By Canadian Press

Mounting coronavirus concern in U.S. poised to shape primary battle

Feb 27, 2020 | 10:23 AM

CHARLESTON, S.C. — For the Democrats vying to challenge Donald Trump, growing public concern about the possible spread of the new coronavirus and the White House response couldn’t have come at a better time.

For the president of the United States, the timing couldn’t be worse.

Candidates Mike Bloomberg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former vice-president Joe Biden are among those seizing on fears of a global pandemic to press their case that Americans need an experienced hand at the helm.

Bloomberg has a new ad touting his recovery efforts as New York mayor after 9/11, while Biden refers to his role in helping to manage the U.S. response to an Ebola outbreak during Barack Obama’s second term.

With stock markets shedding value at an alarming rate, Trump tried to soothe jangled nerves Wednesday by putting Vice-President Mike Pence in charge of the response to COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus.

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During his news conference, official word emerged of a patient in California who contracted the illness without having travelled to an affected part of the world or having contact with anyone who did — evidence the disease could be spreading within the wider community.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2020.

The Canadian Press