On the campaign trail in the USA, June 2020

Reform Party of the United States of America

The following is the second edition of a monthly series chronicling the 2020 United States presidential election. It features original material compiled throughout the previous month after an overview of the month's biggest stories.

This month's spotlight on the campaign trail includes interviews with the vice presidential nominees of the Prohibition Party, Reform Party, and the Life and Liberty Party.

As the campaign entered June, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who mathematically secured the nomination of his party with victories in the June 2 primaries, led President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, 49.0 percent to 42.2 percent in the RealClearPolitics average.

Protests and riots related to the death of George Floyd continued across the nation.  During a riot in Washington, D.C. near the White House, rioters reportedly partly set fire to St. John’s Episcopal Church at Lafayette Square, which suffered damage. The next day, with protests ongoing, President Trump delivered a speech declaring himself the "president of law and order." Afterwards he walked to the church.  Before doing so, law enforcement cleared reportedly peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square using tear gas.  Trump walked and upon reaching the Church held up a Bible for a photo-op.  He received criticism for the move.   Protests escalated later in June with the police killing of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta.  Charges were promptly filed against the officers involved. Atlanta's Democratic mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms's handling of the incident raised her vice presidential prospects.  With the issue of race at the forefront of the campaign, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota withdrew her name from consideration to be Biden's running mate.  She endorsed the selection of a "woman of color."  At the time, Bottoms, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Congresswoman Val Demings,  New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren were said to be finalists for the Democratic vice presidential nomination.

Also as a result of the protests, the slogan "Defund the Police" became popular among supporters of Black Lives Matter.  The Minneapolis city council voted to disband its police force. And in some cities, most notably in Seattle, protesters set up police-free autonomous zones.  CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) or CHOP (Capitol Hill Occupied Protests) as it was later known, formed in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The Trump campaign connected the "defund" slogan and lawlessness to Biden.  In addition, rioters started to tear down and vandalize public statues.  They vandalized, toppled, and/or destroyed statues of figures associated with the Confederate States of America, and statues of Christopher Columbus, US presidents George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant, and abolitionist Matthias Baldwin. Law enforcement halted attempts to take down an equestrial statue of US President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square.  Ahead of a planned attempt to take down the Emancipation Memorial featuring US President Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln Park, Trump vowed to issue an executive order regarding those caught desecrating federal statues.  Trump railed against the rioters during his first campaign rally since the coronavirus pandemic fully engaged the United States, on June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The rally did not require face masks, which led to criticism over concerns about spreading coronavirus.  Attendance was underwhelming with empty seats visible.  Trump created controversy during the rally with a statement about coronavirus testing resulting in an uptick in the number of infections counted.  Although the rate of deaths from coronavirus decreased, infections increased in certain states, resulting in a slowdown in reopening.  Due to the pandemic, the planned Republican National Convention moved from Charlotte to Jacksonville.  The Democratic Party planned to hold its convention largely online.

On June 23, Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton released a book, The Room Where It Happened, critical of Trump.  The administration sued to stop publication, claiming the book had not yet been fully checked for classified information.  A judge agreed the book may have contained classified materials but ruled that "the damage is done" with advanced copies made available to the media. Notably, in the book, Bolton claims Trump asked Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping for help in the 2020 election, which Trump denied. Trump said Bolton broke the law and "likes dropping bombs on people, and killing them."  Democrats expressed dissatisfaction with Bolton over his unwillingness to testify at the Trump impeachment proceedings.  In interviews promoting the book, Bolton said he would not vote for Trump or Biden but planned to write-in an alternate candidate instead.  In alternate party news, businessman Rocky De La Fuente, already the presidential nominee of the Alliance Party, was named the presidential nominee of both the Reform Party and the Natural Law Party of Michigan. The parties nominated his running mate, historian Darcy Richardson, for vice president. The newly created Life and Liberty Party, a libertarian-leaning anti-abortion party, held its first national convention and nominated a ticket of activist J. R. Myers for president and professor Tiara Lusk for vice president.In the Green Party, union leader and party co-founder Howie Hawkins attained the number of delegates required to secure the Green Party presidential nomination ahead of the party's national convention in July.

At the end of the month, Biden held his first press conference since the pandemic was just starting in the United States.  At the event, he broached the New York Times report that Russians were paying bounties to the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.Trump described the story as possibly a hoax and the White House claimed it did not brief Trump on the matter. Biden, during his conference, also countered claims about his mental acuity, declaring that he "can hardly wait to compare my cognitive capability to the cognitive capability of the man I'm running against."  Nevertheless, with more gaffes in June including the misstatement that 120 million people had died from coronavirus, opposition questions about Biden's alleged mental decline continued.  A Zogby International poll showed 55 percent of respondents believed Biden to be in the early stages of dementia.  Still, he remained well ahead of Trump in opinion polls as the month came to a close. In the RealClearPolitics average at the end of June, Biden led Trump 50.0 percent to 40.4 percent.

In June, Prohibition Party presidential nominee Phil Collins and vice presidential nominee Billy Joe Parker unsuccessfully sought the nomination of the Reform Party, thereby denying ballot access for the ticket in Florida.  However, the Prohibition Party has access in Mississippi and Arkansas and is attempting to appear on the ballot in Vermont, Colorado, and Tennessee.  In addition, Collins won the American Independent Party's California Primary in March. Their victory does not guarantee Collins/Parker the party's nomination and a place on the California ballot. The Prohibition Party has not attained ballot access in five or more states since 1984.  In 2016, the party's ticket of James Hedges for President and Bill Bayes for Vice President appeared on the ballot in three states and received 5,617 votes.

Collins/Parker was not the Prohibition Party's original 2020 presidential ticket.  In November 2018, the party nominated a ticket of Bayes for President and C.L. Gammon for Vice President. Bayes withdrew in March 2019. The next month, the party nominated a new ticket of Gammon for President and Collins for Vice President. Gammon withdrew due to health reasons around the beginning of August 2019.  The party finally settled on the Collins/Parker ticket later that month. Parker is a former Marine who worked in manufacturing and warehousing jobs until retiring in 2002.  Since then he has been active in the anti-alcohol movement.

Parker spoke with Wikinews about the campaign.  He discussed why he ultimately decided to join the Prohibition Party, what he sees as his duties and responsibilities as the vice presidential nominee, and why voters should consider voting for the Collins/Parker ticket.

((WSS))  When did you join the Prohibition Party and what attracted you to it?

((WSS))  What duties and responsibilities come with your role as the vice presidential nominee of the Prohibition Party?

((WSS))  Why should voters consider voting for the Collins/Parker ticket over others on the ballot?

At the virtual 2020 Reform National Convention on June 20, the Reform Party nominated the De La Fuente/Richardson presidential ticket, granting it ballot access in Florida. Three days later, the ballot- qualified Natural Law Party of Michigan gave its nomination to the duo. De La Fuente/Richardson has already secured the nomination of the Alliance Party, giving it ballot access in Delaware, South Carolina, and possibly Connecticut.  Wikinews reached out to Richardson to discuss the campaign.

Richardson is a political activist and historian who has authored many books on past political campaigns. He owns the political website Uncovered Politics.  In the 1988 presidential election, Richardson served as campaign manager for the late US Senator Eugene McCarthy. Richardson himself entered presidential politics when he challenged President Barack Obama for the Democratic Party's 2012 presidential nomination. He sought the Reform Party's 2016 presidential nomination but lost to his 2020 running mate De La Fuente. In 2018, Richardson ran for governor of Florida as the Reform Party nominee and finished in third place.

With Wikinews, Richardson discussed his role as the running mate of De La Fuente, the complexity of being the vice presidential nominee for so many parties simultaneously, and for what the De La Fuente/Richardson ticket stands.

((WSS))  What are your duties and responsibilities as the running mate of Rocky De La Fuente?

((WSS))  De La Fuente/Richardson is the ticket of the Alliance, Reform, Natural Law, and American Delta parties. What can the De La Fuente campaign do to grow these parties? Is the campaign focused more on growing one party over the others?

((WSS))  What does the De La Fuente/Richardson ticket stand for? What unique issues or ideas should a voter associate with the campaign?

On June 27, via Zoom, the Life and Liberty Party (L&L) held its first national convention.  It nominated conservative activist J. R. Myers of Alaska for president.  For vice president, three candidates sought the party's nomination. With 71 percent of the vote, Tiara Lusk of Idaho was victorious. Wikinews contacted Lusk about her designation as the first vice presidential nominee of the Life and Liberty Party.

Lusk teaches business management as an adjunct professor at Western Nevada College. She served as a delegate at the Republican Party of Idaho's 2018 convention and as a delegate at the Constitution Party's 2020 national convention.  In addition, she chaired region six of the Constitution Party of Idaho.

The Life and Liberty Party formed from former members of the Constitution Party.  It has attained ballot access in Arkansas and is currently petitioning in several other states.  As of late June, several state Constitution parties were considering severing their ties with the national Constitution Party, which nominated Don Blankenship for president in May.    According to Politics1.com, some of these states may attempt to give their nomination and ballot access to the Myers/Lusk ticket.

With Wikinews, Lusk discussed why she joined the Life and Liberty Party, what her role as vice presidential nominee entails, and why voters should choose the Myers/Lusk ticket over other conservative tickets.

((WSS))  What is the Life and Liberty Party? How is it different from the Constitution Party?  And why did you decide to seek its vice presidential nomination?

((WSS))  What are your duties and responsibilities as the vice presidential nominee of the Life and Liberty Party?

((WSS))  Why should right wing or conservative voters choose Myers/Lusk over President Trump or the Constitution Party's Blankenship/Mohr ticket?


2020年美國總統大選6月競選活動

2020 United States presidential election

以下是英文維基新聞記錄2020年美國總統大選的月度系列第二版，概述了當月最大的新聞大事，將整個上個月的原創材料匯編成冊。

本月的競選焦點包括對禁酒黨、改革黨和自由生命黨的副總統提名人的採訪。

當競選活動進入6月時，民主黨總統候選人拜登在6月2日的初選中取得勝利，以49.0％對42.2％領先於共和黨總統候選人特朗普。

佐治·弗洛伊德之死引發的示威活動在美國全國各地繼續進行。在白宮附近的一場騷亂中，騷亂者點燃了位於拉斐特廣場的聖約翰聖公會教堂，教堂遭到破壞。

第二天，抗議活動仍在進行，特朗普總統發表演講，宣稱自己是「法律與秩序的總統」。之後，他走到了教堂。在此之前，執法部門用催淚彈完全驅趕了拉斐特廣場上的抗議者。特朗普走着走着，到了教堂後，舉着一本《聖經》拍照，他此舉受到批評。

6月12日，亞特蘭大警方殺害雷沙德·布魯克斯，抗議活動升級，警方迅速對涉案警察提出指控。亞特蘭大民主黨市長基莎·蘭斯·博托斯對事件的處理，令她的當選副總統充滿着前景。隨着種族問題成為競選的焦點，明尼蘇達州的參議員艾米·克洛布查爾成為拜登的競選夥伴，她贊同「有色人種的女性」這個想法。當時，博托斯、前國家安全顧問蘇珊·賴斯、女議員瓦爾·戴明斯、新墨西哥州州長米歇爾·盧揚·格里沙姆、參議員賀錦麗和伊莉莎白·華倫，都是民主黨提名副總統的最終人選。

也因為抗議活動，「Defund the Police」的口號在喊「Black Lives Matter」的支持者中流行起來。明尼阿波利斯市議會投票決定解散其警察部隊。而在一些城市，最著名的是西雅圖，抗議者在西雅圖的國會山附近設立了無警察自治區ㄧ「國會山莊自治區」。特朗普競選團隊還將「脫歐」口號和違法行為與拜登聯繫在一起。

此外，騷亂者開始拆毀和破壞公共雕像。最初，騷亂者破壞、推倒和摧毀與美利堅合眾國聯邦州有關的人物雕像。然後，他們轉投破壞探險家、殖民者哥倫布、美國總統佐治·華盛頓、美國總統、戰爭英雄格蘭特以及廢奴主義者馬蒂亞斯·W·鮑德溫（Matthias Baldwin）的雕像。執法部門制止了騷亂者試圖拆除拉斐特廣場上美國總統安德魯·傑克森之雕像的行為。在計劃拆掉林肯公園內以美國總統林肯（Abraham Lincoln）為主題的解放紀念碑之前，特朗普稱要發佈行政命令，規定對那些被抓到的褻瀆聯邦雕像的人判處最低10年的監禁。6月20日，特朗普在俄克拉荷馬州塔爾薩市舉行的COVID-19大流行開始以來的首場競選集會上抨擊了騷亂者。

這場競選集會毋須戴口罩，這導致人們批評，擔心的會傳播COVID-19。競選集會的參加人數不多，可見空座。特朗普在集會期間發表了關於COVID-19檢測導致感染人數上升的聲明，引起了爭議。雖然COVID-19的死亡率下降，但某些州的感染率上升，導致確診速度放緩。由於疫情的影響，大部分計劃中的共和全國大會黨的舉行地從夏洛特轉移到傑克遜維爾。民主黨計劃將主要在網上舉行大會。

6月23日，特朗普的前國家安全顧問博爾頓發表了一本批評特朗普的書《事發之室：白宮回憶錄》（The Room Where It Happened）。政府起訴要求停止出版，稱該書含有機密資料。一名法官同意該書可能包含機密資料，但裁定「為時已晚」（The Damage is Done），提前向媒體提供了副本。值得注意的是，博爾頓在書中稱，特朗普向中國領導人習近平尋求2020年大選的幫助，但特朗普否認了這一點。特朗普稱博爾頓是一個違法的「瘋子」（Wacko）：「他喜歡向人們投擲炸彈，並殺死他們。」

民主黨人對博爾頓去年不願在特朗普彈劾程序中作證表示不滿。在宣傳這本書的採訪中，博爾頓表示，他不會投票給特朗普或拜登，而是計劃投自然法則黨（Natural Law Party）的總統候選人。兩黨提名他的競選伙伴、歷史學家達西·理查德森（Darcy Richardson）為副總統。黨內新聞方面，已經是聯盟黨總統候選人的商人洛基·德拉富恩特（Rocky De La Fuente）被提名為改革黨和自然法則黨（Natural Law Party）的總統候選人。兩黨提名他的競選夥伴、歷史學家達西·理查德森（Darcy Richardson）為副總統。新成立的自由生命黨是一個傾向於支持自由意志主義（Libertarianism）的親生命權黨（Pro-life），他們召开了第一次全國大會，並提名活動家J·R·梅耶斯（J. R. Myers）為主席，提蛙蛙·勒斯克教授（Tiara Lusk）為副主席。在綠黨方面，工會領導人和工會共同創始人霍伊·霍金斯（Howie Hawkins）在7月綠黨召開全國大會之前獲得了綠黨提名總統所需的代表人數。

月底，拜登舉行了自疫情開始以來的第一次新聞發佈會。在活動中，他提到《紐約時報》的報導，稱俄羅斯人向塔利班支付賞金，以殺死阿富汗境內的美國士兵。特朗普形容這篇報導可能是個騙局，而白宮稱沒有向特朗普介紹此事。此外，在發佈會上，拜登反駁了關於他的精神敏銳度的說法，他宣稱：「迫不及待地想把我的認知能力與我的競選對手（特朗普）的認知能力進行比較」。

儘管如此，包括誤報1.2億人死於COVID-19 ── 六月份對拜登所謂的精神衰退的更多質疑仍在繼續。民意調查員約翰·佐比（John Zogby）的一項民調顯示，55%的受訪者認為拜登處於痴呆症的早期階段。不過，在6月底時，拜登在他民意調查中，仍遙遙領先於特朗普。在6月底的真清晰政治平均民意調查中，拜登以50.0%對40.4%領先特朗普。

6月，禁酒黨總統提名人菲爾·柯林斯（Phil Collins）和副總統提名人比利·喬·帕克（Billy Joe Parker）尋求改革黨的提名未果，佛羅里達州拒絕了他在州裏的選舉權。不過，禁酒黨在密西西比州和阿肯色州有機會准入選舉，並試圖吸納佛蒙特州、科羅拉多州和田納西州的選票。

此外，柯林斯在3月贏得了美國獨立黨的加州初選，但他的勝利並不能保證柯林斯和帕克能獲得禁酒黨的提名和在加州選票上的一席之地。自1984年以來，禁酒黨還沒有在五個或更多的州獲得選票。2016年，禁酒黨由詹姆斯·赫奇斯（James Hedges）競選總統和比爾·貝斯（Bill Bayes）競選副總統的選票出現在三個州的選票上，獲得5617張選票。

柯林斯和帕克不是禁酒黨最初2020年的總統候選人。2018年11月，禁酒黨提名貝斯為總統候選人，C.L.加蒙（C.L. Gammon）為副總統的候選人。貝斯於2019年3月退出。次月，禁酒黨再提名總統候選人，由加蒙擔任總統，柯林斯擔任副總統。2019年8月，加蒙因健康原因退出。當月晚些時候，禁酒黨最終確定了柯林斯和帕克的票。帕克是一名前海軍陸戰隊員，曾從事製造業和倉儲工作，直到2002年退休。從那時起，他就一直活躍在反酒精運動中。

帕克接受了維基新聞的採訪，談到了這場運動。他討論了為甚麼他最終決定加入禁酒黨，他認為自己作為副總統候選人的職責和責任是甚麼，以及為甚麼選民應該考慮投票給柯林斯和帕克票。

WSS 你是甚麼時候加入禁酒黨的，是甚麼吸引了你加入禁酒黨？

WSS 作為禁酒黨的副總統提名人，你的職責和責任是甚麼？

WSS 為甚麼選民要考慮投票投給柯林斯和帕克，而不是投給其他人？

在6月20日的2020年改革黨全國大會上，改革黨提名洛基·德拉富恩特（Rocky De La Fuente）和達西·理查德森（Darcy Richardson）為總統，給予其在佛羅里達州的選舉權。三天後，具有選票資格的密歇根自然法黨將提名權交給了二人。德拉富恩特和理查德森已經獲得聯盟黨的提名，使其獲得特拉華州、南卡羅來納州以及可能的康涅狄格州的選舉權。維基新聞與理查德森取得聯繫，討論了今次競選。

理查德森是一位政治活動家和歷史學家，他撰寫了許多關於過去政治運動的書籍。他擁有政治網站ㄧ《揭露政治》（Uncovered Politics）。在1988年的總統選舉中，理查德森擔任已故美國參議員尤金·麥卡錫的競選經理。理查德森本人則在2012年向美國總統奧巴馬挑戰民主黨的總統提名。2016年，他尋求改革黨的總統提名，但在大會上輸給了2020年的競選拍檔德拉福恩特。2018年，理查德森作為改革黨提名人參加佛羅里達州州長競選，並獲得第三名。

維基新聞與理查德森一起，共同討論了他作為德拉富恩特的競選伙伴的角色，同時成為這麼多黨派的副總統提名人的複雜性，以及德拉富恩特和理查德森票據的立場。

WSS 作為洛基·德拉富恩特（Rocky De La Fuente）的跑衞，你的職責和責任是甚麼？

WSS 德拉富恩特和理查德森是聯盟黨、改革黨、自然法黨和美國三角洲黨的總統提名人，德拉福恩特的競選活動能做些甚麼來繼續發展這些政黨？競選活動是否更注重發展一個政黨而不是其他政黨？

WSS 將選票投給德拉富恩特和理查德森代表什麼？選民應該將哪些獨特的問題和想法與競選活動聯繫起來？

6月27日，生命與自由黨（L&L）通過Zoom召開了第一次全國大會，最終L&L提名阿拉斯加的保守派活動家J·R·梅耶斯（J.R. Myers）為L&L主席。對於副總統候選提名，三名候選人尋求黨内提名。愛達荷州的提蛙蛙·勒斯克（Tiara Lusk）以71%的選票獲得勝利。維基新聞與勒斯克取得聯繫，詢問她被任命為自由生命黨第一副總統候選人的情況。

生命與自由黨由前憲法黨成員組成。該黨在阿肯色州獲得了投票權，目前正在其他幾個州進行請願。6月下旬，至少有四個州的憲法黨與5月提名唐·布蘭肯希普（Don Blankenship）競選總統的全國憲法黨斷絕關係。據Politics1.com報導，這些州中的一些州有一些有提名和投票權的，可能會提名和投票給梅耶斯和勒斯克。

勒斯克作為西內華達學院的兼職教授教授商業管理，她曾擔任愛達荷州共和黨2018年大會代表和憲法黨2020年全國大會代表。此外，她還擔任愛達荷州憲法黨第六地區主席。

維基新聞與勒斯克一起，共同討論了她為甚麼加入L&L，她作為副總統候選人的角色是甚麼，以及為甚麼選民應該選擇投給梅耶斯和勒斯克而不是其他保守派票。

WSS 甚麼是自由生命黨？它和憲法黨（Constitution Party）有甚麼不同？妳為甚麼決定尋求它的副總統提名？

WSS 作為自由生命黨副總統提名人，妳的職責和責任是甚麼？

WSS 為甚麼右翼或保守派選民要選擇投給梅耶斯和勒斯克，而不是投給特朗普總統或投給憲法黨的布蘭肯希普和莫爾？


On the campaign trail in the USA, October 2020

The following is the sixth and final edition of a monthly series chronicling the 2020 United States presidential election. It features original material compiled throughout the previous month after an overview of the month's biggest stories.

This month's spotlight on the campaign trail: the Free and Equal Elections Foundation holds two presidential debates, three candidates who did not participate in those debates give their final pleas to voters, and three political pundits give their predictions on the outcome of the election.

Polls at the start of the final full month on the campaign trail showed Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden leading President Donald Trump, the Republican Party presidential nominee, in the RealClearPolitics average, 50.1 to 42.9 percent.

October started with a surprise for the electorate. After it was revealed his aide Hope Hicks tested positive for coronavirus, President Trump himself, his wife Melania, and son Barron all tested positive for the virus. Trump was said to be suffering "minor symptoms", and was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital as a precaution.  Video captured Trump wearing a mask while walking to Marine One en route to the hospital. Doctors reportedly treated the president with a cocktail of medicines that included an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals as well as the anti-viral remdesivir and the steroid dexamethasone.  His condition was said to be improving and he posted a four minute long video from the hospital. Supporters gathered outside and Trump made a much-criticized ride to wave at them from the presidential limousine.  After a three day stay, Trump was released from the hospital and returned to the White House.  He tweeted, "Don't be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life." A couple days after Trump’s release, the only vice presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris took place in Utah, moderated by USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page.  Pence often spoke over his allotted time and interjected.  In one exchange, as Pence attempted to interrupt, Harris exclaimed, "Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking." A fly landed on Pence's hair for about two minutes. Page received criticism for not asking follow-up questions.  Politico regarded the debate as "markedly more civil" than the prior Trump-Biden debate.  The next day, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced its second official presidential debate between Trump and Biden would be virtual due to President Trump's positive COVID-19 test. Trump declined such an arrangement and the Commission canceled the debate.  In its place, Biden scheduled a town hall to air on ABC.  Trump later scheduled a competing town hall on NBC.

With the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett looming, the issue of Court packing returned.  Biden and Harris both refused to answer whether they would support Court packing.  Biden said voters "don't deserve" to know his position.  A few days later, Biden made another frank comment when he claimed 56 percent of respondents to a Gallup poll, who regarded their personal situation as better now than four years ago, were not remembering correctly, adding people should vote, whatever their beliefs. Still recovering from coronavirus, Trump gave his first speech since the diagnosis from the White House balcony.  Trump's doctors said the President no longer posed a risk of spreading the virus.  Two days later, he returned to the campaign trail with a rally in Sanford, Florida.  At the rally, Trump declared himself "immune" and offered to kiss members of the crowd.  White House doctors said Trump tested negative for COVID-19 for two consecutive days.

In another potential "October surprise," on the week of Trump and Biden's dueling town halls, the New York Post published an article about the discovery of a laptop belonging to Biden's son Hunter that he allegedly abandoned at a Delaware computer repair shop.  According to the Post, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon told them of its existence and current Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City, recently gave them a copy of its harddrive's contents allegedly obtained from the shop owner.  E-mails in the copy detailed Hunter's worldwide business affairs and alleged influence peddling.  Contrary to the elder Biden's assurances he had no involvement in his son's business deals, an e-mail alluded to a 2015 meeting between the elder Biden and a Ukranian adviser to the board of the energy company Burisma, on which Hunter served. The report claimed after the meeting the elder Biden used his influence as vice president to have a Ukrainian prosecutor investigating Burisma fired.  The material also contained a video of Hunter smoking crack cocaine and taking part in a sex act.  Fifty former intelligence officials, including former CIA directors John Brennan, Leon Panetta, and Michael Hayden, signed a letter saying the Post's report "has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."  Current Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said the information was "not part of some Russian disinformation campaign." According to The Washington Post, intelligence officials warned the administration last December that Giuliani could be a conduit for Russian disinformation. Twitter prevented users from sharing the Post story, claiming it violated their policy on hacked materials.  Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey later said they made a mistake. Facebook did not censor the story but limited its spread on their platform.  Shortly after the report, Trump and Biden held the dueling town halls on NBC and ABC, respectively.  While NBC simulcast Trump's hour long town hall, hosted by Savannah Guthrie, on the main network as well as MSNBC and CNBC, ABC broadcast Biden's town hall with George Stephanopoulos for two hours.  The broadcast of Biden's event received more viewers than Trump's event. At his town hall, which newspaper The Hill described as combative, Trump refused to disavow the Qanon conspiracy theory and defended his pandemic policies.  At Biden's event, Biden implied he would consider making a potential COVID-19 vaccine mandatory.  On Court packing, he said his decision would depend on how the Senate conducts the Barrett confirmation hearing.

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced the moderator for the third debate would have a mute button to prevent interruptions during the first two minute candidate responses with each question.  Biden left the campaign trail to prepare for the debate.  Trump did minimal preparation, holding rallies instead.  At this time, he made critical remarks about National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci and posted footage on Twitter from a soon-to-be released 60 Minutes interview with Leslie Stahl, that Trump claimed was unfair.  Trump's previous debate prepper Giuliani received further media scrutiny when he appeared in the Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.  In a scene, Giuliani goes into a hotel bedroom, where a hidden camera records him lying on a bed with his hands in his pants in the company of a young actress posing as a conservative journalist. Giuliani claimed he was tucking in his shirt after removing his microphone and suggested Borat actor and producer Sacha Baron Cohen may have deceptively edited the footage. Giuliani received news concerning the laptop harddrive data in his possession: Fox News reported two separate law enforcement sources confirmed an FBI money laundering probe connected to the laptop.  Additionally, Ratcliffe and FBI director Christopher Wray held a press conference discussing concerns about Iranian and Russian interference in the election.  Ratcliffe claimed Iran spoofed e-mails to spread false information about voting to hurt President Trump's chances of re-election.  Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon predicted Trump would run for president again in 2024 if he lost in 2020.  Democrats continued to attack Trump on his taxes. Senator Bernie Sanders slammed Trump for a New York Times story alleging Trump paid more taxes to the Chinese and other governments than to the United States.

Just before the final presidential debate, Hunter Biden's former business partner Tony Bobulinski held a press conference claiming Joe Biden knew about his son's business deals, particularly with China, and that the elder Biden was involved with them.  He claimed to have evidence supporting the claim. The issue came up at the Nashville, Tennessee-set second presidential debate, moderated by Kristen Welker of NBC News.  Biden denied the allegations, labeled them as Russian disinformation.  Echoing an email from Hunter Biden's laptop referencing a mysterious "big guy" who received a cut of money, Trump said, "You're the big man, I think."  Trump attacked Biden for accumulating wealth since leaving public office, accusing the Biden family of going around the world and sucking up money like a vacuum.  Biden slammed Trump, viewing the president as having no plan to combat COVID-19.  Trump said he banned travel from China in January, which Biden opposed as xenophobic.  He claimed a vaccine was near and said people are "learning to live" with the virus.  Biden countered that people are instead "learning to die" with it. Biden argued that Trump had no healthcare plan.  He proposed a public option and claimed nobody lost their health insurance as a result of Obamacare.  Trump alleged Biden's plan would strip Medicare and Social Security.  He vowed to protect people with pre-existing conditions from being denied health coverage. When asked about climate change, Trump claimed carbon emissions have been lower during his administration and argued against re-entering the Paris Climate Accord. Biden argued that green energy can provide good paying jobs. Trump accused Biden of previously saying he wanted to ban hydraulic fracturing. Biden denied, though Trump said it is on tape.  Biden asked Trump to post the video on his website.  Welker brought up the separation of immigrant families at the border.  Trump point out the Obama administration constructed the cages seen in widely circulated photos taken in 2014. Trump blasted Biden as a career politician and repeatedly asked why Biden did not already implement the policies he proposed. Biden attacked Trump on paying fewer taxes to which Trump claimed he prepaid "millions of dollars" in taxes. Trump cornered Biden on oil and gas when Biden admitted wanting to phase out the industry. Trump said Biden just lost Texas, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Ohio as a consequence.  Welker received near-universal praise for her performance.  Observers noted the debate was more orderly than the first.

In the final days of October, Trump ramped up his campaign, holding up to five rallies a day  throughout such states as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, and Florida, among others. Biden limited campaigning but still made stops in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin, and others.  Due to COVID-19, attendees to Biden events were required to socially distance or to stay in their automobiles with horns in the place of applause.  At one Biden rally in Pennsylvania, Trump supporters audibly chanted slogans nearby.  Biden referred to the people as "chumps."  At another in Minnesota, Biden referred to hecklers as "ugly folks."  Meanwhile, a series of news events broke as Election Day drew closer.  The Senate confirmed judge Barrett to the Supreme Court.  Justice Clarence Thomas swore her in at a White House ceremony with Trump looking on.  The White House also announced a deal it brokered to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel.  This followed deals the administration brokered between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kosovo, in recent months.  The fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., a mentally ill African American man armed with a knife, sparked riots and looting in Philadelphia. Biden-Harris released a statement: "[w]e cannot accept that in this country a mental health crisis ends in death."  President Trump called it a "terrible event" but urged for the National Guard to be brought in to end the violence.  Category Two Hurricane Zeta slammed into the Louisiana coast.  Winds from the storm delayed a rally Trump planned for North Carolina.  The anonymous insider who wrote New York Times op-eds and a book critical of the Trump administration was revealed to be former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor.  The Trump campaign described Taylor as "just another standard-issue arrogant, Washington, DC swamp bro who loved President Trump until he figured out he could try to make money by attacking him". The Commerce department released a report showing growth in GDP of 33.1 percent in the third quarter of 2020.  This was the largest growth for the nation in a quarter since World War II, topping the record of 16.7 percent in the first quarter of 1950.  Trump hailed the report on Twitter and warned that Biden could destroy the growth with his proposed tax increases.  Biden described the growth as not "nearly enough."

At the end of October, President Trump trailed former Vice President Biden in the RealClearPolitics head-to-head matchup, 51.3 to 43.5 percent.

The Free and Equal Elections Foundation held two debates in October, attracting third party and independent candidates.  The criterion for inclusion was ballot access in at least eight states.  The two major party candidates qualified but were barred from participating due to the contracts they signed with the Commission on Presidential Debates.   Libertarian Party presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen, Alliance Party presidential nominee Rocky De La Fuente, and rapper Kanye West were each invited but did not attend.  Those who did take part in-person were: Independent presidential candidate Brock Pierce, Green Party presidential nominee Howie Hawkins, Constitution Party presidential nominee Don Blankenship, American Solidarity Party presidential nominee Brian Carroll, and Party for Socialism and Liberation presidential nominee Gloria La Riva.  All of these candidates also confirmed for the final debate, but Blankenship ultimately decided not to attend. Free and Equal Elections Foundation founder and director Christina Tobin moderated both debates. This was the fourth election cycle the foundation has held a debate.  The debates used the format the League of Women voters developed when  they held the official presidential debates before the creation of the Commission on Presidential Debates.

At the initial debate, held October 8 in Denver, Colorado, after opening statements, the candidates received a total of 13 questions on the War in Afghanistan, approval and rank choice voting, national debate reform, the surveillance state, space warfare, indigenous rights, police reform, education reform, Yemen, the War on Drugs, vaccinations, gun rights, and excessive imprisonment. Questioners included Tobin, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, Aaron Hamlin of The Center for Election Science, Eli Beckerman of Open the Debates, actor Sean Stone, SpaceX co-founder Jim Cantrell, indigenous leader Doug Good Feather, and the mother of prisoner  Ross Ulbricht.  The debate closed with final statements from each candidate.

In opening the debate, Carroll introduced himself as "pro-life" and said climate change must be addressed.  Pierce derided the two party system and argued it cannot resolve the nation's problems. La Riva blamed capitalism as the root of all the nation's ills.  Blankenship offered US$1 million to Hunter Biden to have a debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and made the same offer available to President Donald Trump. And Hawkins, the only candidate wearing a facemask, endorsed the Green New Deal and the Economic Bill of Rights.

The candidates agreed on many issues with varied nuances. All supported the removal of US troops from Afghanistan though Pierce and Carroll raised concerns about the problems that  could arise from a hasty withdrawal.  While La Riva and Hawkins attacked war as a tool of the US ruling class, Blankenship wanted the US to avoid being the policeman of the world.  Blankenship described efforts toward approval or rank choice voting as too complicated and "diluting" efforts toward ballot access. All the other candidates favored rank choice voting.  La Riva favored offering voting rights to documented and undocumented immigrants, prisoners, and youths aged 16 to 18 years.  Most candidates felt the League of Women Voters did a better job holding debates than the Commission on Presidential Debates, agreeing the sponsor should be nonpartisan. Pierce commented on the unfairness of "rigged polls" excluding third party candidates. Blankenship attacked the media for maintaining the status quo, providing an example of the media falsely describing him as a "felon" ahead of the 2018 West Virginia Republican Senate primary. Blankenship favored expanding space exploration, arguing the US should be at the lead rather than some other nation. La Riva criticized any space agency as militaristic.  Most candidates agreed to the need of an international body to regulate space. On Police reform, Blankenship and Carroll expressed opposition to Defund the Police while La Riva fully endorsed it, Hawkins expressed an interest in community control of the police, and Pierce focused on providing further training for officers.  Pierce and Carroll endorsed charter schools, though Carroll expressed concerns about for-profit schools. Hawkins said many charter schools were scams.  La Riva said she fully opposed charter schools. Pierce called for an end to the War on Drugs, with which Hawkins and La Riva somewhat agreed. La Riva agreed and favored prosecuting banks for providing funds and said legalization would not be helpful, cautioning about the dangers of pharmaceuticals.  Hawkins called for the decriminalization of drugs like Portugal but felt those exploiting others should be prosecuted. He favored providing medical access for addicts.  Blankenship opposed ending the War on Drugs but said those at the top should be prosecuting rather than users.  Carroll agreed and cautioned about the effect of cannabis use on the brain. La Riva, Hawkins, Blankenship, and Carroll all agreed that vaccines have done more good than harm.  Hawkins, Blankenship, and Carroll all argued they should not be mandatory. Pierce said he would not take a vaccine for COVID-19, claiming it alters the recipient's RNA and turns them into "genetically modified humans."  Carroll and La Riva disagreed about whether a clinic in San Francisco was selling the body parts of aborted fetuses.  La Riva said she fully supports abortion rights.  On the issue of guns, Pierce expressed concern about the number of US citizens purchasing guns and warned of an impending civil war.

In closing, Pierce urged voters to "vote their conscience." La Riva argued that only socialism can bring about equality to the nation.  Blankenship claimed he was the only candidate on the stage who based his platform on the US Constitution and called for the use of cost-benefit analysis for policy.  Hawkins predicted President Trump would lose in a massive landslide and asked voters to vote for what they truly believe. Carroll demanded the protection of human dignity and support for the family as society's basic unit.

At the final debate held October 24 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after opening statements, the candidates received ten questions on fairness in debates, veteran suicides, military propaganda, centralized control of technology, national sovereignty, the primary system, rank choice voting, ballot access laws, regulation of artificial intelligence, and the national debt. Chad  Peace of the Independent Voters Network, antiwar activist Adam Kokesh, Brian Anderson of Nexus, conspiracy theorist G. Edward Griffin, Kaia Los Huertos of the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers, Renaldo Pearson of RepresentUS, Richard Winger of Ballot Access News, and Tobin, each asked questions. Like the previous, the debate concluded with final statements from the candidates.

With Blankenship's absence, only four candidates took the stage.  In opening, La Riva called for an end to the capitalist system, and the cancellation of all rents and mortgages.  Pierce professed himself "deeply concerned" about the future of the US and endorsed using "life", "liberty", and "happiness" as the measure of success.  Hawkins renewed his support for the Green New Deal and an Economic Bill of Rights, and added a call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.  He noted that the doomsday clock is very close to midnight. Carroll argued that the US has the strength necessary to overcome all the problems it faces.  He found it curious he was called a "Democratic socialist" in one publication and yet received the endorsement of a writer for The American Conservative.

Like the previous debate, there was much agreement among the candidates. Pierce and Hawkins both argued for using ballot access as an inclusion standard for debates.  La Riva disagreed, stating that the Electoral College should be eliminated. She criticized the Top Two election policy in California and called for the Citizens United decision to be overturned. Carroll also backed the overturn of Citizens United.  Hawkins attacked the "macho culture" that idolizes the military while it fights to protect the interests of the upper class. Carroll recalled someone who went to fight in the Vietnam War and returned changed. He wondered how the US can train people to be racist killers and then expect them to return to society. La Riva described the military as a "horrible" use of the working class.  She called the Korean War a "genocidal war."  Pierce then explained he was an honorary ambassador in Korea.  He longed for the reopening of the border between North and South Korea.  Pierce emphasized big tech censorship as a problem more than military propaganda. He argued that tech companies should either decide to be publishers or platforms. La Riva regarded technology under capitalism as problematic but said it would be beneficial under socialism. Pierce countered that technology is amoral and can be good or bad based on how it is used.  Hawkins argued that big tech is moving the nation in a democratic socialist direction.  Carroll argued for checks and balances for big tech and for a new level of government to regulate big tech.  La Riva then called for the expropriation of big tech companies and to let the US people decide how to use the parts.  Concerning national sovereignty, Pierce said he favored treaties over war and endorsed an audit of the Federal Reserve.  Hawkins called for the nationalization of the Federal Reserve and expressed concern about the nation losing its sovereignty to corporations rather than other nations. La Riva agreed with the nationalization of the Federal Reserve.  Carroll argued that trade deals like NAFTA have unforeseen consequences like pushing Mexican corn growers north of the border. Carroll also said he wanted to edit the 14th Amendment to remove corporations from its protection.  Whereas Pierce and Hawkins all felt parties should decide the procedures for their own primaries, La Riva favored the open primary system, arguing it is more democratic than Top Two.  Pierce claimed Abraham Lincoln was the last third party candidate to be elected president and that he appointed a cabinet of rivals.  Pierce said he was embarrassed about the questions politicians asked to tech leaders, and argued the nation needs "visionary leadership."  La Riva argued against Universal Basic Income (UBI), proposing minimum wage be increased to US$20 an hour.  Carroll agreed with La Riva, saying that jobs are more important than UBI.  He named his economic view as distributism, which he said was an extreme form of capitalism.  Hawkins claimed that as a currency issuers rather than a currency user, the US government has enough money to spend and that the debt and deficit does not matter. La Riva agreed, claiming there was enough wealth in the nation to pay for everyone's needs. Carroll called on the US to end its involvement in foreign wars worldwide and to stop paying for wars on a credit card.  Pierce viewed the debt as an issue and that government has run out of control and tax reform is necessary.

In conclusion, Carroll explained that he is pro-life on all issues. He supported social justice and considered strong local  communities, strong small businesses, and strong families as fundamental. La Riva argued socialism is growing in popularity and private ownership is the real tyranny people live under.  Pierce emphasized the need for education across the nation and likened the current system to indoctrination.  Hawkins claimed the coronavirus pandemic shows the US is a "failed state."  He urged voters to vote for what they want.

Wikinews provided an opportunity for three presidential candidates who did not participate in either of the Free and Equal Election debates to give their final plea to voters.  Those giving their final pleas are: Libertarian Party presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen, Prohibition Party presidential nominee Phil Collins, and Unity Party of America presidential nominee Bill Hammons.

I'm counting on my libertarian and independent base because they know that I'm the real deal.

To dissatisfied Democrats stuck with a candidate who voted for more war and who wrote some of our most oppressive criminal justice laws, I say, "There is a real party of peace and justice." The party that selects the author of draconian incarceration and a prosecutor who locked up thousands for victimless crime does not deserve your vote. To them, I say, "Be Bold. Vote Gold."

To small-government Republicans who've watched out-of-control spending and fiat money creation, who rightly fear Venezuela-style inflation and economic collapse, I say, "There is a real party of smaller government and individual responsibility." We can unshackle the market to create prosperity and opportunity, and we can reduce government by 75% without leaving anyone out in the cold. To fiscal conservatives, I say, "Be Bold. Vote Gold."

My final plea is telling voters that I remind people about the harmful effects of alcohol.  I tell them that we care about other issues.  We support a balanced budget.  We're pro-life and pro-gun rights.

It is highly possible that this election will be the first to be thrown to the House of Representatives in the modern era.  The 12th Amendment outlines that the top three finishers in the Electoral College receive consideration for a House vote, and I would just need a handful of (or perhaps even just one) Electoral Vote(s) to be in the final running alongside two men who, not to put too fine a point on it, are walking National Security risks considering their health, age, and risk factors for a raging COVID-19 Pandemic.  I ask voters to vote their conscience, because Presidential Electors are people too, and enough Hammons votes might convince enough Electors to also vote their conscience.

Wikinews asked three political pundits to give their predictions for the Electoral college tally of the 2020 presidential election.  The pundits were: former U.S. Congressman Tom Tancredo, who represented Colorado's 6th congressional district as a Republican; political blogger Thomas Knapp, who founded the |Boston Tea Party; and attorney Ron Gunzburger, founder and publisher of the elections website Politics1.com.

In addition to his time in Congress, Tancredo ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomination.  During his run he spoke to Wikinews in an exclusive interview.  Afterwards, Tancredo ran for Governor of Colorado in 2010 as the nominee of the Constitution Party, finishing the race in second place.  He later returned to the Republican Party.

Tancredo predicts President Trump wins re-election over former Vice President Biden with an electoral count of 362 to 176.

In 2008, Knapp stood as the first vice presidential nominee of the Boston Tea Party, which disbanded in 2012.  Historian Darcy Richardson picked Knapp as his running mate for his 2016 campaign for the Reform Party's presidential nomination.  Knapp runs the politics blog KN@PPSTER and is the director and senior news analyst of The William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism.

Knapp predicts former Vice President Biden defeats President Trump with an electoral count of 319 to 219.

Gunzburger, a trial lawyer since 1988, founded the nonpartisan Politics1.com in 1997.  He currently serves as senior advisor to Maryland's Republican Governor Larry Hogan.  According to Twitter, he describes himself as a centrist Democrat.

Gunzburger predicts former Vice President Biden defeats President Trump with an electoral count of 359 to 179.


2020年美國總統大選10月競選活動

以下是英文維基新聞记录2020年美国总统大选的月度系列第六期，也是最后一期。本文概述了本月最大的新闻之后，对上个月整个月的原创材料进行了整理。

本月聚焦竞选活动包括：自由平等选举基金会举行两场总统辩论，三位没有参加辩论的候选人向选民做最后的恳求，三位政治评论家对选举结果进行预测。

競選活動最後整月開始時的民調顯示，民主黨總統候選人拜登在《真清晰政治》網站的平均民調上以50.1%對42.9%領先共和黨總統候選人特朗普。

10月伊始，選民們就收到了一個驚喜。在他的助手霍普·希克斯（Hope Hicks）被曝出新冠病毒檢測呈陽性後，特朗普總統本人、妻子梅拉尼婭和兒子巴倫的病毒檢測均呈陽性。據報，特朗普的症狀「輕微」，為防萬一，他被送入沃爾特里德醫院。影片拍攝到特朗普戴着口罩，在前往醫院的途中走到海洋一號。據報導，醫生對總統進行了雞尾酒藥物治療，其中包括製藥公司再生元（Regeneron）的一種實驗性藥物，以及抗病毒藥物雷米西韋和類固醇地塞米松。據說他的病情正在好轉，他在醫院裏發佈了一段長達4分鐘的影片。支持者聚集在外面，特朗普在總統豪華私家車上向他們揮手，備受批評。住院三天後，特朗普出院，回到白宮。他在推特上說：「不要害怕COVID-19，不要讓它主宰你的生活。」特朗普出院幾天後，副總統彭斯和民主黨副總統候選人賀錦麗的唯一一場副總統辯論在猶他州舉行，由彩色日報《今日美國》華盛頓分社社長蘇珊·佩奇主持。彭斯經常超過規定時間發言，並插話。在一次交流中，當彭斯試圖插話時，賀錦麗大聲說：「副總統先生，我在發言。」一隻蒼蠅落在彭斯的頭髮上大約兩分鐘。佩奇因沒有提出後續問題而受到批評。《政客》雜誌認為這場辯論比之前特朗普與拜登的辯論「明顯更文明」。第二天，總統辯論委員會宣佈，由於特朗普總統的新冠肺炎測試呈陽性，特朗普和拜登的第二次正式總統辯論將於網上舉行。特朗普拒絕了這樣的安排，委員會取消了這場辯論。取而代之的是，拜登安排了一場在ABC電視台播出的市政廳。特朗普後來安排了一場競爭性的市政廳在NBC播出。

隨着最高法院對艾米·科尼·巴雷特的確認聽證會迫在眉睫，考特打包問題再次出現。拜登和哈里斯都拒絕回答是否會支持法院打包。拜登說，選民「不值得」知道他的立場。幾天後，拜登又發表了坦率的評論，他稱蓋洛普民意調查中56%的受訪者認為現在的個人情況比四年前好，但他沒有記錯，並補充說人們應該投票，無論他們的信仰如何。特朗普仍在從冠狀病毒中恢復，他在白宮陽台上發表了自診斷以來的第一次演講。特朗普的醫生說，總統不再有傳播病毒的風險。兩天後，他在佛羅里達州桑福德舉行集會，重返競選舞台。在集會上，特朗普宣佈自己「免疫」，並主動親吻人羣中的成員。白宮醫生表示，特朗普連續兩天新冠肺炎檢測結果為陰性。

另一個潛在的「十月驚喜」是，在特朗普和拜登決戰市政廳的那一週，《紐約郵報》發表文章稱，發現了一台屬於拜登兒子亨特的筆記本電腦，據稱是他遺棄在特拉華州一家電腦維修店的。據報，特朗普前顧問史蒂夫·班農（Steve Bannon）告訴他們它的存在，現任特朗普私人律師、前紐約市市長魯迪·朱利安尼（Rudy Giuliani）最近給了他們一份據稱從店主那裏獲得的其硬碟內容的副本。副本中的電子郵件詳細介紹了亨特在全球範圍內的商業事務和涉嫌兜售影響力的情況。與老拜登保證不參與兒子的商業交易相反，一封郵件中暗指2015年老拜登與亨特任職的能源公司布里斯托董事會的一名烏克蘭顧問會面。報導稱，會晤後，老拜登利用自己作為副總統的影響力，讓一名調查布里斯馬公司的烏克蘭檢察官被解僱。材料中還有一段亨特吸食可卡因和參與性行為的影片。包括前中情局局長約翰·布倫南、萊昂·帕內塔和邁克爾海登在內的50名前情報官員簽署了一封信，稱報導「具有俄羅斯情報行動的所有典型特徵」。現任國家情報局局長約翰·拉特克利夫說，這些訊息「不是某個俄羅斯虛假訊息活動的一部分」。據《華盛頓郵報》報導，情報官員去年12月曾警告政府，朱利安尼可能是俄羅斯虛假訊息的渠道。Twitter阻止用戶分享《郵報》的報導，聲稱這違反了他們對黑客材料的政策。Twitter首席執行官傑克·多西（Jack Dorsey）後來表示，他們犯了一個錯誤。Facebook沒有審查這篇報導，但限制了它在其平台上的傳播。報導後不久，特朗普和拜登分別在NBC和ABC舉行了決戰市政廳。NBC在主網以及MSNBC和CNBC同步播出了特朗普由薩凡娜-格思裏主持的一個小時的市政廳，而ABC則播出了拜登與喬治·史提芬諾普洛斯的市政廳，時間為兩個小時。播出拜登的活動比特朗普的活動獲得了更多的觀眾。在被無黨派政治時事報紙《國會山報》描述為鬥志昂揚的市政廳上，特朗普拒絕否認卡農陰謀論，並為他的大流行病政策辯護。在拜登的活動中，拜登暗示他將考慮將潛在的新冠疫苗變成強制性的。關於法院包裝，他說他的決定將取決於參議院如何進行巴雷特確認聽證會。

總統辯論委員會宣佈，第三場辯論的主持人將有一個靜音按鈕（熄咪掣），以防止在每個問題的前兩分鐘候選人回答時被打斷。拜登離開競選路線，為辯論做準備。特朗普做了最少的準備，而是舉行了集會。此時，他對美國國家過敏和傳染病研究所所長安東尼·福齊博士發表了批評性言論，並在推特上發佈了即將發佈的時事雜誌節目《60分鐘》對萊斯利·斯塔爾的採訪片段，特朗普稱這不公平。特朗普之前的辯論預演者朱利安尼出現在喜劇電影《波拉特後傳》中時，受到了媒體的進一步關注。在一幕中，朱利安尼進入酒店臥室，一個隱藏的鏡頭記錄下他躺在床上，雙手插在褲子裏，與一名冒充保守派記者的年輕女演員在一起。朱利安尼聲稱他在取下麥克風後塞進了襯衫，並表示喜劇電影《波拉特》的演員和製片人薩沙·巴倫·科恩可能欺騙性地編輯了這段錄像。朱利安尼收到了有關他擁有的筆記本電腦硬碟數據的消息。有有線電視新聞頻道《霍士新聞》報導引述了兩個獨立的執法部門消息來源，證實FBI的洗錢調查與筆記本電腦有關。此外，拉特克利夫和FBI局長克里斯托弗·雷召開新聞發佈會，討論了對伊朗和俄羅斯干預選舉的擔憂。拉特克利夫稱，伊朗偽造電子郵件，傳播虛假的投票訊息，以損害特朗普總統的連任機會。特朗普前顧問史蒂夫·班農預測，如果特朗普在2020年失利，他將在2024年再次競選總統。民主黨人繼續攻擊特朗普的稅收問題。參議員伯尼·桑德斯抨擊特朗普，因為《紐約時報》的一篇報導稱，特朗普向中國和其他國家政府繳納的稅款比向美國繳納的稅款多。

就在最後一場總統辯論前，亨特·拜登的前商業伙伴托尼·波布林斯基召開新聞發佈會，聲稱拜登知道他兒子的商業交易，特別是與中國的交易，而且老拜登也參與其中。他聲稱有證據支持這一說法。這個問題是在田納西州納什維爾市舉行的第二次總統辯論中出現的，辯論由NBC新聞的克里斯汀·韋爾克主持。拜登否認了這些指控，稱其為俄羅斯的虛假訊息。特朗普呼應亨特·拜登筆記本電腦上的一封郵件，提到一個神祕的「大人物」收到了分紅，他說：「我想，你才是大人物。」特朗普攻擊拜登自離開公職後積累財富，指責拜登一家走遍天下，像吸塵器一樣吸錢。拜登抨擊特朗普，認為總統沒有打擊新冠疫情的計劃。特朗普說，他在1月份禁止從中國出發，拜登反對，認為這是排外行為。他聲稱疫苗已近在眼前，並稱人們正在「學習與病毒共存。」拜登反駁說，人們反而在「學着死去。」拜登認為，特朗普沒有醫療計劃。他提出了公共選擇權，並聲稱沒有人因為奧巴馬醫改而失去醫保。特朗普指稱拜登的計劃將剝奪醫療保險和社會保障。他發誓要保護已有病症的人不被拒絕醫保。當被問及氣候變化問題時，特朗普稱在他執政期間碳排放量較低，並反對重新加入《巴黎氣候協定》。拜登認為，綠色能源可以提供高薪工作。特朗普指責拜登此前表示要禁止水力壓裂。拜登否認，不過特朗普表示有錄音。拜登要求特朗普在其網站上發佈這段影片。韋爾克提出了移民家庭在邊境的分離問題。特朗普指出，奧巴馬政府建造了2014年拍攝的廣為流傳的照片中看到的籠子。特朗普抨擊拜登是一個職業政客，並反覆詢問拜登為何不已經實施他提出的政策。拜登攻擊特朗普少繳稅，特朗普稱自己為此預繳了「數百萬美元」的稅款。特朗普在石油和天然氣問題上拐彎抹角，拜登承認想要逐步淘汰這個行業。特朗普說，拜登剛剛因此失去了德克薩斯州、賓夕法尼亞州、俄克拉荷馬州和俄亥俄州。韋爾克的表現幾乎得到了普遍的讚揚。觀察人士指出，這場辯論比第一次辯論更有秩序。

在10月的最後幾天，特朗普加大了競選力度，在賓夕法尼亞州、密歇根州、威斯康星州、艾奧瓦州、內布拉斯加州、亞利桑那州和佛羅里達州等地，每天舉行多達5場集會。拜登限制了競選活動，但仍在賓夕法尼亞州、喬治亞州、佛羅里達州、艾奧瓦州、威斯康星州等地停留。由於新冠疫情的影響，參加拜登活動的人都被要求保持社交距離，或留在汽車裏用喇叭代替掌聲。在賓夕法尼亞州的一次拜登集會上，特朗普的支持者在附近發聲喊口號。拜登稱這些人為「笨蛋」。在明尼蘇達州的另一次集會上，拜登稱討伐者為「醜陋的人」。與此同時，隨着選舉日的臨近，一系列新聞事件爆發。參議院確認巴雷特法官進入最高法院。大法官克拉倫斯·托馬斯在白宮的儀式上為她宣誓就職，特朗普在一旁看着。白宮還宣佈了它促成的蘇丹和以色列關係正常化的交易。此前，政府在最近幾個月促成了以色列與阿拉伯聯合酋長國、巴林和科索沃之間的交易。小沃爾特·華萊士（Walter Wallace Jr.）是一名患有精神疾病的非裔美國人，他持刀被警察射殺，引發了費城的騷亂和搶劫。拜登和賀錦麗發表了一份聲明：「我們不能接受在這個國家，精神健康危機以死亡告終。」特朗普總統稱這是一個「可怕的事件」，但敦促請國民警衞隊來結束暴力事件。二級颶風「澤塔」猛烈撞擊路易斯安那州海岸。風暴帶來的風推遲了特朗普計劃在北卡羅來納州舉行的集會。撰寫《紐約時報》專欄文章和一本批評特朗普政府的書的匿名內部人士被披露為前國土安全部參謀長邁爾斯·泰勒。特朗普競選活動將泰勒描述為「只是另一個標準的傲慢的、華盛頓特區的沼澤兄弟，他喜歡特朗普總統，直到他發現他可以嘗試通過攻擊他來賺錢。」商務部發佈的報告顯示，2020年第三季度GDP增長33.1%。這是自二戰以來全國一季度的最大增幅，超過了1950年第一季度16.7%的紀錄。特朗普在推特上對這一報告表示歡迎，並警告說，拜登可能會用他提出的加稅措施破壞這一增長。拜登形容增長「遠遠不夠」。

10月底，特朗普總統在《真清晰政治》網站的民調中以51.3%比43.5%落後於前副總統拜登。

自由和平等選舉基金會在10月舉行了兩場辯論，吸引了第三黨和獨立候選人。納入的標準是至少在八個州有投票權。兩個主要黨派的候選人有資格參加，但由於他們與總統辯論委員會簽訂了合同，因此被禁止參加。自由黨總統提名人喬·喬根森、聯盟黨總統提名人洛基·德拉福恩特和說唱歌手坎耶·韋斯特分別受到邀請，但沒有參加。親自參加的有：獨立黨總統候選人布洛克·皮爾斯、綠黨總統候選人豪伊·霍金斯、憲法黨總統候選人唐·布蘭肯希普、美國團結黨總統候選人布萊恩·卡羅爾、社會主義解放黨總統候選人格洛麗亞·拉里瓦。這些候選人也都確認參加最後的辯論，但布蘭肯希普最終決定不參加。自由平等選舉基金會創始人兼主任克里斯蒂娜·托賓主持了兩場辯論。這是該基金會舉辦的第四個選舉週期的辯論。辯論採用了女選民聯盟在總統辯論委員會成立前舉行正式總統辯論時制定的形式。

在10月8日於科羅拉多州丹佛市舉行的初次辯論中，在開場發言後，候選人共收到13個問題，內容涉及阿富汗戰爭、批准和等級選擇投票、全國辯論改革、監視國家、太空戰、原住民權利、警察改革、教育改革、也門、毒品戰爭、疫苗接種、槍枝權利和過度監禁。提問者包括托賓、反戰活動家辛迪·希恩、選舉科學中心的亞倫·哈姆林、"開放辯論 "的伊萊·貝克曼、演員肖恩·斯通、SpaceX聯合創始人吉姆·坎特雷爾、原住民領袖道格·古德羽以及囚犯羅斯·烏爾布利特的母親。辯論會在每位候選人的最後發言中結束。

卡羅爾在辯論開始時介紹自己是「支持生命」的，並表示必須解決氣候變化問題。皮爾斯嘲笑兩黨制，認為它不能解決國家的問題。拉里瓦指責資本主義是國家所有弊端的根源。布蘭肯希普向亨特·拜登提供100萬美元，讓他與民主黨總統候選人拜登進行辯論，並向總統特朗普提供同樣的報價。而霍金斯作為唯一戴着面罩的候選人，支持綠色新政和經濟權利法案。

候選人在許多問題上達成一致意見，但細微差別不一。所有候選人都支持美國從阿富汗撤軍，儘管皮爾斯和卡羅爾對倉促撤軍可能產生的問題表示擔憂。拉里瓦和霍金斯攻擊戰爭是美國統治階級的工具，而布蘭肯希普則希望美國避免成為世界警察。布蘭肯希普將爭取批准或等級選擇投票的努力描述為過於複雜，並 「稀釋」了爭取投票權的努力。其他所有候選人都支持等級選擇投票。拉里瓦贊成向有證件和無證件的移民、囚犯和16至18歲的青少年提供投票權。大多數候選人認為，婦女選民聯盟在舉行辯論方面比總統辯論委員會做得更好，並同意贊助者應該是無黨派的。皮爾斯對「操縱民調」排除第三黨候選人的不公平性發表評論。布蘭肯希普攻擊媒體維持現狀，並舉例說，在2018年西維珍尼亞州共和黨參議員初選前，媒體將他錯誤地描述為「重刑犯」。布蘭肯希普贊成擴大太空探索，認為美國應該處於領先地位，而不是其他一些國家。拉里瓦批評任何太空機構都是軍事化的。大多數候選人都同意需要一個國際機構來監管太空。在警察改革方面，Blankenship和Carroll表示反對「資助警察」，而La Riva則完全贊同，Hawkins表示對社區控制警察感興趣，而Pierce則着重於為警察提供進一步的培訓。皮爾斯和卡羅爾支持特許學校，不過卡羅爾對營利性學校表示擔憂。霍金斯說，許多特許學校是騙局。拉里瓦說她完全反對特許學校。皮爾斯呼籲結束毒品戰爭，霍金斯和拉里瓦對此有些贊同。拉里瓦表示同意，並贊成起訴提供資金的銀行，並稱合法化無濟於事，並提醒大家注意藥品的危險性。霍金斯呼籲像葡萄牙那樣將毒品非刑罪化，但認為應該起訴那些剝削他人的人。他贊成為吸毒者提供醫療服務。Blankenship反對結束毒品戰爭，但他說，應該起訴的是那些高層，而不是使用者。卡羅爾表示同意，並對使用大麻對大腦的影響提出了警告。La Riva、Hawkins、Blankenship和Carroll都同意疫苗的好處多於壞處。Hawkins、Blankenship和Carroll都認為不應該強制接種。皮爾斯說，他不會服用COVID-19的疫苗，稱它會改變受種者的RNA，使他們變成「轉基因人」。卡羅爾和拉里瓦對三藩市的一家診所是否在出售流產胎兒的身體部位存在分歧。拉里瓦說，她完全支持墮胎權。在槍枝問題上，皮爾斯對購買槍枝的美國公民數量表示擔憂，並警告說內戰即將到來。

最後，皮爾斯敦促選民「投下自己的良心一票」。拉里瓦認為，只有社會主義才能給國家帶來平等。布蘭肯希普宣稱，他是台上唯一一位將自己的綱領建立在美國憲法基礎上的候選人，並呼籲用成本效益分析來制定政策。霍金斯預測特朗普總統將以巨大的壓倒性優勢敗下陣來，並要求選民為自己真正相信的東西投票。卡羅爾要求保護人類尊嚴，支持作為社會基本單位的家庭。

在10月24日於懷俄明州夏延市舉行的最後一場辯論中，候選人在開場發言後，接受了十個問題的提問，內容涉及辯論的公平性、退伍軍人自殺、軍事宣傳、技術的集中控制、國家主權、初選制度、等級選擇投票、選票准入法、人工智能的監管和國家債務。獨立選民網絡的Chad Peace、反戰活動家Adam Kokesh、Nexus的Brian Anderson、陰謀論者G. Edward Griffin、全美無黨派改革者協會的Kaia Los Huertos、RepresentUS的Renaldo Pearson、Ballot Access News的Richard Winger和Tobin，分別進行了提問。與前次一樣，辯論會在候選人的最後發言中結束。

由於布蘭肯希普缺席，只有四名候選人上台。拉里瓦在開場時呼籲結束資本主義制度，取消一切租金和抵押貸款。皮爾斯自稱對美國的未來「深表關切」，並贊同用「生命、自由和幸福」作為衡量成功的標準。霍金斯再次表示支持綠色新政和經濟權利法案，並補充呼籲廢除核武器。他指出，末日時鐘已經非常接近午夜。卡羅爾認為，美國有必要的力量來克服它所面臨的所有問題。他覺得奇怪的是，他在一家刊物上被稱為「民主社會主義者」，卻得到了《美國保守派》一位作家的認可。

和上一次辯論一樣，候選人之間的意見也很一致。皮爾斯和霍金斯都主張將選票准入作為辯論的包容標準。拉里瓦不同意，表示應該取消選舉團。她批評加州的前兩名選舉政策，並呼籲推翻《公民聯合案》的決定。卡羅爾也支持推翻《公民聯合》。霍金斯抨擊了「大男子主義文化」，即把軍隊當作偶像，而軍隊卻為保護上層階級的利益而戰。卡羅爾回憶說，有人去參加越戰，回來後就變了。他想知道，美國怎麼能把人訓練成種族主義殺手，然後指望他們重返社會。拉里瓦形容軍隊是對工人階級「可怕」的利用。她稱朝鮮戰爭是一場「種族滅絕的戰爭」，皮爾斯隨後解釋說，他是駐韓名譽大使。他渴望北韓和南韓之間的邊界重新開放。皮爾斯強調，大科技審查是一個比軍事宣傳更嚴重的問題。他認為，科技公司應該決定成為出版商或平台。拉里瓦認為資本主義下的科技是有問題的，但他說，在社會主義下，科技將是有益的。皮爾斯反駁說，技術是不道德的，可以根據如何使用它來決定好壞。霍金斯認為，大科技正在使國家向民主社會主義方向發展。卡羅爾主張對大科技進行制衡，並建立新一級政府來監管大科技。拉里瓦則呼籲徵用大科技公司，讓美國人民決定如何使用這些部分。關於國家主權，皮爾斯表示，他贊成條約而不是戰爭，並贊同對美聯儲進行審計。霍金斯呼籲將美聯儲國有化，並對國家主權落入公司而非其他國家手中表示擔憂。拉里瓦同意聯邦儲備的國有化。卡羅爾認為，像北美自由貿易協定這樣的貿易協議會帶來不可預見的後果，比如將墨西哥粟米種植者推向邊境北部。卡羅爾還表示，他希望編輯第14修正案，將企業從其保護範圍中移除。皮爾斯、霍金斯都認為各黨派應該決定自己的初選程序，而拉里瓦則贊成開放的初選制度，認為它比前二名更民主。皮爾斯稱林肯是最後一個當選總統的第三黨候選人，他任命了一個由競爭對手組成的內閣。皮爾斯表示，他對政客向科技領袖提出的問題感到尷尬，並認為國家需要「有遠見的領導力」。拉里瓦反對「全民基本收入」（Universal Basic Income），建議將最低工資提高到每小時20美元。卡羅爾同意拉里瓦的觀點，稱就業比UBI更重要。他將自己的經濟觀點命名為分配主義，他說這是資本主義的一種極端形式。霍金斯稱，作為一個貨幣發行者而非貨幣使用者，美國政府有足夠的錢來消費，債務和赤字並不重要。拉里瓦表示同意，稱國家有足夠的財富來支付每個人的需求。卡羅爾呼籲美國停止參與世界範圍內的對外戰爭，停止用信用卡支付戰爭費用。皮爾斯認為債務是個問題，政府已經失控，有必要進行稅收改革。

最後，卡羅爾解釋說，他在所有問題上都是支持生命的。他支持社會正義，認為強大的地方社區、強大的小企業和強大的家庭是根本。拉里瓦認為，社會主義越來越流行，私有制才是人們生活在真正的暴政之下。皮爾斯強調全國教育的必要性，並將現行制度比作灌輸式教育。霍金斯稱，冠狀病毒大流行表明美國是一個「失敗的國家」。他敦促選民為自己想要的東西投票。

維基新聞為沒有參加自由平等選舉辯論的三位總統候選人提供了一個機會，讓他們向選民提出最後的請求。作最後懇求的是：自由黨總統候選人喬・喬根森、禁酒黨總統候選人菲爾・柯林斯和美國統一黨總統候選人比爾・哈蒙斯。

我指望我的自由主義者和獨立人士的基礎，因為他們知道，我是真正的「交易」。

對於那些不滿的民主黨人來說，他們被一個投了更多戰爭票的候選人所困住，而且他還寫了一些我們最壓迫性的刑事司法法律，我說：「有一個真正的和平與正義的政黨。」黨選擇的嚴酷的監禁和檢察官，誰鎖定了數以千計的無受害人的罪行，不值得你的投票。對他們，我說：「大膽投黃金票。」

對於小政府的共和黨人，他們看到了失控的支出和貨幣的創造，他們正確地擔心委內瑞拉式的通貨膨脹和經濟崩潰，我說：「有一個真正的小政府和個人責任的黨。」我們可以解除市場的束縛來創造繁榮和機會，我們可以減少75%的政府規模而不至於冷落任何人。對於財政保守主義者，我說：「大膽一點，投票給黃金吧。」

我最後的請求是告訴選民，我提醒人們注意酒精的有害影響。我告訴他們，我們關心其他問題。我們支持平衡預算。我們支持生命權和槍枝權。

今次選舉極有可能是現代以來第一次拋給眾議院的選舉。第12條修正案規定，選舉團前三名獲得眾議院投票的考慮，而我只需要少量（甚至可能只需要一張）選舉人票，就可以和兩個人一起進入最後的競選，而這兩個人的健康、年齡以及來勢洶洶的COVID-19大流行的風險因素，說得不客氣一點，就是行走的國家安全風險。我請選民們投下自己的良心票，因為總統選舉人也是人，足夠多的漢蒙斯票可能會說服足夠多的選舉人也投下自己的良心票。

英文維基新聞請三位政治專家對2020年總統大選的選舉團票數進行預測。這些專家分別是：作為共和黨人代表科羅拉多州第6國會選區的前美國國會議員湯姆·坦克萊多（Tom Tancredo）、創立波士頓茶黨的政治博客作者托馬斯·克納普（Thomas Knapp）和選舉網站Politics1.com的創始人兼出版人羅恩·岡茨伯格（Ron Gunzburger）律師。

除了在國會任職期間，坦克萊多還參加了共和黨2008年的總統提名競選，但沒有成功。競選期間，他接受了英文維基新聞的專訪。之後，坦克萊多在2010年作為憲法黨的提名人競選科羅拉多州州長，以第二名的身份完成競選。後來他又回到了共和黨。

Tancredo預測總統特朗普以362比176的選舉人票數戰勝前副總統拜登贏得連任。

2008年，克納普站在波士頓茶黨的第一副總統候選人的位置上，該黨於2012年解散。歷史學家達西·理查德森（Darcy Richardson）在2016年競選改革黨總統提名時選擇了克納普作為競選伙伴。克納普經營着政治博客KN@PPSTER，是威廉·勞埃德·加里森自由主義宣傳新聞中心的主任和高級新聞分析師。

克納普預測，前副總統拜登將以319比219的選舉人數擊敗特朗普總統。

岡茨堡自1988年起擔任審判律師，1997年創辦了無黨派的Politics1.com。他目前擔任馬利蘭州共和黨州長拉里·霍根的高級顧問。根據推特，他稱自己是中間派民主黨人。

岡茨伯格預測，前副總統拜登將以359比179的選舉人票數擊敗總統特朗普。


On the campaign trail in the USA, September 2020

The following is the fifth edition of a monthly series chronicling the 2020 United States presidential election. It features original material compiled throughout the previous month after an overview of the month's biggest stories.

This month's spotlight on the campaign trail: the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee secures ballot access in all 50 U.S. states, the Unity Party of America presidential nominee proposes a novel solution to the issue of "packing" the U.S. Supreme Court, and three candidates give their thoughts on the latest military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

As the campaign entered September, Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden led President Donald Trump, the Republican Party presidential nominee, in the RealClearPolitics head-to-head polling average, 49.0 percent to 43.0 percent.

President Trump started the month visiting Kenosha, Wisconsin, where riots had broken out due to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in August.  Trump referred to the riots as acts of "domestic terror" and placed further emphasis on maintaining "law and order." His opponent, Biden, in a message to fundraisers, accused Trump of "trying to scare the hell out of America."  Biden himself visited Kenosha two days after Trump in what was his first campaign trip to the swing state of Wisconsin.  During the appearance, Biden delivered a speech on racial inequality while wearing a mask, discussing the "original sin" of slavery.  He also visited the family of Jacob Blake and spoke to Blake on the phone.  The Trump campaign criticized Biden for not denouncing Antifa and for making the trip despite claiming previously that it was not safe to do so due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Wisconsin governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, said he would have preferred that neither Trump nor Biden had made the stop. At least three unfavorable claims about Trump surfaced in early September.  First, after CNN reporter and former Bill Clinton White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart questioned whether the President's impromptu visit to Walter Reed Hospital last November was the result of a stroke, Trump alleged the media was falsely claiming he had suffered from "mini-strokes."  Thereafter, Matt Drudge posted a report from The Hill about Trump's "mini-strokes" tweet as the top story on the Drudge Report. Trump attacked Drudge as a consistent Trump opponent and his campaign called for CNN to fire Lockhart.  Next, The Atlantic claimed that during a 2018 trip to France, Trump refused to visit a cemetery of U.S. soldiers killed during the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood and referred to the soldiers buried there as "losers" and "suckers."  Furthermore, Trump allegedly questioned whether the U.S. allied with the correct side during the war.  Aides publicly denied the story as did Trump-critic and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.  Nevertheless, others, including Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin, confirmed key parts of the story.  Trump called on Fox News to fire Griffin. Lastly, excerpts from Bob Woodward's book Rage, for which Trump gave insider access, revealed Trump downplayed the coronavirus in February in order to avoid public panic.  Trump confirmed the claim, arguing it was not in the national interest to stir up panic about the virus.   Biden, while campaigning in Michigan, called Trump's action "a life-and-death betrayal of the American people."  He described it as "beyond despicable" and "almost criminal."
Trump stirred controversy for himself both during an interview with a local Wilmington, North Carolina outlet and again at a rally in Pennsylvania.  He suggested supporters fill out absentee ballots, and then visit their polling places and vote in-person if records indicated they had not voted. After Trump tweeted the same advice, Twitter placed a warning over the tweet. People in the Trump administration and campaign said his comments were misconstrued and that he did not support voting twice. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, voting twice is a felony.

In mid-September, Trump held his first indoor rally in three months, in Nevada, flouting local coronavirus mandates.  Afterwards Trump visited California to discuss the wildfires wreaking havoc in the state.  In a public briefing that included California governor Gavin Newsom, Trump denied the effect of climate change on the intensity of the fires, arguing they were largely the product of forest mismanagement.  The climate change issue reappeared on the campaign trail.  Biden delivered a speech in Delaware in which he called Trump a "climate arsonist," citing the recent California wildfires, flooding and Atlantic hurricanes.  He argued that if Trump wins re-election, "these hellish events will continue to become more common." In Florida, where hurricanes have a disproportionate impact, polls revealed Trump strengthening with Latinos; perhaps due, League of United Latin American Citizens president Domingo Garcia indicated, to Trump's social conservative positions and stances against socialism and protests.  As Kamala Harris visited the state and focused more on the African American constituency, Biden campaign officials expressed concern about Latino support.  Biden improved his standing among another large voting bloc in Florida, senior citizens, who voted heavily for Trump in 2016.  Furthermore, a major boost for Biden in Florida came with the announcement that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg planned to invest US$100 million into the state and offered to pay fines for former inmates to regain their ability to vote. Trump claimed the move was criminal.

Building on the deal brokered between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the previous month, the Trump administration announced additional deals between Israel and Bahrain and between Serbia, Kosovo, and Israel.  Like the UAE, the Muslim majority nations of Bahrain and Kosovo recognized Israel and opened diplomatic relations with the nation. The formerly antagonistic nations of Serbia and Kosovo opened economic ties as well and Serbia agreed to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Representatives from the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel held a special signing at the White House with President Trump.  Trump hailed the agreements as the "dawn of a new Middle East."  Meanwhile, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region escalated to violence. Back home, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, leaving an opening on the Court.  Democrats claimed the election should decide who picks the next justice, citing the Republicans' refusal to consider President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland after the death of Antonin Scalia in 2016.  Republicans argued this was a different situation than in 2016 because now the party controlling the Senate matches the President's party.  President Trump nominated Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the seat.  Citing concerns Barrett's placement would upset the balance of the Court for conservatives, some Democrats advocated packing the Court with liberal justices until it reached a liberal majority.  That would only be possible if Democrats won the presidency and the Senate.  When confronted with the possibility of Democrats winning the election, Trump would not commit to a peaceful transfer of power, claiming the possibility of fraud occurring as a result of increased mail-in voting. Trump received criticism for the statement.  Republican Senator Mitt Romney, a sometime Trump critic, said the peaceful transfer of power is what separates the U.S. from nations like Belarus, and described Trump's potential unwillingness as "unthinkable and unacceptable." The Biden campaign recycled a statement it first put out in July:  "The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House." Trump received further criticism just ahead of the first presidential debate,  when The New York Times published allegations about his tax returns.  The reports indicated Trump paid US$750 in taxes in 2016 and the same amount in 2017, and that he owed on loans in excess of US$300 million due in four years.  Trump labeled the report as "fake news" and said he would release his tax returns once he was no longer under audit.  Biden left the campaign trail a few days before the debate to prepare both virtually and in-person at his Delaware house. According to CNN, a source told them Trump prepared for a total of two hours, enlisting help from former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.  He continued to hold campaign rallies and White House events.

The first presidential debate between Trump and Biden took place on the penultimate day of September in Ohio. During the debate, the candidates often interrupted each other.  Although Biden was the first to do so, Trump interrupted far more often.  Moderator Chris Wallace was criticized for his inability to maintain control. During the debate, Biden would not say whether or not he supported Court packing.  Once, when Trump interjected, Biden said "Will you Shut up, man?"  During the course of the debate, Biden called Trump a clown, a racist, and the worst president.  Trump insulted Biden as unintelligent. After Biden attacked Trump for the alleged "losers" and "suckers" comment reported in The Atlantic, Trump brought up Biden's son Hunter Biden and his dealings in Ukraine and China.  Biden defended his son's struggle with drugs. Biden attacked Trump for the over 200,000 U.S. deaths from coronavirus. Trump countered that Biden would have lost even more if he were president due to his opposition to the travel ban from China. Trump claimed Democrats pushed Biden to the far left on socialized medicine, the Green New Deal and defunding the Police. Biden referred to himself as the Democratic Party and said he did not support the policies Trump mentioned. Trump argued Biden had just lost the far left by saying he didn't support those things.  He challenged Biden to name any law enforcement individuals or groups who endorsed Biden's campaign, which Biden did not do. Trump made a confusing statement about the far right organization Proud Boys, when asked to condemn them, stating "stand back and stand by" but argued the far left Antifa organization needed to be addressed.  Biden called Antifa an "idea."  Trump continued his claims about postal voting causing fraud and again would not commit to accepting the results of the election. After the debate, CNN anchor Dana Bash described the event as a "shitshow." Republican Senator Ben Sasse had the same response. Fox News commentator Ari Fleischer called it "a mess."  Biden called Trump a "national embarrassment" for his performance, while the communications director for the Trump campaign, Tim Murtaugh, declared victory for Trump.  According to the Commission on Presidential Debates, moderators would have "additional tools" to maintain order in future debates.

As September came to a close, Biden maintained his lead over President Trump in the RealClearPolitics head-to-head polling average, 49.7 percent to 43.1 percent.

Libertarian Party presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen passed a milestone in September, becoming the only third party candidate in this election to secure ballot access in all states and the District of Columbia.  The party had the same access in 2016, but in that cycle there was no coronavirus pandemic hampering petitioning efforts.  Before 2016, the last time the Libertarian Party had ballot access in all jurisdictions was 1996 when Jorgensen was on the ballot as the running mate of the late Harry Browne.  The Browne-Jorgensen ticket, as well as the Reform Party ticket of the late Ross Perot that same year, was the last time before 2016 that any third party or independent candidate achieved full ballot access.

In a celebratory email to supporters, Jorgensen exclaimed: "It's official — my campaign is on ballot in ALL 50 states!  I want to thank all the volunteers and staff who made this possible. It was a lot of work! We're talking about hours upon hours of collecting petitions."

With the access secured, Jorgensen aimed to gain entry to the presidential debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.  The Commission's  criterion for inclusion remains a showing of 15 percent support in opinion polls.  In late September polls, when included, Jorgensen was in third place.  She drew two percent in the September 25–27 Léger poll, two percent in the September 26–27 Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey, and five percent in the September 25–27 Zogby Analytics poll.

"We are the real choice for American voters in November," Jorgensen argued, "yet the corrupt Commission on Presidential Debates refuses to have me. Our campaign is the only viable option to both Trump or Biden."

In 2016, despite full ballot access and a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates, then-Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson was denied access to the debates.  Nevertheless, he received 3.27 percent of the vote on Election Day, the most a Libertarian Party presidential nominee has ever received.

In mid-September, staunch liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died after a long battle with cancer.  President Trump nominated conservative Amy Coney Barrett as her replacement.  With a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, Barrett's confirmation was likely, resulting a 6–3 majority for conservatives in the Court.  In response, some Democrats, such as former 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, proposed major changes to the Court, similar to what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed in the 1930s.  While Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden did not say in the debate whether he supports significant changes, one third party presidential nominee proposed to Wikinews a novel approach, aiming both to prevent future Court packing and promote ideological balance.

After his New Deal programs suffered a series of defeats in the Supreme Court, President Roosevelt looked to add justices that would interpret the Constitution to uphold his agenda.  Capitalizing on the public perception of the Court as being too old, Roosevelt sought to tie the number of justices to age. In 1937, he proposed a bill to amend the Judiciary Act of 1869, which sets the number of Supreme Court justices at nine.
Roosevelt's bill would allow the President to nominate one additional justice for every justice over the age of 70 years and six months with at least ten years of experience on the bench.  The proposal capped the number of justices to be nominated this way at six.  The plan did not receive much support, even from his own Democratic Party.  The Senate voted 70 to 20 to send the bill back to committee, where it died.

Now, 83 years later, some Democrats have revisited a plan to expand the number of justices that Buttigieg proposed during his campaign.  He suggested expanding the Court to 15 justices: five Republicans, five Democrats, and five to be chosen by the other justices. Other Democratic plans include a straight-up expansion of the number of justices and a plan to institute term limits for justices.  According to a 2019 Marquette University poll, 57 percent of the U.S. public opposes expanding the number of justices. However, 72 percent support term limits.

Bill Hammons, 2020 presidential nominee of the Unity Party of America, whose running mate Eric Bodenstab spoke to Wikinews in August, provided Wikinews with his own plan for the Court.  While it would expand the number of justices, it aims to prevent future Court packing:

"The number of Justices should be set at 13 with a Constitutional Amendment to prevent future Court Packing," says Hammons, "and the four new Justices should be smart non-ideologues who have been ignored for their lack of ideology."

The U.S. Constitution provides two ways to propose a Constitutional Amendment as Hammons proposes: (1) a two-thirds affirmative vote in the Senate and House of Representatives, or (2) an affirmative vote in the state legislatures of two-thirds of the states to call a constitutional convention.  The latter route has not yet been used. If an amendment is successfully proposed, three-quarters of states must then ratify it in order for the amendment to become part of the Constitution.  The last successful amendment occurred in 1992.

While both the Hammons plan and the Buttigieg plan aim for balance, Hammons's approach differs from Buttigieg's in that future Court packing, like that proposed from President Roosevelt, would not be possible absent further amendment to the Constitution.  Furthermore, there is no partisan classification of justices provided and party identification does not serve as the basis for judicial ideology. Curiously, the number of justices Hammons favors matches the current number of U.S. circuit courts; the courts from which the Supreme Court hears appeals.

A longstanding conflict between the nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan erupted into violence late in September.  The conflict between the two Post-Soviet states centers on the Nagorno-Karabakh region.  It lies within the internationally-recognized borders of Azerbaijan but the Armenian-backed separatist Republic of Artsakh currently occupies it. After inquiry from Wikinews, U.S. presidential candidates Phil Collins of the Prohibition Party, Don Blankenship of the Constitution Party, and Jo Jorgensen of the Libertarian Party, weighed in on the issue.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 1994.   Russia brokered a cease-fire agreement but skirmishes continued to break out.  The latest violence began with conflicting claims from both sides. The Armenians claim they were retaliating against missile attacks from Azerbaijan.  The Azerbaijanis state they were responding to Armenian aggression.  The president of Turkey vowed support for Azerbaijan, while Russia called for a cessation of fighting.  As of September 30, Armenia claimed 790 Azerbaijani soldiers had been killed, with 103 Artsakh deaths. Azerbaijan claimed to have killed about 2,300 Artsakh soldiers.

President Trump commented on the matter during a White House Press Briefing, "[W]e're looking at it very strongly. [...] We have a lot of good relationships in that area. We'll see if we can stop it."  Although Trump's State Department asked for any "external party" not to involve themselves in the conflict, his main presidential rival Joe Biden called on the President to demand directly that Turkey stop interfering on Azerbaijan's behalf.

Collins saw compromise as the best way for the two nations to resolve their differences: "I think that those countries should compromise and split the disputed area in half." Nevertheless, Collins did not want the U.S. to involve itself militarily and calls on Washington to remain neutral. His opponents, Jorgensen and Blankenship, shared this view.

"The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is their conflict. Not ours", said Jorgensen. "We have no business taking either side. Our foreign policy should resemble one giant Switzerland, armed and neutral."

Blankenship concurred: "We need to stop policing the world and allow other countries to manage their own affairs", he argued. "We need to withdraw our troops from all but a very few foreign countries. Armenia and Azerbaijan should be given the freedom to solve their own issues. "

There is precedent for the U.S. President mediating international disputes. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt mediated a peace agreement between Japan and Russia, fostering the treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War.  Roosevelt's efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.  President Jimmy Carter mediated an end to the conflict between Israel and Egypt at the Camp David Accords in 1978 that brought about the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty and the normalization of relations between the two nations.  The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited this in awarding Carter the 2002 Peace Prize.  And President Trump, in September 2020, addressed the Arab–Israeli conflict in mediating the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.


2020年美國總統大選9月競選活動

以下是英文維基新聞記錄2020年美國總統大選的月度系列第五版，概述了當月最大的新聞大事，將整個上個月的原創材料匯編成冊。

本月競選焦點包括，自由黨總統候選人確保美國所有50個州的選票使用權，美國統一黨總統候選人對美國最高法院「打包」問題提出了新穎的解決方案，三位候選人對亞美尼亞和阿塞拜疆之間的最新軍事衝突發表了自己的看法。

随着竞选活动踏入9月，根据《真清晰政治》网站公布的平均民调数据，民主党总统候选人乔·拜登凭借49%的支持率领先43%的共和党总统候选人唐纳德·特朗普。

月初，特朗普来到威斯康星州基诺沙，当地曾于8月就黑人男子雅各布·布莱克遭警方枪击事件爆发骚乱。特朗普在公开讲话中将公众骚乱定性为“国内恐怖主义”，进一步强调须维持“法律和秩序”。他的对手拜登在写给筹款人的信中，指责特朗普“打算吓唬美国人”。特朗普视察当地两天后，拜登也首次在威斯康星这个摇摆州举行他的首次竞选活动。拜登佩戴口罩，讲话内容提到种族不平等问题，提到了奴隶制的“原罪”。他也慰问了雅各布·布莱克的家属，与布莱克通电话。特朗普阵营批评拜登没有谴责反法西斯主义运动，又说他明明之前才说冠状病毒疫情太严重，去外访不安全，结果就去了。民主党籍的威斯康星州长托尼·埃弗斯表示他宁可特朗普和拜登不来这个地方。

9月份至少有三则对特朗普不利的传闻流出。第一则发生在有线电视新闻网记者、前比尔·克林顿白宫新闻秘书乔·洛克哈特质问总统去年11月是不是因为中风临时去的沃尔特·里德医院之后，该消息被《苦力报道》作为头条新闻在推特上转载，内容变成了“特朗普攻击苦力是特朗普的忠实反对者，他的竞选阵营呼吁有线电视新闻网解雇洛克哈特”。第二则出自《大西洋月刊》，指特朗普2018年外访法国期间，拒绝瞻仰埋葬第一次世界大战贝洛伍德战役中阵亡美军士兵的陵墓，还说埋在这里的士兵是“屌丝”、“白痴”。此外，特朗普据说还质问美国在一战期间是不是站在了正确的一方。对此，特朗普的助理公开否认，包括特朗普的批评者、前国家安全顾问约翰·博尔顿。尽管如此，福斯新闻记者珍妮弗·格里芬还是证实了故事的关节内容。特朗普呼吁福斯新闻解雇格里芬。最后一则为鲍勃·伍德沃德《怒火》的内容，据说是特朗普提供的内部消息，说他2月淡化冠状病毒疫情，避免引起公众恐慌。特朗普证实该生化，认为挑动对病毒的恐慌情绪不符合国家利益。在密歇根州出席竞选活动的拜登认为特朗普的行为“简直不顾美国人死活”、“太过卑鄙”、“简直是犯罪行为”。

其后特朗普两度引火烧身，一次是在接受北卡罗来纳州威明顿当地媒体时，一次是在宾夕法尼亚州的集会上，他呼吁支持者填写缺席票，如果有没有投票的记录，再去所属的投票所私底下投票。特朗普也将这条建议发到了推特上，但被网站贴出警告。特朗普政府及竞选团队人士解释，特朗普不支持投两次票，此番言论是被人曲解了。随后北卡罗来纳州选举委员会声明投双重票是重罪。

9月中旬，特朗普在内华达州举行三个月来首次室内集会，蔑视了当地的防疫规定。之后他来到加利福尼亚州，视察山火肆虐对地方的影响。在加州州长加文·纽森在场的公众简报会上，特朗普否认气候变化促成山火严重，将其归因于森林管理不善，由此气候变化议题再度出现在竞选活动中。拜登在特拉华州演讲时，指特朗普是“气候纵火犯”，引用了加州最近的山火、洪水及大西洋飓风，说如果特朗普连任胜选，“这些地狱级别的事件会变得更加普遍”。佛州受飓风不成比例的影响，当地民调显示特朗普正加强与拉美裔的关系，原因据拉美裔美国公民联盟主席多明哥·加西亚（Domingo Garcia）推测，可能是特朗普社会立场及对社会主义和抗议活动的姿态保守。另一方面，贺锦丽来到该州时，则侧重于非裔美国人选区，而拜登阵营人士也对拉美裔的支持表示关切。拜登在佛州另一个大型投票集团中的地位也得到改善，该集团于2016年非常支持特朗普，成员都是有地位的人士。此外，前纽约市长迈克尔·布隆伯格计划在佛州投资1亿美元，并提出要替获释的囚犯缴纳罚款，恢复他们的投票权，这也大幅度提升了拜登在该州的威望。然而，特朗普认为布隆伯格的想法是犯罪行为。

上月，在美国的斡旋下，以色列和阿联酋达成邦交正常化协议。特朗普政府以此为基础，宣布以色列和巴林及塞尔维亚、科索沃和以色列之间也达成协议。和阿联酋一样，穆斯林占人口多数的巴林和科索沃会承认以色列，正式与该国建交。而曾经互为敌国的塞尔维亚和科索沃也建立了经济联系，其中塞尔维亚还同意将驻以色列大使馆从特拉维夫搬到耶路撒冷。阿联酋、巴林和以色列的代表在特朗普的见证下，在白宫签署协议。特朗普说这些协议是“新中东的曙光”。就在此时，阿塞拜疆和亚美尼亚在纳卡地区的冲突激化为暴力活动。回到美国国内，最高法院大法官鲁斯·巴德·金斯伯格辞世，令大法官席位悬空。民主党认为应该用大选决定下任大法官的人选，提到共和党人2016年曾解决奥巴马政府提名梅里克·加兰接任去世的安东宁·斯卡利亚。共和党认为，现在的形势与2016年比起来完全不同，控制着参议院的政党就是总统的政党。特朗普总统提名联邦法官艾米·康尼·巴雷特接任，外界担任巴雷特的到来会打破最高法院保守派的平衡，部分民主党人主张用自由派法官填充法院，直到自由派占大多数，但该提议只有在民主党胜选并拿下参议院时实现。针对民主党人可能赢得大选的可能性，特朗普不承诺和平移交权力，说邮寄投票的增长令作弊事件有可能发生。然而特朗普的言论受到批评。偶尔批评特朗普的共和党参议院米特·罗姆尼认为和平移交权利是美国与白俄罗斯等国家不同的原因，认为特朗普的不愿意“不可想象、不可接受”。拜登阵容再度提到了7月首次提出的说法：“美国人将决定这次大选。美国政府完美有能力将入侵者遣送出白宫。”首场总统辩论前夕，《纽约时报》披露特朗普的纳税申报表，声称他在2016年和2017年仅纳税750美元，但在四年间欠款超过3亿美元。特朗普批评该报道“假新闻”，表示自己一旦不再接受审计，就会自行公布申报表。拜登在辩论前夕暂停竞选活动，全心准备在特拉华州家中以线上形式个人参与辩论。有线电视新闻网表示，消息来源指特朗普一共花了2个小时做准备，得到前新泽西州长克里斯·克里斯蒂和前纽约市长鲁迪·朱利安尼的帮助。特朗普会继续举行竞选集会和白宫活动。

特朗普和拜登的首场总统辩论9月29日在俄亥俄州举行。辩论会上，两位候选人频繁相互打断。尽管最先打断对方的事拜登，但特朗普打断的次数要得多。主持人克里斯·华莱士没能控制住场面，事后受到批评。辩论中，拜登没有就填塞最高法院的议题作明确表态。但有一次特朗普打断时，拜登直接让特朗普“闭嘴”。辩论过程中，拜登称特朗普“小丑”、“种族主义者”、“最差总统”，特朗普反指拜登“老糊涂”。拜登提到《大西洋月刊》指特朗普报道在所谓的「失败者」和「吸盘」言论而攻击特朗普后，特朗普提起了拜登的儿子亨特·拜登和他在乌克兰和中国的交易。拜登为儿子与毒品的斗争辩护。拜登攻击特朗普造成美国20多万人死于新冠肺炎。特朗普反驳说，由于拜登反对来自中国的旅遊禁令，如果他是总统，损失会更大。特朗普称，民主党人在社会化医疗、绿色新政和资助警察等问题上将拜登推向极左。拜登称自己是民主党，并表示不支持特朗普提到的政策。特朗普认为，拜登说他不支持那些东西，只是失去了极左派。他挑战拜登说出任何支持拜登竞选的执法个人或团体，拜登没有这样做。特朗普在被要求谴责极右组织「骄傲男孩」（Proud Boys）时，发表了一个令人困惑的声明，他表示「退后并站在旁边」，但认为需要解决极左的Antifa组织（Antifa為「反法西斯主義」的英文縮寫）。特朗普继续声称邮递投票造成舞弊，再次不承诺接受选举结果。辩论结束后，CNN主播达娜·巴什将此次事件描述为「狗屎秀」。共和党参议员本·萨斯也有同样的回应。福克斯新闻评论员阿里·弗莱舍称其为「一团糟」。拜登称特朗普的表现是「国家的尴尬」，而特朗普竞选团队的通讯总监蒂姆·穆陶则宣布特朗普获胜。根据总统辩论委员会的说法，主持人将有「额外的工具」来维持未来辩论的秩序。

9月即将结束时，拜登在《真清晰政治》网站的民调平均值中保持了对特朗普总统的领先优势，以49.7%对43.1%。

自由黨總統候選人喬·喬根森（Jo Jorgensen）在9月通過了一個里程碑，成為本次選舉中唯一一個確保所有州和哥倫比亞特區選票准入的第三方候選人。該黨在2016年也有同樣的通道，但在那個週期中，沒有對疫情應對措施的反抗請願工作。在2016年之前，自由黨上一次在所有司法管轄區有投票權是1996年，當時約根森作為已故哈里·布朗（Harry Browne）的競選伙伴出現在選票上。布朗及喬根森的選票，以及同年已故羅斯·佩羅（Ross Perot）的改革黨選票，是2016年之前最後一次有任何第三黨或獨立候選人實現完全的選票使用權。

在給支持者的一封慶祝郵件中，喬根森興奮地說道：「我的競選活動在所有50個州的選票上！我想感謝所有的志願者和志願者們。我要感謝所有使這一切成為可能的志願者和工作人員。這是一個很大的工作！我們說的是幾個小時的工作。我們說的是一個又一個小時的請願書收集工作。」

在獲得了通行證後，喬根森的目標是獲得進入總統辯論委員會主辦的總統辯論會的資格。該委員會的入選標準仍然是在民意調查中顯示出15%的支持率。在9月下旬的民調中，納入時，約根森排在第三位。 她在9月25日至27日的萊格民調中獲得了2%的支持率，在9月26日至27日的Redfield & Wilton Strategies調查中獲得了2%的支持率，在9月25日至27日的佐格比分析（Zogby Analytics）調查中獲得了5%的支持率。

「我們是11月美國選民的真正選擇，」約根森認為，「然而腐敗的總統辯論委員會拒絕我。我們的競選活動是特朗普或拜登的唯一可行選擇。」

2016年，儘管有充分的選票使用權，並對總統辯論委員會提起訴訟，但當時的自由黨總統候選人加里·約翰遜（Gary Johnson）被拒絕參加辯論。儘管如此，他在選舉日獲得了3.27%的選票，這是自由黨總統候選人獲得的最多選票。

9月中旬，堅定的自由派最高法院大法官金斯伯格在與癌症長期鬥爭後逝世。特朗普總統提名保守派的巴雷特接替她。由於共和黨在美國參議院佔多數，巴雷特很可能獲得確認，結果保守派在法院中以6比3佔多數。對此，一些民主黨人，如前2020年總統候選人、印第安納州南本德市前市長彼得·砵得智（Pete Buttigieg）提出對法院進行重大改革，類似於富蘭克林·德拉諾·羅斯福總統在20世紀30年代提出的建議。雖然民主黨總統候選人拜登在辯論中沒有表示是否支持重大變革，但一位第三黨總統候選人向英文維基新聞提出了一個新穎的方法，目的是既防止未來法院打包，又促進意識形態平衡。

在他的新政計劃在最高法院遭遇一系列失敗後，羅斯福總統希望增加能夠解釋憲法的大法官，以支持他的議程。羅斯福利用公眾對法院過於老舊的看法，試圖將大法官的數量與年齡掛鈎。1937年，他提出了一項修改1869年《司法法》的法案，該法案規定最高法院大法官的人數為9人。羅斯福的法案將允許總統為每一位年齡超過70歲零6個月、至少有10年法官經驗的大法官額外提名一名大法官。該提案將以這種方式提名的大法官人數上限為6人。這個計劃並沒有得到太多的支持，即使是他所在的民主黨也不支持。參議院以70票對20票將該法案發回委員會，該法案在委員會中被否決。

83年後的今天，一些民主黨人重新審視了布提吉格在競選期間提出的擴大大法官人數的計劃。他建議將法院擴大到15名大法官：5名共和黨人，5名民主黨人，5名由其他大法官選擇。其他民主黨的計劃包括直接擴大大法官人數，以及為大法官設立任期限制的計劃。根據2019年馬奎特大學的民調，57%的美國民眾反對擴大大法官人數。不過，72%的人支持任期限制。

美國統一黨2020年總統提名人比爾·漢蒙斯（Bill Hammons）的競選拍檔埃里克·博登斯塔布（Eric Bodenstab）在8月份向英文維基新聞提供了自己的法院計劃。雖然會擴大大法官的數量，但其目的是防止未來法院打包。

「大法官的數量應該設定為13人，並通過憲法修正案來防止未來的法院包裝，」漢蒙斯說，「四個新的大法官應該是聰明的非思想家，他們因為缺乏意識形態而被忽視。」

美國憲法規定了兩種方式來提出漢蒙斯所建議的憲法修正案：在參議院和眾議院中獲得三分之二的贊成票，或者在三分之二的州的州議會中獲得贊成票，召開憲法會議，後一種途徑尚未被採用。如果修正案被成功提出，則必須有四分之三的州批准，修正案才能成為憲法的一部分，上一次成功的修憲是在1992年。

亞美尼亞和阿塞拜疆兩國之間的長期衝突在9月下旬爆發了暴力事件。這兩個後蘇聯國家之間的衝突集中在納戈爾諾-卡拉巴赫地區。該地區位於國際公認的阿塞拜疆邊界內，但目前由亞美尼亞支持的分離主義阿爾察赫共和國佔領。在英文維基新聞的詢問下，美國總統候選人禁酒黨的菲爾·柯林斯、憲法黨的唐·布蘭肯希普和自由黨的喬·喬根森對這個問題發表了看法。

1994年，亞美尼亞和阿塞拜疆為納戈爾諾-卡拉巴赫地區打了一場戰爭。俄羅斯作為中間人促成了一項停火協議，但小規模衝突繼續爆發。最近的暴力事件始於雙方相互矛盾的說法。亞美尼亞人聲稱他們是在報復阿塞拜疆的導彈襲擊。阿塞拜疆人稱他們是在回應亞美尼亞人的侵略。土耳其總統發誓支持阿塞拜疆，俄羅斯則呼籲停止戰鬥。截至9月30日，亞美尼亞聲稱有790名阿塞拜疆士兵被殺，其中103名阿爾察赫人死亡。阿塞拜疆宣稱殺死了約2300名阿爾察赫士兵。

特朗普總統在白宮新聞發佈會上對此事發表評論說：「我們正在強烈關注此事。我們在該地區有很多良好的關係。我們會看看是否能阻止它。」雖然特朗普的國務院要求任何「外部方」不要捲入衝突，但他的主要總統競爭對手拜登呼籲總統直接要求土耳其停止代表阿塞拜疆進行干涉。

柯林斯認為，妥協是兩國解決分歧的最佳途徑。「我認為這些國家應該妥協，將爭議地區一分為二。」儘管如此，柯林斯不希望美國在軍事上介入，並呼籲華盛頓保持中立。他的反對者約根森和布蘭肯希普也持同樣的觀點。

「亞美尼亞和阿塞拜疆之間的衝突是他們的衝突。不是我們的衝突」，約根森說：「我們沒有資格站在任何一方。我們的外交政策應該像一個巨大的瑞士，既武裝又中立。」

布蘭肯希普對此表示贊同：「我們需要停止維持世界治安，並允許其他國家管理他們自己的事務。」他爭辯道，「除了極少數外國，我們需要從所有國家撤軍。應該讓亞美尼亞和阿塞拜疆有解決自己問題的自由。」

美國總統調解國際爭端是有先例的。1905年，西奧多·羅斯福總統調解了日本和俄國之間的和平協議，促成了結束日俄戰爭的條約。羅斯福的努力為他贏得了諾貝爾和平獎。1978年，吉米·卡特總統在《戴維營協議》中調解結束了以色列和埃及之間的衝突，促成了1979年的埃以和平條約和兩國關係的正常化。挪威諾貝爾委員會在授予卡特2002年和平獎時，就引用了這一點。而特朗普總統在2020年9月，在調解《亞伯拉罕協議》，使以色列與阿聯酋和巴林的關係正常化時，也談到了阿以衝突。


One confirmed dead after shooting at National War Memorial in Ottawa

One gunman is dead, police confirm, following a shooting incident on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, today that killed a Canadian Forces guard at the National War Memorial.  This occurs after two Canadian Forces members were struck two days ago by a vehicle reportedly driven by a jihadist sympathizer, leaving one member dead.

Reports from witnesses state that after shooting the soldier, the gunman seized a car and drove to the nearby Centre Block building, where witnesses report several shots fired. Members of Parliament and other witnesses inside Centre Block report inside this building the House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms shot and killed the gunman. Authorities noted another vehicle parked in a no parking zone at the nearby Langevin Block with no rear license plate, and sent explosive detection robots to the area.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was evacuated from Parliament and briefed on the situation, while various facilities throughout Ottawa, including downtown schools, were placed into lockdown.

Members of caucuses for the Conservative, Liberal, and New Democratic parties were holding regularly scheduled weekly meetings inside the Centre Block at the time of the lockdown, and were held in place in their respective offices.

Some witness accounts suggested one or more additional attackers; police did not confirm whether this was so.


Fusillade au Parlement du Canada : un soldat mort, un tireur abattu

Ce matin, la colline du Parlement à Ottawa au Canada a été l'hôte d'une fusillade. Il a été confirmé que des coups de feu ont été tirés à l'intérieur du Parlement et au Monument commémoratif de guerre du Canada.

Un militaire des Forces armées canadiennes a été tué près du Monument aux morts du Canada et un garde de sécurité du Parlement a été blessé par des tirs. Un tireur a été abattu par le sergent d'armes du Parlement, Kevin Vickers, à l'intérieur de l'Édifice du Centre du Parlement. Selon les autorités, un ou deux autres tireurs seraient toujours en liberté dans le centre-ville d'Ottawa qui est bouclé par la police.

Le militaire, le caporal Nathan Cirillo, un réserviste de Hamilton et un père de famille dans la vingtaine, qui servait de garde d'honneur au Monument commémoratif de guerre du Canada a été touché par un tir et a décédé par la suite. Un témoin affirme avoir vu le tireur lever son fusil dans les airs en triomphe lorsque le soldat s'est écroulé au sol. La vie du garde de sécurité, blessé par balle, n'est pas en danger.

La police a établi un cordon de sécurité isolant la colline du Parlement. Le Premier ministre du Canada, Stephen Harper, a été évacué et est en lieu sûr. Les chefs des deux autres principaux partis sont également saufs. La police fouille les véhicules quittant Ottawa en direction du Québec. La police effectue également du porte-à-porte et les écoles sont bouclées.

En tout, une cinquantaine de coups de feu auraient été tirés. Une vidéo de la fusillade a été capturée par un journaliste du Globe and Mail à l'aide d'un téléphone cellulaire.

La police d'Ottawa a confirmé l'identité du tireur abattu. Il s'agit de Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, un Canadien né en 1982 et originaire de Montréal. Converti à l'islam, il s'était radicalisé et était déjà connu des autorités qui lui avaient d'ailleurs confisqué son passeport en juillet dernier. La police a également confirmé qu'il était le seul responsable de la fusillade et qu'il n'y avait pas d'autre tireur, contrairement aux premières informations dans la presse.

Cette fusillade fait à la suite de l'événement de lundi dernier à Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu au Québec où deux militaires ont été happés volontairement par une voiture conduite par un djihadiste causant la mort de l'un d'eux. De plus, le niveau d'alerte terroriste avait été élevé de bas à moyen mardi.


Tiroteio no Parlamento e Memorial Nacional da Guerra no Canadá deixa dois mortos

Agência Brasil

22 de outubro de 2014

Um homem armado invadiu na manhã de hoje (22) a sede do Parlamento canadense em Ottawa (capital do Canadá) e dispararam diversos dentro da sede do Parlamento. Segundo testemunhas, antes do ataque ao Parlamento, um militar canadense que fazia a guarda do Memorial Nacional de Guerra, foi atingido a tiros, onde ouviu-se cerca de 20 tiros.

Em seguida, a polícia cercou o Parlamento à procura do atirador, mas depois, surgiram suspeitas de que havia mais atiradores, um ou dois. Durante a checagem, uns dos atiradores foi achado, reagiu contra os policiais, que o matou. Um soldado canadense, que fazia sentinela no Memorial da Guerra (junto do Parlamento) foi encontrado morto, atingido por tiros.

O primeiro-ministro do país, Stephen Harper, foi retirado do edifício assim que os tiros foram ouvidos, informaram seus assessores. O perímetro de segurança junto ao Parlamento levou também ao fechamento da Universidade de Ottawa.

A polícia também pediu para a população se manter em casa ou, pelo menos, longe do local. A residência oficial do primeiro-ministro, que fica em frente ao Parlamento, também foi evacuada.

O capitão Jeff Davis, porta-voz do North American Aerospace Defense Command, agência responsável pela defesa do espaço aéreo dos dois países, esclareceu que até ao momento “não teve conhecimento de qualquer ameaça em relação ao espaço aéreo”.

A Polícia Federal norte-americana (FBI) decidiu aumentar o nível de alerta de todas as suas unidades, informou a estação de televisão norte-americana CNN. O canal acrescentou que o FBI está trabalhando em parceria com as agências de segurança canadenses.

De acordo com a televisão pública canadense CBC, a troca de tiros resultou em dois mortos, o militar foi identificado como agente e o atirador, ambos não tiveram nomes divulgados.

Outro soldado ferido no Memorial Nacional de Guerra foi submetido a “manobras de reanimação cardio-respiratória” feitas pelos serviços de emergência que chegaram primeiro ao local, antes de ser colocado em uma ambulância e transportado ao hospital.

O incidente ocorre dois dias depois que dois soldados canadenses foram atropelados em Quebec por um homem suspeito de ter ligação com um grupo radical islâmico. Um soldado morreu.


Канада: Убијен војник у Отави

22. октобар 2014.Отава/ Онтарио (Beta-AP) - Наоружана особа (Michael Zehaf-Bibeau) убила је у среду у Отави војника (Нејтан Цирило-Nathan Cirillo- из Хамилтона) који је држао почасну стражу поред споменика у канадској престоници, а затим утрчала у оближњу зграду парламента у којој је одјекнуо већи број хитаца, саопштили су полиција и очевици.

Људи су у паници бежали из парламента, користећи за бег и скеле које су постављене због обнове зграде, али су неки остали унутра.

Полицајци с панцирним прслуцима, наоружани пушкама окружили су зграду и блокирали улице које воде до парламента, навели су сведоци.

Полиција је саопштила да је у напад било укључено више нападача и да је једног убила, а да се за још једним или двојицом трага. Полиција је позвала грађане да се држе подаље од прозора и да не излазе на кровове.


One killed, 28 injured in south Thailand bombing

One person was killed and at least 28 injured in a bomb attack today by suspected Muslim insurgents at a crowded tea shop in southern Thailand.

The bomb, placed inside a bag in a telephone booth near the shop in the provincial capital Yala, exploded at about 8 p.m. local time (1300 UTC).

The dead woman was a 24-year-old Buddhist, police said. The religions of the other victims were not immediately known. Among the injured, at least five were hurt seriously.

"Two men on a motorcycle placed a bomb inside the phone booth. Immediately after they left, the bomb exploded," Police Colonel Poompetch Pipatpetchpoo was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse.

Another officer said the bombing came at a peak hour for the tea-shop trade in southern Thailand.

"The assailants seized an opportunity to stage an attack when police and soldiers were taking a rest," Police Lieutenant Colonel Jirasit Lomae was quoted as saying by Associated Press. He said security personnel had been standing guard at a trade fair in the province.

In neighboring Narathiwat Province, a government official and another man were killed and a third injured in a drive-by shooting.

Hami Wani, 45-year-old deputy headman of Ban Salo village, was fatally shot at around 1 p.m. (0600 UTC) as he was driving home. An assistant was also killed, and another injured.

Also in Narathiwat, two Royal Thai Army soldiers were injured in a roadside bombing. The soldiers were part of a six-man teacher-protection unit.

Overnight in Krong Pinang, Yala Province, a school was burned by a group of around 20 men who came onto the grounds and overpowered 10 volunteers assigned to guard the school. It was the second school burned in an arson attack in a week in Yala.

The State Railway of Thailand resumed train service today on its southern lines after repairs were made to tracks that were sabotaged earlier in the week. Security has been beefed up, with plainclothes and uniformed officers on trains, in stations and patrolling the railbeds and trestles. Railway officials said ridership was down following the attacks.


Tailandia sufre una serie de ataques terroristas

Una persona fue muerta y al menos 28 fueron heridas tras un ataque terrorista en Tailandia en un café de Tailandia del Sur; se sospecha que el ataque fue perpetruado por insurgentes musulmanes.

La bomba, ubicada dentro de una cartera en una cabina telefónica en el café en la capital provincial de Yala, se detonó a alrededor de las 8 p.m. de la hora local (1300 UTC)

La mujer muerta era una budista de 24 años, según reportó la policía. Entre los heridos hay al menos cinco en estado serio.

"Dos hombres en una motocicleta dejaron la bomba en una cabina telefónica. Inmediatamente luego de que se fueran, la bomba detonó," dijo el policía Poompetch Pipatpetchpoo mientras la Agence France-Presse lo interrogaba.

"Los asaltantes tomaron la oportunidad para llevar a cabo un ataque cuando la policía y los soldados estaban descansando," dijo Jirasit Lomae, un policía interrogado por la Associated Press

En la provincia Narathiwat, un oficial del gobierno y otro hombre fueron asesinados y un tercero fue herido en un tiroteo desde un automóvil.

Hami Wani, un diputado de 45 años, fue fatalmente disparado alrededor de la 1 p.m (0600 UTC) mientras conducía a su hogar. Un asistente también fue matado, y otro herido.

También en Narathiwat, dos soldados del Real Ejército Tailandés fueron heridos por una detonación.

Además, una escuela fue quemada en Krong Pinang (provincia de Yala) por un grupo de alrededor de 20 hombres.


La Thaïlande subit une série d'attaques terroristes

Une personne est morte et au moins 28 ont été blessées dans une attaque terroriste en Thaïlande dans un café du sud du pays. On suppose que cette attaque est due aux rebelles musulmans.
La bombe à l'origine de ces dégâts humains était cachée dans une cabine téléphonique dans un café de la capitale provinciale de Yala, a explosé aux environs de 20h00 heure locale (13h00 UTC).
La personne décédée était une bouddhiste de 24 ans, selon un rapport de police. Il y a, parmi les blessés, au moins 5 cas graves.
« Deux hommes en motocyclette ont déposé la bombe dans une cabine téléphonique. Dès qu'ils eurent fui, la bombe a explosé », a déclaré le policier Poompetch Pipatpetchpoo à l'Agence France Presse qui l'interrogeait.
« Les assaillants ont saisi l'occasion pour mener une attaque lorsque la police et les soldats étaient en repos », indique Jirasit Lomae, un policier interrogé par l'Associated Press.
Fusillades, explosions et école incendiée
Dans la province de Narathiwat, un officier du gouvernement et une autre personne ont été assassinés et une troisième personne a été blessée dans une fusillade depuis une automobile.
Hami Wani, un député de 45 ans, a été touché mortellement aux environs de 13h00 (6h00 UTC) alors qu'il rentrait chez lui. Un assistant a aussi été tué, et un autre blessé.
À Narathiwat encore, deux soldats de l'Armée royale thaïlandaise ont été blessés dans une détonation.
De plus, une école a été brûlée à Krong Pinang (province de Yala) par un groupe d'environ 20 hommes.


Opposing Thai protesters mass, PAD to march on parliament

Thailand's ongoing political crisis continues today with pro- and anti-government rallies being held. Meeting outside Bangkok, the pro-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is holding one of their "Truth Today" talkshows at Suan Kaew Temple. In the anti-government camp, supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are massing at the occupied Government House compound and calling their planned march on parliament their "final battle".

In contrast to a confrontation with authorities which could last days, the pro-government UDD talk show and rally is expected to disperse this evening. Organisers and government party MPs have given assurances there are no plans to confront PAD demonstrators.

Ensconced in the Government House compound since August, the PAD protesters' march on parliament was announced over this weekend following a grenade attack on Thursday that killed one and injured over 20. The yellow-shirted protesters assert that the People's Power Party (PPP) government lead by Somchai Wongsawat is too close to fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Protest leaders insist their planned siege of the parliament is intended to prevent discussion of legislation to amend the constitution. The PAD claim the amendments are intended to rehabilitate Thaksin and members of his outlawed Thai Rak Thai party who were banned from holding office. The Prime Minister has denied any plans to review this draft legislation, stating that the agenda is predominantly related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

With two killed and over 500 injured in the last attempt to disrupt parliament, various hospitals and groups of medical staff are on standby, ready to treat any injured protesters. The October 7 protest at parliament saw police fire explosive tear gas rounds into the PAD crowd, causing death and loss of limbs. Following instructions from the Public Health Minister, Chalerm Yubamrung, eleven hospitals have been told to be on alert.


Tajlandia: demonstracje opozycji pod parlamentem

W Bangkoku siedzibę tajlandzkiego parlamentu otoczyły tysiące demonstrantów uzbrojonych w metalowe pałki i kije golfowe. Tłum uniemożliwił wejście deputowanych do budynku, w którym miały się rozpocząć obrady rządu premiera Somchaia Wongsawata.

Manifestacja zorganizowana przez opozycyjny Ludowy Sojusz na rzecz Demokracji (PAD) dążyła do zablokowania parlamentarnej debaty nad reformą konstytucyjną. Mimo odwołania obrad, manifestacja nadal trwała. Opozycja zapowiedziała także oblężenie innych budynków rządowych, giełdy papierów wartościowych, a nawet prywatnych domów przywódców rządzącej koalicji. Jeśli mimo tego rząd nadal nie będzie skłonny do ustępstw, do demonstracji mają się włączyć tajlandzkie związki zawodowe.

Opozycjoniści, od sierpnia okupujący kancelarię premiera, uważają, że zaprzysiężony 25 września premier Somchai Wongsawat jest marionetką w rękach byłego premiera Thaksina Shinawatry, obalonego w 2006 r. w wyniku wojskowego zamachu stanu. PAD obawia się, że reforma konstytucyjna ułatwi oskarżanemu o korupcję Thaksinowi powrót do władzy. Somchai, przebywający obecnie w stolicy Peru Limie, gdzie wziął udział w szczycie APEC, nie zamierza ustąpić ze stanowiska.