US election: 'Trump trailing behind Biden in many states'

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is leading US President Donald Trump nationally by double digits and different polls showed that Biden solidified his 10 point lead, a Pakistani-American activist said.

Anila Ali, who is also US interfaith leader, told The Express Tribune that 2020 US presidential election is not only revolving around Trump and his rival but they are highlighting the need to rewrite the rules of American elections and what constitutes a fair vote.

“This election is now about equity and most importantly, how can American keep foreign intervention away from the US elections,” she said.

Anila said that Trump is trailing behind former US Vice-President Biden in many battleground states.

She said Biden has surged ahead of Trump in many US states including Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, and Philadelphia.

However, the Pakistani-American activist said that after recovering from Covid-19 Trump during his recent campaign comeback has managed to gain ground in Ohio.

She said the latest presidential debate is unlikely to make any impact as voters have already made up their minds about their preferred candidate. “There are just 11 days left before the elections and these 90 minutes of decent discussion, most civil because both candidates were muted, gave the American undecided voters a chance to listen to issues that matter.”

She said a “tamed and less impulsive” President Trump during his election campaign focused on the economy and his plans to increase employment opportunities for the minority communities.

He also lured the business communities by scaring Americans about the Democrats raising taxes and the possibility of economic recession if Biden elected president, Anila said.

Whereas, Biden gave a reminder of the messages that resonated in 2008 during the Obama presidential campaign, Anila told The Express Tribune.

“He asked American to choose ‘hope over fear’ and promised Americans that he would tackle systemic racism head-on and that he would create clean energy jobs,” said the US-Pakistani activist.

Anila said a moderate approach to cope up with the challenge of global warming is needed and Biden represents that much needed moderation which include a slow transition to renewable energy.

“Trump called this deal a ‘job killer’ in an effort to gain voters in oil-producing states.”

Looming coronavirus crisis

Anila went on to say that President Trump has tried to downplay the catastrophe caused by the mishandling of the pandemic by his administration.

She added that the US president has praised his strategy to contain the virus which has destroyed the nation’s economy and claimed lives of 223,000 Americans so far. “His claims of a ‘vaccine’ being approved soon may give some voters hope and reason, but most Americans are aware of the facts.”

Trump claims contradicted the facts and “we are about to go into a dark winter”, Anila quoted Joe Biden’s response to the US president on coronavirus.

Anila said that Biden described Trump as the “most racist president we’ve had in modern history”.

Biden also lashed out at Trump’s attack on Mexicans and his Muslim ban, which does not include Pakistan.

Throughout the debate, Joe Biden remained calm and underscored the need to bring back decency to the national discourse, she added.

What does Biden presidency look like?

Giving an overview of the Biden administration, Anila said that the Democratic Party comprises a faction of centrist and American-Pakistanis are largely centrists and belong to both parties.

In 2000, majority of Pakistanis who were civically engaged were registered Republicans, after the Iraq and Afghan wars, they turned away from the Republican Party and joined the Democratic Party.

The Democrats will come in with high hopes for swift changes but faced with unprecedented challenges of the pandemic and a crumbled economy.

"Democrats will be led by Madam Nancy Pelosi, who has been a symbol of democracy and a steadfast friend of Pakistan."

Anila said, Trump administration has kept aloof from issue of Kashmir but Biden has taken a stand on Kashmir and been vocal on atrocities against Muslims around the world, especially the Rohingyas and Kashmiris. “In Kashmir, the Indian government should take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir. Restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down Internet, weaken democracy,” Anila quoted the Biden's agenda for Muslims.