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By Dayo Benson Editor Politics, Law &Human Rights New York
Political activities have been on pause after March 17, third Super Tuesday Democratic Presidential Primaries. The suspension was to slow the spread of contagious Coronavirus. Early signs that political timetable might be on hold emerged a week earlier. True to predictions, United States was unable to dodge the bullets from China. President Donald Trump raised the pandemic alert Wednesday, March 11, 2020, when he imposed travel ban on Europe. The 30-day travel restriction was effective mid-night, March 13. United Kingdom which was initially excluded, was subsequently added. This came on the heels of White House Task Force on COVID-19. Trump constituted Monday, March 9, to provide daily Presidential briefing on the Pandemic. Trump had downplayed the deadly virus until its grim reality set in. Total lockdown of the country was inevitable. Stay at home order and social distancing became the order.
Democratic Presidential Primaries were bound to be impacted. Sunday March 15, debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders exemplified this. The encounter was without live audience. Both candidates sat six feet apart in deference to the new culture. Ohio opted out of the March 17 third Super Tuesday. Republican Governor Mile DeWine cited safety concern. Democrats’ pushed back, but their attempt to hold the poll failed. A late Court order restrained poll workers who showed up. Everything was suspended thereafter. Concerns to save lives from the deadly clutch of Coronavirus shifted attention from politics. This somewhat redefined the Presidential race dynamics.
Trump’s daily media briefing on COVID-19 diminished Biden’s visibility. The former Vice President last week made live stream broadcast from his house in Delaware. It was to keep hope alive among his supporters.
As the plague peaked, more States lockdown, and primaries were postponed. Wisconsin’s odd choice to hold its primary sent a wave of surprise across. There were blistering reactions. Older and vulnerable voters requested mailing ballots. Those who asked for absentee ballots were frustrated. Trump said mailing ballots would be fraught with fraud. He argued that Republicans would never win election again if mailing ballot was allowed. Democratic Governor, Tony Evers proposed June date for the poll. Republican dominated lawmakers overruled him. They wanted the primary as scheduled for Tuesday April 7. Governor Evers doubled down. The political calculus changed five hours later. Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favour the lawmakers Monday night. In the blame game that followed, Republicans accused Evers of not seeking poll shift early enough.
Analysts viewed Republicans’ action as a strategy to weaken Democrats’ growing popularity in Wisconsin. Their calculation was to ensure low voters participation. Republican strategists in the State capitalized on COVID-19 scare. For them, the fewer the Democrats voters that turnout ,the better. Republicans were jittery over Biden’s sweep of Michigan on March 3 Super Tuesday. Political watchers opined that the GOP establishment was uncomfortable with Democrats repeat performance in Wisconsin. Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are Swing States. They are crucial in determining White House occupant in any Presidential Poll. Trump clinched the three states in 2016. Curiously, Pennsylvania has postponed its Primary from April to June. The State has a Republican Governor. Trump weighed in on the Wisconsin Primary during his daily briefing Monday. He slammed Democrats over its move to shift the election. Trump said Democrats sought to reschedule the exercise because he endorsed a candidate.
Amid grave concerns, the Wisconsin Primary held. Nervous voters were exposed to risk of the virus infection. There was shortage of poll workers in Milwaukee. Older citizens who perform the task stayed away for fear of the pestilence. Only five polling places operated out of the City’s 180 capacity. National Guards were made to serve as poll workers.
In a symbolic gesture, Senator Sanders suspended his campaign on Jewish Pass Over Day. Sanders, a Jew, thus passed over the Democratic Nomination to Biden. Consequently, Biden has become the presumptive Democratic Nominee. Sanders however promised to remain on the ballot to exert impact on the Democratic platform. It was a decision observers expected him to have taken before now. Some of his supporters wished he remained in the race.
Democrats in Wisconsin await the poll results Monday. It however remains to be seen if Republicans strategy succeeded. Despite the Pandemic, the November 3 Presidential election date is sacrosanct. Both Trump and Biden stand together on this. As the date draws near, their parties will continue to play politics amid Pandemic. Democracy must work, even at a time of disaster.