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Election 2020 updates: Trump claims he saved Big Ten football, slams Obama

Trump rallied in Ohio, just 30 miles from Ohio State's campus.

ByLibby Cathey, Emily Shapiro, and Mark Osborne
Last Updated: October 25, 2020, 9:10 AM EDT

With 10 days to go until Election Day, and President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden racing toward Nov. 3, voters have turned out in record numbers to cast their ballots early.

More than 57.4 million Americans have already voted in the 2020 election, reflecting an extraordinary level of participation and interest despite unprecedented barriers brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

In the final weeks of campaigning, the president has remained on defense as polls show him trailing nationally and in several battleground states key to his reelection hopes. He has three rallies across battleground states Saturday -- in North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Biden, maintaining a lead in national polls -- his largest of the election, according to FiveThirtyEight's average -- has deployed his top surrogate, former President Barack Obama, to stump for him in Miami Saturday.

Polls indicate a huge pre-Election-Day edge for Biden and a sizable Trump advantage among those who plan to vote on Nov. 3. Trump has sowed doubt in the mail-in ballot process -- and imminent election results -- for months.

All 50 states plus Washington, D.C., have some form of early voting underway. Check out FiveThirtyEight’s guide to voting during the COVID-19 pandemic here.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Oct 24, 2020, 8:43 PM EDT

Trump touts return of Big Ten football in Ohio stop

At his second rally of three on Saturday, Trump ripped former President Barack Obama in Circleville, Ohio, and took credit for the return of Big Ten football, which opened its schedule Saturday.

Just about 30 miles south of the Horseshoe, with the campaign advance staff playing the Ohio State game ahead of the rally, the president looked to take credit for the return of Big Ten football.

President Donald Trump points to the crowd after speaking during a campaign rally at Pickaway Agricultural and Event Center, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Circleville, Ohio.
Evan Vucci/AP

"It's great to be back in Ohio to celebrate the return of Big Ten football with a big victory today for the Buckeyes, 52 to 17. Not bad. Not bad," Trump said. "Do you remember how this all happened? Sleepy Joe said President Trump didn't want to have football. I said, 'What the hell is he talking about?' Sleepy Joe. ... He said I did it, yeah, he blamed me."

"I said I had nothing to do with it," Trump continued. "So then I said, 'I got an idea, I'm going to get it open if it's shut down, right?' That’s what happened."

Supporters look on as President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a campaign event at the Pickaway Agriculture and Event Center in Circleville, Ohio, Oct. 24, 2020.
Tom Brenner/Reuters

Trump also targeted Obama, who earlier on Saturday delivered a blistering speech at a drive-in rally blasting his successor. Trump mocked the crowd size and falsely claimed only "42 people" showed up when campaign staff estimated it was actually about 200 cars and 400 people. 

"I hear we are winning big now and I'm hearing they gave up on the state [of Ohio] already and you know they're gonna give up on Florida very soon because we are winning big in Florida, we are winning big in North Carolina," Trump said, though Biden is "slightly favored" in Florida and North Carolina and Trump is "slightly favored" in Ohio, according to FiveThirtyEight's forecast.

"You don't want Sleepy Joe to be your president. You know, he draws flies," Trump said. "They said, 'Sir, sir,' this is a few days ago, 'Sir, I have bad news.' What? 'President Obama is going to campaign for Sleepy Joe.' And I said, 'Is that good news or bad news?'"

-ABC News' Will Steakin

Oct 24, 2020, 7:50 PM EDT

Pence holds 1st rally of day, doesn't mention surging COVID cases

Vice President Mike Pence held his first rally of the day in Lakeland, Florida, running well over an hour late, and started his remarks by telling voters that the state will support "Florida resident" President Donald Trump this year.

"You said yes to President Donald Trump in 2016," he said, making his case in one of the most critical states of the election. "And I know that Florida is going to say yes to Florida resident President Donald Trump in 2020."

Pence told voters, "We’re gonna give the American people the kind of health care reform that's built on freedom and free markets," despite the fact the Trump administration has offered no comprehensive health care plan of its own to replace the Affordable Care Act.

This rally was held outdoors and hundreds of people were in attendance though a majority were not wearing masks and there was no social distancing. Pence, head of the White House coronavirus task force, did not talk about any of the coronavirus surges happening right now across the country, only touting Trump’s response and past outbreaks.

"We dealt with the outbreak in the Northeast and out in the Pacific Northwest," Pence said. "We dealt with it across the Sunbelt, because of the compassionate care of the people of this state and all across this region. Because of our incredible doctors and nurses and first responders."

Florida recorded 5,557 cases on Wednesday, its most cases in a single day since Aug. 15.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Oct 24, 2020, 6:22 PM EDT

Biden rallies with Jon Bon Jovi at hometown event

A very fired up Joe Biden gave the hometown pitch during his remarks in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, doubling down on the Park Avenue versus Scranton messaging for a good chunk of his remarks, which focused on kitchen table issues and the economy.

Turning to COVID-19, Biden, shouting into the microphone, slammed Trump for not properly warning the country about virus, and mocked Trump for being a "stable genius."

"You know what's really sad about all this? The president knew back at the end of January how deadly the virus was and he hid it from the country. But here's what he did, you know, remember when he went on -- he decided he was going to convince Bob Woodward what a smart guy he was. So he went on -- yeah, smart guy. Stable genius," Biden said, picking up on the crowd's reaction to calling Trump "smart."

Jon Bon Jovi reacts during a drive-in campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden at Dallas High School in Dallas, Pa., Oct. 24, 2020.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Before Biden spoke, Jon Bon Jovi performed three songs for the crowd: "Who Says You Can’t Go Home," "Livin' On A Prayer" and a new COVID-19-themed song, “Do What You Can." 

Biden praised Jon Bon Jovi as "a national treasure," and thanked him for performing. 

Biden entered and exited the stage to Bon Jovi’s "Limitless."

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Oct 24, 2020, 4:52 PM EDT

Trump on the election: 'Nothing worries me'

As President Donald Trump arrived in Ohio for his second campaign rally of the day, he told reporters "nothing worries me" about the election.

"I think we’re doing just very well, you look at the numbers in Florida. We're way ahead where we were four years ago, right? Way ahead where we were four years ago and I think I can say that everywhere else," the president said.

Trump said he voted "straight Republican" when he went to vote early in Florida Saturday morning.

-ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas