores open their doors for elderly people.

— Taru Ritola (@Scandinavian63) March 15, 2020

 

The Hill’s Justine Coleman reports that the government of Jersey City, N.J., posted on Facebook Monday that it planned to discuss designating certain hours for only elderly residents, those with disabilities and pregnant residents, extending from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. starting Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Lorain, Ohio, Mayor Jack Bradley said some stores in the city will open early for senior residents to pick up essentials, local station Fox8 reported.

 

We’ll be back tomorrow with the latest from the campaign trail.