Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden questioned recent praise of Arizona as a national leader in COVID-19 containment Friday, prompting a spirited retort from Gov. Doug Ducey.
President Donald Trump and U.S. coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx had applauded Ducey for doing “an incredible job” controlling the virus during the governor’s visit to the White House on Wednesday.
Trump called Arizona — a battleground state in the November election — “a model for other states in applying a science-based approach to the decreasing cases and hospitalizations without implementing a punishing lockdown,” saying officials were “very proud” of Ducey’s leadership.
Biden challenged those comments in a series of posts on Twitter early Friday, contending Ducey was “rushing reopening without adequate testing and contact tracing” and “withholding support for increased testing and making local leaders plead for it.” He also claimed the governor was “refusing to implement a mask mandate” and “turning his back on older Americans and those at greater risk.”
