This is bbc news. Ifjoe biden has a very good night on november the third, the jewel in his new crown would be georgia. The Southern State is changing, becoming less republican and more democratic. Once a bastion of the old south, the state is younger, more diverse and more urban. The peach state is turning purple. Manchester is placed under the highest level of covid restrictions despite pushbacks from local leaders. Business owners there say they may not survive. Also in the programme. Scientists in the uk will deliberately infect volunteers with covid 19, as they seek to better understand the virus and how future vaccines might fight it. And we will tell you about
kattys hugely delayed fight from miami to atlanta, and all because a passenger refused to wear a mask. Hello im katty kay in atlanta, georgia, Christian Fraser is in london. Weve talked about whether the polls are wrong and whether trump can still win this election. But theres another possibility a huge repudiation of Donald Trumps presidency that sweeps democrats into office across the country. Were not saying its going to happen, but with the polls as they are, it is a possibility strategists from both parties are talking about. And, if there is a big blue wave, georgia will be the crest the sign of a very good night forjoe biden. Nationally in the polls joe biden is ahead of donald trump by an average of 9
points. And that lead has helped tighten the polls in georgia a new New York Times polljust out has them tied at a5. Georgia has 16 of those essential Electoral College votes no democrat has won it since bill clinton in 92. And this year, unusually, there are also two senate seats up for grabs in georgia both races too close to call. Enthusiasm is high 1. 7 million georgians have already voted. Texas is the biggest Southern State that democrats would love to flip. But most people think thats still a few years off if democrats can take georgia this november they will be very happy. I think georges, go blue. Its gonna happen if not now then when . We have to change this country. People are tired. The historic nature of the ticket is bringing out a lot of enthusiasm. And georgia is no longerjust
a black, white state its an extraordinarily diverse state. What were seeing is the enthusiasm and momentum from georgians across the state who really want to vote forjoe biden and kamala harris. Im feeling really good. Based on the early turnouts, early voting i am feeling really comfortable and confident. One woman trying to help that blue shift is dana barrett. Shes a former radio host turned politician and is now running for congress in georgias 11th district. Its a traditionally republican district but its getting more diverse so dana barrett hopes its indicative of the new georgia. So dana, we are two weeks out from election day, and is this what campaigning looks like in the time of covid . This is pretty much how i spend two to for hours at least every weekend and now that were getting closer were going to do it during the week too. Because you cantjust do coffee shop advance the in person as much right . Weve actually got an in person tonight
but its really the first one that weve had in months. And its outside, socially destines only a handful of people. Its further out in the district a little northwest of here. Im excited for that. I started thinking people were all 2d. I found out that 3d. Im happy. Theyre not all on zoom. But your republican competitor, are they doing in person events 7 are republicans being as strict about social distancing . Yeah, thats one of our disadvantages is that my opponent is Walking Around without a mask, not taking covid seriously and putting people at risk to knock doors and, i think is doing more events than knocking doors to be fair. Hes at churches, hes definitely out, meeting people. And we are not doing that because we dont want to put peoples lives at risk. Covid aside, the campaign aside what you can do as a democrat, what you can do as a republican, this is tough. Do the chances of a democrat taking it are
slim. The numbers that everybody is using to sort ofjudge this race dont actually tell the full story of this district. Its changing 7 the district is changing very dramatically top Cherokee County which is the portion of the district is now is now the Fastest Growing county in metro atlanta. Meaning younger, more dense, more diverse and so thats all good for democrats. I guess the big question is is this the year . Democrats have long had the fantasy of georgia becoming democratic. The fantasy of texas becoming democratic. Is 2020 the year that does it for georgia . This is the craziest year any of us can ever remember. This is a huge opportunity for us. I think we have the right people in place. In our district theres never been a woman running. Im the first woman to run. Youre the first woman to run in this district . Yes its been all men. Honestly, its been a lot of democratic name on ballot. Theres not been people seriously campaigning and seriously raising money for something we are doing all of that. Is the Democratic Party helping you out . Are they paying attention to your race and hoping to flip georges 11 districts . They really arent. I understand that its, theres a lot going on in our state right now with new two senate races and a couple of really contentious congressional races and of course the president ial. On the other hand, i think everybody is underestimating this district. We think we are seeing is pointing to a much closer raised in this district. Then anyones predicting. So im hoping for a big night on Election Night. Im thinking that all the National News and everybodys going to be like where did this district come from . Who is dana barrett7 what is going on there . Good luck on Election Night. Thank you. We will be watching the 11th district of georgia. She hopes she can shrink that 35 point lead get it a little bit down. I suspect if she
doesnt win this time around we may be seeing more of her in the future. So hows georgia gone from one of the most conservative states in the nation to a possible democrat pick up . For one thing, there are simply more People Living here. Since 2018, georgia registered 800,000 new voters. Nearly half of them are people of colour. The state is also getting younger with half of all voters under the age of a5. And they are increasingly well educated, and urban. Atlanta is the 11th Fastest Growing metro area in the country. Werejoined by Tamar Hallerman the Senior Reporter at the Atlanta Journal constitution. Thank you forjoining us. Is this the year that finally democrats will manage to flip georgia from red to blue or a little too soon . You talk to democrats and they are in sounding increasingly bullish about their chances. Not only of flipping some more house seats potentially
taking one if not two senate seats they are even starting a thorough serious money into president ial contest here. What would it take do you think of for them to get to make this a democratic when on november the 3rd . Theyre going to have to do a couple of things. First of all theyre really going to have to drive up turnout and members of their base. That especially turning out African American voters who make up out African American voters who make up the backbone of the Democratic Party here in georgia. And tend to vote in droves for democrats. Not only that but they need to win over suburban voters. Especially College Educated white women who have historically gone for the republican side. But really dislike trump. Thats where we see a lot of movement here over the past. Hillary clinton in 2016 managed to flip to long time republican strongholds in the North Atlanta suburbs. Safety abrams was able to drive up votes for democrats there helping democrats flip a long time
republican us house district. Helping more than a dozen democrats flip house seats and hoping to do that again on an even broader scale this year. Its surprising and mind of everything that you just said, how little job biting of everything that you just said, how littlejob biting is spending in monetary terms in georgia. I look at the spend for september i didnt. He spent a short of 1 million compared to trump in the big republicans who spend around 11 million. Which tells us in how theyre trying to defend georgia. You think given that New York Times poll where they are neck and neck you would think the democrats might be shoveling more money into it. At the same time considering how republican georgia has been as you noted, georgia has not voted for a democrat for president since 1992. Its amazing that the Trump Campaign has had to spend so much money to defend for years ago he won by five percentage points. Whats also interesting is we are starting to see joe biden advertise a lot more. His campaign was on television re ce ntly his campaign was on television recently with ads targeting black
men who traditionally lean democratic but perhaps dont turn out in numbers as high as black women. They really are hoping to drive up those vote totals especially in the city of atlanta really just have drones especially in the city of atlanta reallyjust have drones of liberal voters. Another note number that jumped out at me today is the swing voters in georgia. There arent many of them. At the guys are a figure of around 8 . And they could be crucial if its as tight as the polls tell us. If its as tight as the polls tell us. If there are still to make their mind up in these final two weeks whether they can be watching on thursday night . Exactly. Youre absolutely right they are fighting over a smaller and Smaller Group of undecided voters. Historically independence in georgia who dont identify with one party tend to vote republican. Whats so interesting a lot of the polls this year it showing just how muchjoe biden has been able to capture and a lot of those polls. And that showing down the ballot as well. A lot of the undecided voters i talk to especially suburban women who tend
to lean republican really dislike on a charm, they care a lot about those Kitchen Table issues like the economy, health care they are very concerned about the coronavirus and the way that the president is talking about it and saying bad things about tony fauci and all sorts of scientific experts. They are looking to be consoled a little bit during thursdays debate and feel like President Trump has it. Based on the interviews that i dont so based on the interviews that i dont so far, a lot of those women who voted for donald trump very relu cta ntly voted for donald trump very reluctantly in 2016 in georgia many of them are looking to joe reluctantly in 2016 in georgia many of them are looking tojoe biden this year. An important point that you made that the top of the ticket can you made that the top of the ticket ca n affect you made that the top of the ticket can affect those down ballot races as well. Really good to talk to you. Come back on the programme and talk to us soon. Katty if we are looking at numbers borders on Election Night and good to be looking at those midwest states. Michigan, pennsylvania, wisconsin also ohio. A probably next on my list is georgia. If the democrats take that, thats gonna be a big headline. Im not looking at georgia as part is that magic to 70 number thatjoe biden has to get, right . Hell get those like you said from getting those like you said from getting those midwestern states perhaps getting florida. Georgia if you like isa getting florida. Georgia if you like is a great big fat dollop of icing on the cake. It means that hes having a really great night, hes already cruised to 270, hes got his battle grounds and this is something he gets as a bonus prize. And probably gets because there is a blue wave and a little bit earlier than democrats might have taken georgia. If donald trump is being blown out of the water than i think thats when you see georgia flip to joe biden. Thats when you see georgia flip to joe biden. 0k and those two senate seats as well. Crucially important. Will talk plenty more about atlanta and georgia but lets get some of the days other news. Lets get some of the days other news. The french government has ordered a mosque to close for six months after it shared videos condemning the teacher who was beheaded on friday after showing cartoons of the prophet muhammad
to his pupils. The mosque later removed the videos. More than a dozen people have been connected in connection with mr patys death, who was shot by police shortly after the beheading. The danish inventor who was jailed over the killing of a swedish journalist in 2017 has been recaptured after attempting to escape from prison near copenhagen. Peter madsen reportedly told police that he had a bomb but was eventually captured. Madsen is serving a life sentence for the murder of kim vahl, whose body was found on a beach more than a week after she boarded his submarine for an interview. The Us Government has filed charges against google, accusing the company of using its market power to dominate internet searches and online advertising. The lawsuit marks the biggest challenge brought by us regulators against a Major Tech Company in years and follows more than a year of investigation. Google has called the case deeply flawed. The British Government has announced that from this friday, the Greater Manchester region
willjoin the many parts of Northern England to be placed under the highest level of restrictions. A week of unsuccessful negotiations between the local government and downing street failed to get manchester off the list. It means that most pubs and bars will close, and there will be extra restrictions on household mixing. Leading the negotiations for Greater Manchester, was labours andy burnham, who had been seeking a Financial Support package of at least 65 million pounds. Earlier today he announced he had been unable to come to an agreement with westminster. He says a lack of support will mean a winter of hardship for many people. We are asking a lot of the public at this difficult time. And we need to carry them with us not crush their spirit. We need National Unity and that is why i now look to parliament to intervene. And make a judgement on a fair Financial Framework for tier 3 markdowns. Because make no mistake, this was not just about Greater Manchester, more parts of the country may find themselves in a tier
3 lockdown at some point this winter. Speaking earlier, Prime Minister borisjohnson once again dismissed the idea of a short so called circuit break lockdown, similar to what was announced for wales and ireland yesterday, saying that the second wave of the coronavirus has been unevenly spread across the uk. The announcement comes as the uk on tuesday recorded 241 deaths thats up from 80 deaths that were reported on monday. For more on todays developments lets speak to our political correspondentjessica parker. A lot of people have problems understanding why they can come to an agreement. Because the government has spent in total hundred and £90 billion supporting business and employees. Here they seem to be 5 million apart. That is a drop in the ocean when you consider what they spent. They are 5
million apart. They you are quite right theres beena they you are quite right theres been a day of wrangling and what you hear from leaders as they came in with a pitch of £90 million, money they want to help Small Businesses and workers where businesses may be are forced to close. The government eventually offered £60,000,000, Greater Manchester leaders came down to £65 million and now there is this sta ndoff to £65 million and now there is this standoff over as you say £5 million. Which is not a lot of money when you compare it to the amount that is already been spent through the covid pandemic was up however, what the government is saying is that they have already put certain areas, like a chairand have already put certain areas, like a chair and Liverpool City Region into tier3 a chair and Liverpool City Region into tier 3 restrictions. The highest year of restrictions. And they want to throw them back out of kilter by giving Greater Manchester a disproportionate amount of money for top the counter argument is that Greater Manchester has already been under some level of restriction, extra restrictions for three months. Businesses are hugely feeling the
strain. The argument from local leaders there is that Greater Manchester is coming at this from a different position and thats why they need the extra cash and that those leaders have already made quite a lot of compromises in terms of the money they are asking for. The covered his aim to £60 million of are still on the table just not quite clear whether local leaders are ready to take it. Reminds me a little bit of the stimulus negotiation going on here and not managing to get far either. Boris johnson ran promising to invest in the north of england and boost the north of england as. There is now the north feel they are being penalised singled out at the moment . That is certainly the argument being m