Election 2020 Today: Trump sows voting doubt; Biden lays low
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Cecil Airport, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. [AP/ Evan Vucci]
Here’s what’s happening Friday in Election 2020, 39 days until Election Day:
RESPECTING ELECTION: President Donald Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses drew swift blowback from both parties in Congress, and lawmakers turned to unprecedented steps to ensure he can’t ignore the vote of the people. Amid the uproar, Trump said anew he’s not sure the election will be "honest."
BIDEN’S STYLE: Joe Biden has been laying low. Since he chose Kamala Harris as his running mate on Aug. 11, he has had 23 days where he either didn’t make public appearances, held only virtual fundraisers or ventured from his Delaware home solely for church. He has made 11 out-of-state visits during that period. During the same time, President Donald Trump had 24 trips that took him to 17 different states.
TRUMP’S COURT: President Donald Trump is aiming to maximize the benefit of his Supreme Court choice before Nov. 3 and even secure an electoral backstop should the results be contested. "I think this will end up in the Supreme Court. And I think it’s very important that we have nine justices."
MONTANA DUO: Steve Daines, who is seeking reelection to the U.S. Senate, and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, who is running again for governor, are hoping to reshape Montana politics. Together they are pushing the state’s Republican Party away from a Western brand of centrism and toward the hardline partisan agenda of President Donald Trump.
QUOTABLE: "The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792." — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Twitter.