In Pennsylvania, Trump touts the economy and warns of 'Biden depression'

US President Donald Trump has boasted about his economic policy, warning of a “depression” should his Democratic rival for the White House win the November 3 election.

Trump made the remarks during a campaign rally in the crucial battleground State of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, telling supporters he needed a second term to ensure a successful recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.

“This is an election between the Trump super recovery, which is happening right now, and a Biden depression,” Trump told cheering supporters. “If you want open schools, an open economy and a safe, healthy, thriving country, vote for me.”

His administration has been under harsh criticism over its mishandling of the virus, which has killed over 220,000 people in the United States and made millions of Americans jobless.

Trump was hospitalized for three nights after contracting the potentially deadly virus, but resumed a heavy schedule of campaign travel, including rallies where most of his supporters did not abide by social distancing guidelines or wear face masks.

His rally in Pennsylvania came despite rising cases of the highly contagious disease there and elsewhere in the United States with over 8,520,300 tested positive so far across the country.

Meanwhile, Biden, who was off the campaign trail on Tuesday to prepare for his upcoming debate with Trump, has criticized the Republican incumbent for failing to stem the infection and rushing to reopen the economy and belittling safety measures.

Opinion polls, which show Biden is holding a wide lead over Trump, also indicate more Americans trust the former vice president than Trump to lead on the health crisis.

However, Trump has gained ground on Biden in Pennsylvania, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday, leading by 49% to 45%, slightly narrower than a week earlier.

ME