MID-HUDSON — In the wake of President Donald Trump testing positive for the COVID-19 virus, four chairpersons of local Democratic and Republican committees weighed in on how his diagnosis will impact both his and other races for office.
Each of the Democratic and Republican committee chairpersons wished Trump the best in his recovery, but Orange County Democratic committee Chairman Brent Broge pointed to how this bombshell news highlights the president’s controversial response to the pandemic.
“I think it draws attention to the President’s failures and the respect in his handling of COVID,” he said.
Ulster County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Kelleigh McKenzie encouraged registered Democrats in the area to use the president’s diagnosis as further motivation to vote blue.
“We are singularly focused on doing all we can to elect our democratic candidates,” she said. “There’s only 22 days left until early voting begins.”
With a month left until Election Day, Ulster Republican Committee Chairman Roger Rascoe and Dutchess County Republican Committee Chairman Michael McCormack believe that the president will have plenty of time to campaign regardless of his health.
“Through his Twitter account and through the media, he will get as much attention with his campaigning as if he would if he wasn’t in quarantine,” said Rascoe.
McCormack also feels that Trump’s digital footprint will increase as he recovers from the virus.
“I think it will affect him in a way where you’ll find him having to do more video and social media and less [campaigning] in public,” he said.
On the local level, the committee chairpersons noted the alterations that have been made in campaigning during a pandemic.
“What you’re seeing is a lot more social media uptick in terms of how the candidates are outreaching to their constituents,” said McCormack. “They’re doing the best they can in these terrible conditions. It’s just a new way of campaigning.”
Mckenzie points out that Ulster County Democrats remain mobilized while following the guidelines from the Center for Disease Control.
“Most of the contact with voters now is done by phone or in very, very socially distant events,” she said, “but there are so many volunteers and people eager to step up and help.”
The Dutchess County Democrats chair and the Orange County Republicans chair did not respond to requests for comment.
The president announced on Twitter early in the morning on October 2 that both he and First Lady Melania Trump were quarantining after testing positive, but the president was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center later that day.
Both of these revelations came after a series of large campaign rallies criticized by health experts including White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany stated that the president was moved to Walter Reed Hospital “out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts,” and maintained that he will continue working during his stay.
