미 대선 주자들 동시 타운홀 미팅... 경선 격차 좁혀져

The second presidential debate was due to go ahead today...prior to next month's U.S. election.
But due to President Trump's recent COVID-19 infection, it was ruled by the election committee that any debate would have to be held virtually.
Trump rejected the idea and instead went head to head with Democratic candidate Joe Biden in two separate town hall meetings....aired at the same time on different channels.
Our Kim Do-yeon has more.
Thursday was a big day in the build up to the U.S. Presidential Election as Trump and Biden went head to head... not in a debate... but in simultaneous town hall meetings via separate broadcasters.
COVID-19, of course, was a hot topic.
While claiming that President Trump has failed to respond to the pandemic correctly, on ABC News Democratic Candidate Joe Biden questioned Trump for not being 'presidential.'
"The words of a president matter. (Voter who had asked question saying: absolutely). Whether they're good, bad or indifferent, they matter. And when a president doesn't wear a mask or makes fun of folks like me, when I was wearing a mask for a long time, then, you know, people say, well, it mustn't be that important."
Meanwhile on NBC News, Trump tried his best to convince voters otherwise.
"I'm good with masks. I'm okay with masks. I tell people wear masks. But just the other day they came out with a statement that 85 percent of the people that wear masks catch it. So..."
"I'm ready to sign a big, beautiful stimulus. You saw the other day, I say go big or go home, right? That's how I want it to be big."
With only three weeks to go...early voting is picking up as nearly 22 million people have already cast their ballots...according to 'U.S. Elections Project', a voter turnout tracker run by a professor from the University of Florida.
In terms of polling status, Wall Street Journal reports that Biden's lead has been narrowed to eleven points from fourteen from two weeks before.
Biden holds slim leads in what are regarded as the six major battle grounds...according to media outlet 'Real Clear Politics'.
But at a similar stage during the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton also led in the swing states by five-point-two percent.
Hilary Clinton even held a six-point-five percent lead in Wisconsin heading into voting day, but Trump took the state in the final vote before being elected as president.
Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News