2020 Watch: Can Trump avoid blame amid deaths, weak economy?

Presidential politics move fast. What we’re watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign:

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Days to Wisconsin primary: 1

Days to general election: 211

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THE NARRATIVE

President Donald Trump has entered the most critical stretch of his presidency. Each move he makes to manage

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THE BIG QUESTIONS

Can Trump avoid responsibility?

Even by his own admission,

The president has gone to great lengths to avoid taking responsibility. He continues to allow state leaders to adopt their own patchwork system of

He appears to be laying the groundwork for a larger political argument just seven months before Election Day. Polling suggests that voters have been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. This week we'll almost certainly see new clues as to whether the strategy is working.

What is happening in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin this week offers an important test case in how to hold presidential elections

The circumstances leading up to Tuesday's primary elections are confusing at best. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has issued a statewide stay-at-home order and warned that holding the election is “an unnecessary health risk.” Yet Republicans in Washington and Wisconsin have fought Evers' push to move the election to an all-mail ballot affair.

The messy lead-up comes as

Still, election officials across the nation will be paying close attention to what works and what doesn't. More than 20 states have yet to host primary elections.

Will Bernie say goodbye?

For weeks, Sanders has resisted

It is a delicate calculation for Sanders, whose thinking is further complicated by the unprecedented public health threat. Even Sanders' inner circle may be conflicted about what to do. We wouldn't be shocked if he got out this week or if he decided to stay in all the way to

What's happening with the veepstakes?

Not everything is on pause as

He has offered several hints in recent weeks while promising only that his running mate would be a woman.

Look for new details to emerge about the vetting process and the short list itself in the days and weeks ahead.

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THE FINAL THOUGHT

Few moments in the history of the United States have been more important than this one. It transcends politics, yet nothing will do more over the next year to shape Trump's reelection effort than his leadership through this pandemic.

His response has been inconsistent on many levels, including late last week when he pointedly noted that he would not follow new federal guidelines promoting

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Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Bill Barrow contributed to this report.

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