Biden To Campaign In St. Paul Friday; Location For Pres. Trump's Rochester Rally Moves, Twice
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Both presidential candidates are now slated to be in Minnesota Friday.
On Thursday, Joe Biden's campaign announced the Democratic presidential candidate and former vice president will travel to St. Paul for a drive-in event Friday afternoon.
"Joe Biden will travel to Minnesota to discuss bringing Americans together to address the crises facing the country and winning the battle for the soul of the nation," the campaign said.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's planned rally in Rochester for Friday was reportedly moved to McNeilus Steel in Dodge Center before a spokesperson from the Minnesota Republican Party said that it was their understanding it would be at the Rochester Airport as originally planned.
According to Rochester officials, the decision to move the rally to McNeilus Steel was made by the Trump campaign and was not the result of any actions or efforts by the city or airport.
Jennifer Carnahan told reporters Thursday afternoon that, in her understanding, the venue change back to the airport was the result of game-playing by Gov. Tim Walz's office along with the office of Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The governor's office, though, said they were not in communication with the Trump campaign on Thursday, before noting that an event with more than 250 people at it would have been "out of compliance with state guidelines."
Attorney General Keith Ellison's office told WCCO they initially reached out to the Rochester Airport on Wednesday to inquire about the COVID-19 preparedness plan and says they did not hear back. When they saw reports the event was switching to Dodge City, they sent an email to two Trump campaign lawyers and McNeilus Steel, asking for them to provide their plan to prevent COVID-19 spread, which is required under the current executive order. Again, they say they never heard back.
Ellison's office said they don't have the authority to cancel events, nor do they do that, and that all they did was ask for the required information.
Rochester Mayer Kim Norton said her office is working with the Trump campaign to come to an understanding and hold a smaller event at the airport.