Trump's 'Pre-Election COVID Vaccine' Becomes Reality... US CDC "Ready for Vaccination by November 1"

COVID-19 Vaccine and Trump's Potential 'October Surprise' Forecast
US Stock Market Rises Following CDC Announcement...Anticipation of Vaccine Release by October
Trump's Support Surges in Swing States...Biden Announces Strategy Revision Amid Concerns

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reportedly instructed states to prepare for COVID-19 vaccinations by November 1, raising expectations that the vaccine could become a new variable in the final stages of the U.S. presidential election campaign. President Donald Trump has been campaigning across key Midwestern battleground states under the slogan "Safe America," emphasizing the vaccine and the crackdown on violent protests, which has boosted his approval ratings. As concerns about a last-minute turnaround grow, former Vice President Joe Biden’s camp plans to significantly revise its strategy, which had avoided in-person campaigning due to pandemic precautions, and will actively campaign in battleground states.

According to foreign media including CNBC on the 2nd (local time), the CDC sent a letter dated October 27 from Director Robert Redfield to governors of all U.S. states. The letter emphasized, "States should prepare facilities for vaccination by November 1 and preemptively ease regulations that could delay emergency use authorization," while stressing that "the safety and integrity of distributed vaccines must not be compromised." The CDC guidelines stated that healthcare workers, including those in long-term care facilities, other essential workers, and national security personnel will be prioritized for the first round of vaccinations. Additionally, high-risk groups such as seniors aged 65 and older, racial minorities, Native Americans, and incarcerated individuals were also identified as priority recipients.

Interest in this letter stems from the implication that the vaccine could be released earlier than the end of the year. The New York Times evaluated the CDC guidelines as "a sign that the race to develop a vaccine that will significantly alleviate the COVID-19 crisis is accelerating." Furthermore, since vaccination could begin before the November 3 election, the vaccine could become a decisive factor in the final stages of the election.

In U.S. political circles, there is speculation that President Trump’s so-called "October Surprise," a last-minute strategy to overturn the election, might come to fruition. Following his surprise visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where protests against racial discrimination have been ongoing, Trump visited Wilmington, North Carolina, another battleground state, the next day. His slogan of protecting American law and order and creating a "Safe America" has recently boosted his support in Midwestern battleground states.

According to CNN, RealClearPolitics (RCP), which aggregates nationwide polls, showed that as of late last month, the average support in five battleground states?Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Arizona?was 45.4% for President Trump and 48.0% for former Vice President Biden, narrowing the gap to 2.6 percentage points. If vaccinations begin on November 1, just before the election, a last-minute turnaround is possible.

Startled by Trump’s rising momentum, Biden’s camp has decided to significantly revise its election strategy. According to The Washington Post (WP), Biden plans to break his long-standing quarantine due to COVID-19 precautions and campaign in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on the 3rd. Biden’s team intends to differentiate themselves from Trump by condemning violent protests while meeting with affected families to deliver a message of healing. A visit to Michigan is also reportedly under consideration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.