Biden's ABC town hall: Former VP lays out vision in stark contrast to Trump's

Highlights from Biden's town hall with voters in Philadelphia.

ByLibby Cathey, Adia Robinson, Lauren King, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: October 22, 2020, 7:11 PM EDT

With less than three weeks to Election Day, Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden faced voters directly in an ABC News Town Hall from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Thursday night.

The live special edition of "20/20" -- titled "The Vice President and the People" -- was moderated by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos.

The primetime event followed a fiery back-and-forth on the fate of the second presidential debate, which was originally scheduled for Thursday in Miami but ultimately canceled last Friday.

The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates changed its format to be virtual following President Donald Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis, to which Trump took issue, saying he wouldn't "waste" time in a virtual debate. With Trump's rejection of the event, Biden then agreed to participate in the town hall with ABC News.

Voters had the opportunity to ask the former vice president the questions most important to them

The event was held in accordance with state and local government health and safety regulations, as well as guidelines set forward by health officials.

Trump, at the same time Thursday, participated in a town hall from Miami with NBC News. The president participated in an ABC News town hall in September.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developed. All times Eastern.
Oct 15, 2020, 7:19 PM EDT

Biden tests negative for COVID-19 in Thursday test

Biden has tested negative for COVID-19, according to a new statement Thursday evening, following their announcement earlier in the day that Biden had tested negative Wednesday night. 

"Vice President Biden underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 today and COVID-19 was not detected," the campaign said in the Thursday evening statement. 

This test comes after the campaign announced an aviation staffer who flew with Biden Monday and Tuesday of this week, but had no passing or close contact to Biden, tested positive for COVID-19.

Oct 15, 2020, 7:08 PM EDT

Are dueling town halls a disservice to voters?

With President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden holding separate town halls on the same night, “The View” co-hosts discuss which candidate will benefit most.

With President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden holding separate town halls on the same night, “The View” co-hosts discuss which candidate will benefit most.
10:13

Are dueling town halls a disservice to voters?

With President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden holding separate town halls on the same night, “The View” co-hosts discuss which candidate will benefit most.
ABCNews.com

Oct 15, 2020, 6:51 PM EDT

Individual who flew with Biden tests positive for COVID-19

The Biden campaign announced that a person working with the aviation company that charters former Vice President Joe Biden's plane tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday.  While that person flew with Biden on Monday and Tuesday, the campaign said they were not in close contact with the former vice president or his campaign staff.

"The Vice President did not even have passing contact: this individual was over 50 feet from VP Biden at all times, entered and exited the aircraft from a rear entrance, and both the individual and the Vice President wore masks for the entire flight," Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement.

The aviation company employee's diagnosis was discovered as a result of the campaign's contact tracing following the positive diagnosis of Sen. Kamala Harris' communication's director Liz Allen and a non-staff flight crew member.

Although Harris tested negative for COVID-19, she canceled her in-person campaigning through Monday. 

Because of Biden's lack of contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19, his campaign said it would not be taking any additional precautions. Biden will still participate in an ABC News town hall Thursday night. 

The Biden campaign announced earlier Thursday that Biden underwent a PCR test for COVID-19 Wednesday night and that test came back negative.

ABC News' Molly Nagle

Oct 15, 2020, 6:24 PM EDT

Biden tests negative for COVID-19

The Biden campaign announced earlier in the day that the former vice president tested negative for COVID-19 Wednesday night -- the eighth publicly announced Biden coronavirus test result. 

"As part of our regular routine of testing, Vice President Biden underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 last night and COVID-19 was not detected," the campaign said in a statement.  

It came on the heels of another announcement that a top aide to Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Biden's running mate, tested positive for COVID-19, prompting Harris to suspend travel "out of an abundance of caution" through Monday.

Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, both tested negative for COVID-19 Thursday, the campaign said.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Averi Harper

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