Trump, Biden Clash Over Policies From Afar in Dueling Town Halls

Trump defends his retweets of QAnon conspiracy theory
Biden discusses taxes, Supreme Court, U.S. economic recovery

WATCH: In separate town halls Trump and Biden clashed over the coronavirus.(Source: Bloomberg)

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By Jordan Fabian and Tyler Pager

October 15, 2020 at 8:23 PM EDT

Updated on

October 15, 2020 at 10:29 PM EDT

This article is for subscribers only.

In dueling town halls, President Donald Trump embraced controversial conspiracy theories and sparred with the moderator, while Democrat Joe Biden offered policy-focused answers aimed at avoiding anything that could imperil his lead in the polls

The split-screen campaign event -- simultaneous network town halls 1,000 miles apart -- offered voters a clear distillation of the two candidates for president: Trump appeared defensive and irritable, criticizing the media and Democrats for opposing him at every turn. Biden recited details of 30-year-old legislation and explained his plans in his avuncular long-winded manner.