Don: Vax by elex ‘wouldn’t hurt’

President Trump suggested Thursday that the U.S. could have a coronavirus vaccine ready to roll by November’s election, offering a far more optimistic timeline than his own public health advisers.

Trump floated the upbeat projection during an appearance on Geraldo Rivera’s radio show after the host asked if a vaccine could be ready for distribution “sooner than Nov. 3.”

“I think in some cases, yes, possible before, but right around that time,” Trump responded.

Trump has made vaccine development a political priority, as general election polls show him trailing Joe Biden by double digits, with voters from both sides of the aisle taking issue with his handling of the pandemic.

Talking to reporters on the White House lawn later

Thursday, Trump made the political aspect of his vaccine push explicit.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” he said after being asked if he sees the potential for a rapidly developed vaccine as helpful to his reelection campaign.

He then quickly added: “But I’m not doing, I’m doing it not for the election. I want it fast because I want to save a lot of lives.”

The government is pouring billions of dollars into vaccine research, and one candidate has already entered phase three clinical trials.

Still, Trump’s pre-election vaccine projection is dubious.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the administration’s top infectious disease expert and a senior adviser on the White House coronavirus task force, told lawmakers last week he’s “cautiously optimistic” that researchers will know by the end of 2020 if a vaccine can be ready for distribution next year.