Monday morning news - November 2, 2020

Candidates make final campaign push » One final day of campaigning for candidates ahead of tomorrow’s election. 

TRUMP: We have the number one economy in the world right now by far, by far. And we’re not losing it on my watch, I can tell you that! 

President Trump stumping in suburban Detroit on Sunday. 

He’ll be back in Michigan today. He’ll also travel to Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, which may be the ultimate battleground state in this election. 

Trump narrowly carried The Keystone State in 2016 and some analysts believe it is a must-win for his reelection. 

With that in mind, his campaign rival Joe Biden will spend the final day of his campaign barnstorming the state. 

He also campaigned there on Sunday. 

BIDEN: Hello Philadelphia! It’s great to see everyone!  

The former vice president heard there holding an event in a church parking lot. 

An average of recent polls suggest Biden is leading Pennsylvania by about 4 points. 

Campaigns debate coronavirus measures » President Trump is campaigning on positive news for the economy. Numbers released Thursday showed record growth in the third quarter. 

But recent news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is not positive. That’s given the Biden campaign more ammunition just ahead of Election Day. 

Former President Barack Obama hammered President Trump during a campaign stop for Biden in Michigan. 

OBAMA: If Trump were focused on COVID from the beginning, cases wouldn’t be reaching new record highs across the country.

Cases are rising in almost every state and hospitalizations are up in most. 

But Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller said a vaccine is on track to reach Americans in record time and that the administration has invested heavily in therapeutics. 

MILLER: COVID is no longer a death sentence. We have made such miraculous advancements. 

Deaths are up over the past two weeks, but only slightly. And the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients is down sharply from its peak back in April. 

Biden says the president has been reckless, desperately reopening the economy to boost his reelection hopes. 

But Trump says his opponent is ignoring unintended consequences of lockdowns—such as an increase in suicides and drug overdoses. 

The American Medical Association reported this month that more than 40 states have seen increases in opioid-related deaths amid growing concerns over mental illness and substance abuse.

British prime minister announces new lockdown » But in the UK, the prime minister has determined that another lockdown is needed.

JOHNSON: Unless we act, we could see deaths in this country running at several thousand a day, a peak of mortality alas bigger than the one we saw in April. 

Boris Johnson over the weekend announcing a new month-long lockdown for England. It’s set to take effect on Thursday assuming Parliament approves the measure. Lawmakers will vote on it Wednesday. 

Johnson said England is not going back to “the full scale lockdown of March and April.” He said the restrictions he’s outlined would not be quite as tough. 

But they would require bars and restaurants close down once again, except for takeout and nonessential shops would close. And…

JOHNSON: You must stay at home. You may only leave home for specific reasons, including for education, for work, let’s say if you cannot work from home. 

The rules would only apply to England. Other parts of the UK have already imposed similar restrictions. 

Sean Connery dies » Hollywood is mourning the loss of iconic big screen star Sean Connery. He died over the weekend at the age of 90. 

The Scottish actor was, of course, the man who made this line famous…

CLIP: Bond, James Bond. 

After leaving 007 behind, Connery went on to carve out an Oscar-winning career in other rugged roles. His film credits include The Hunt for Red October, Highlander, and First Knight. And he won Best Supporting Actor for portraying an Irish cop in The Untouchables. 

Connery’s wife and two sons said he “died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family” at his home in the Bahamas.

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson) President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, at Hickory Regional Airport in Hickory, N.C. 

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