“You can’t ethically go out to shopping malls, or knock on people’s doors or have Democratic town halls,” Wu said. “You can’t put the public in danger by doing that.”
In races up and down the ballot, in districts across the country, candidates have suspended canvassing because it’s too dangerous for candidates to ask volunteers to knock on doors. In-person fundraisers have come to a full stop. Staffers who once filled campaign offices and spilled into the street are now working from home. It raises the question: When Americans from coast to coast are practicing “social distancing,” how do candidates campaign?
For her part, Wu is one of roughly a dozen candidates who signed on to a letter urging Massachusetts to delay the deadline to submit signatures by 30 days. She argues that candidates facing tight deadlines to gain ballot access are stuck between two tough choices.
“Do I just throw away all the work I’ve done, or do I put the public in danger,” she asked, rhetorically, having already made the decision for her own campaign.
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