US President Donald Trump, who is seeking reelection on November 3, and his Democrat challenger Joe Biden campaigned in the crucial state of Florida on Thursday, as the GDP of the United States showed the economy is getting back on track even as the cases of COVID-19 rise again.

Trump held a big rally in Tampa, saying that Biden would banish normal life by implementing lockdowns to prevent the spread of coronavirus. “They will allow you nothing,” the 74-year-old Republican said, adding that his administration “will never lockdown again.”

“We are open for business,” he said, telling the crowd his own bout with COVID-19 this month proved that it can be beaten.

As of now, the virus has taken 228,000 American lives and is strongly rebounding in the US as the daily cases of COVID-19 topped 90,000 on Thursday for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

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Meanwhile, Biden, who has a small edge in Florida reminded his supporters that the state is crucial in deciding their next president. 

“Right here in Florida, it’s up to you. You hold the key. If Florida goes blue, it’s over! It’s over!” he said ahead of the second event in Tampa.

Hitting back at Trump’s lockdown remark, Biden said, “I am not going to shut down the economy. I am not going to shut down the country, but I am going to shut the virus.” 

While Trump mocks the Democrat for holding small campaign events, Biden said he was showing an example, instead of staging the president’s “super spreader events.”

A new Quinnipiac poll had Biden ahead 45-42 in Florida, with a close race in Iowa, but Biden maintaining slightly larger leads in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

In Florida, the Marist poll showed Biden had a commanding lead among Black voters (84-14), women (57-41) and independents (55-41) and was also favored by seniors (53-46), who make up a large proportion of the voters in the Sunshine State.

Trump was favored by Latinos (52-46), white voters (52-45), men (54-44) and white voters without college degrees (62-36) in Florida which has sided with the winner of every presidential election since 1964 with one exception.

With just five days left for Election Day, Trump, trailing behind Biden in national polls, is counting on economic recovery and fear-mongering about the Democrats turning the United States into a leftist failed state to outweigh Biden’s message over health. 

The US economy posted a staggering annual rate of growth of 33.1% in the third quarter, a result that had President Donald Trump cheering just days ahead of November 3. 

“GDP number just announced. Biggest and Best in the History of our Country, and not even close. Next year will be FANTASTIC!!!” Trump wrote on Twitter after the figures were announced. However, economists have warned that the rebound in the July-September period, after the 31.4% drop in the second quarter, was driven by consumer spending supported by a massive $3 trillion in government aid, much of which has since expired.