Trump, Biden spar over COVID-19, race, climate in final US presidential debate

US President Donald Trump and his challenger Joe Biden clashed over COVID-19, immigration, racism and climate change during ir final presidential debate, with both candidates unveiling ir sharply divergent visions for country over next four years.

two leaders traded barbs during debate that lasted just over 90 minutes, attacking each or's positions on controlling raging coronavirus pandemic and curbing country's world-leading death toll of over 223,000.

prime-time debate in Nashville, Tennessee, was a less acrimonious and more substantive affair than ir previous showdown on September 29, which devolved into insults and name-calling. This prompted debate organisers to put in place muted microphones during candidates' opening statements on each topic to minimise disruption.

debate ahead of vember 3 presidential election, saw plenty of personal attacks between 74-year-old Trump, a Republican, and his 77-year-old Democratic rival, Biden, whose mutual dislike was quite evident.

Millions of Americans have already made up ir minds about election, with more than 50 million people having cast early ballots by mail or in person due to COVID-19 fears. figure exceeds early vote total in 2016. re are about 230 million eligible voters in total.

coronavirus dominated opening minutes of Trump-Biden face-off with President Trump terming contagion a “worldwide problem”.

"This has been a worldwide problem, but I’ve been congratulated by many countries on what we’ve been able to do,” he said.

Trump once again blamed China for virus and and said Beijing failed to prevent disease from becoming a pandemic.

He claimed that America was very close to developing a vaccine against deadly disease that Biden said was claiming 1,000 lives daily in US.

"We have a vaccine that's coming, it's ready. It's going to be anunced within weeks and it's going to be delivered,” Trump said.

president said his generals have lined up for fast distribution of vaccine, as he expects to have 100 million vials.

Biden challenged Trump and alleged that his policies have resulted in a large number of deaths in country.

"We are about to go into a dark winter. A dark winter and he has clear plan and re's prospect that re's going to be a vaccine available for majority of American people before middle of next year,” he said.

Trump, who has often said worst is over with pandemic, reasserted this, claiming US was “rounding turn" and country is learning to live with it.

"He always says people are learning to live with it. People are learning to die with it. I will take care of this. I will make sure we have a plan,” Biden responded.

On climate change, Trump accused China, India and Russia of t taking care of ir “filthy air” as he justified America's withdrawal from landmark Paris climate agreement.

"Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia. Look at India, it's filthy. air is filthy. We have best emission numbers that we've had in 35 years under this administration. We are working so well with industry," he said.

" Paris Accord, I took us out because we were going to have to spend trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly. When y put us in re, y did is a great disservice. y were going to take away our businesses," he asserted.

"We have best environmental numbers, ozone numbers, and so many or numbers. In meantime, China, Russia, India all se countries y're spewing stuff into air,” he alleged.

Biden and Trump clashed on race relations, a topic that has gained prominence after horrific murder of an African American in police custody early this year in Minneapolis.

Biden termed Trump "one of most racist presidents we've had in modern history", asserting that his Republican rival at his last debate did t condemn white supremacy and told an extremist group to "stand down and stand by.” "Here is one of most racist presidents we've had in modern history. He pours fuel on every single racist fire. Every single one," Biden alleged.

US president portrayed himself as a champion of Black people and reiterated that president has done more for Black Americans than anyone or than former US President Abraham Lincoln.

"body has done more for black community than Donald Trump. And if you look, with exception of Abraham Lincoln, possible exception, with exception of Abraham Lincoln, body has done what I've done,” Trump claimed.

Trump said that he didn't "kw what to say" in response to Americans who say that his words have fanned flames of racial division.

"I think I have great relationships with all people. I am least racist person in this room," Trump claimed.

When debate moved to topic of immigration, Trump appeared callous about toll that his policies have taken on over 500 children who were separated from ir parents at border.

"y are so well taken care of. y are in facilities that are so clean," Trump said.

Trump's cold response allowed Biden to attack president, calling his family separation policy contrary to everything that America stands for.

two candidates accused each or of serious corruption charges.

Trump attacked Biden, saying, "I don't make money from China. You do. I don't make money from Ukraine. You do. I don't make money from Russia. You made USD 3.5 million".

"My son has t made money in terms of this thing about what are you talking about, China. only guy that made money from China is this guy (Trump). He's only one. body else has made money from China," Biden said.

Trump asserted that success is going to bring America toger, while Biden said that character of country was on ballot in election.

While both candidates scored important points in ir final debate, neir appeared to have secured upper hand that might alter course of campaign, analysts said.

In snap polls - from CNN, Data Progress and US Politics - most respondents said Biden won debate by a margin of more than 50 per cent to about 40 per cent.

Biden has established a solid national lead with 12 days to go until election. But margin is slimmer in handful of states that could vote eir way and ultimately decide outcome on vember 3.