Reuters: In Pennsylvania, Trump touts the economy and warns of ‘Biden depression’

ERIE, Pa. (Reuters) – President Donald Trump campaigned in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, telling supporters he needed a second term in the White House to ensure a successful recovery from the novel coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout. …

New polls on Tuesday showed Biden maintaining his lead over Trump in Michigan, while the two were in a dead heat in North Carolina, two other critical swing states that could make the difference in the race.

Early voting returns show registered Democrats outpacing Republicans in most states that track party affiliation. Trump has repeatedly characterized mail-in voting as prone to fraud, although experts say it is as secure as any other method.

His campaign and the Republican Party have sought, with mixed success, to limit voting by mail in states that expanded it in response to fears of spreading COVID-19 at crowded polling places.

Three more states began early in-person voting on Tuesday – Wisconsin, Utah and Hawaii.

Wisconsin voters bundled up and braved temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1 degree C), to stand in line at polling locations in such cities as Milwaukee, where people waited about an hour, according to videos posted by media outlets.

“We’re holding our breath, and I’m concerned about lines at early voting places,” said Jay Heck, executive director of the nonpartisan voting rights group Common Cause in Wisconsin.

“Every area – red counties and blue – there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm,” he said in reference to counties that lean toward either of the parties.