DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Across an arc of vital swing states, the coronavirus has put politics on an uneasy pause. Political fights are raging among state leaders from Iowa to Pennsylvania over the handling of the pandemic’s impact. Protecting public health versus restarting the economy, along with arguments about the limits of executive authority, have taken the place of the national political debate that’s typical of presidential campaigns at this point.

FILE – In this April 9, 2020, file photo Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds listens to a question during an update to the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak during a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center in Johnston, Iowa. Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand has questioned the data Reynolds is using to justify allowing more freedom of movement than in neighboring states. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, Pool, File)

Meanwhile, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has built little campaign structure across the region. President Donald Trump is relying on state GOP headquarters for his operations, though they too have been largely empty.