Biden vs. Trump: Presumptive Democratic Nominee Targets President’s Handling Of Coronavirus

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Monday launched a round of television and digital ads to highlight the impact of coronavirus on older Americans and their families as polls indicated the public was growing more dissatisfied with President Trump’s handling of the pandemic.

The campaign began airing a television ad titled, “Didn’t Matter,” featuring a tearful Wisconsin woman who condemns the administration handling of the virus, accusing government officials of feeling “like my grandmother didn’t matter.”

“It was difficult to comprehend how everything spiraled downward,” the woman said in recounting how her grandmother contracted coronavirus. “We didn’t even know she had COVID until a week later and her passing.

“The president made a huge mistake in downplaying this virus. There was a lack of leadership and a lack of responsibility.”

Polls indicate most Americans agree with the woman’s assessment. An Associated Press-NORC poll released Sunday indicated just 32% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the pandemic, with support among Republicans dipping to 68%.

Trump last week reversed course on the seriousness of the virus, calling it a “plague” and advising Americans to wear face masks. A Gallup poll taken in June indicated Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 38% while 57% of those polls said they disapproved of his leadership.

Biden’s ad buy totaled more than $14.5 million and followed a $15 million buy last week. The latest ad will target 25 media markets in battleground states won by Trump in 2016, including Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Biden has been highly critical of Trump’s handling of the pandemic. In a statement last week, Biden called Trump’s claims of victory over the virus “inexplicable,” noting the outbreak in the U.S. is worse than anywhere else among developed countries.

“With more lives being taken each day and with more and more families suffering under the incredible financial burden imposed by this virus, this is not the time for President Trump to pat himself on the back,” Biden said. “We know what we need to do to beat this virus.”