The Democratic governors of New York and New Jersey gained national profiles and saw their approval ratings rise at home by making tough decisions that helped quell the initial phase of the coronavirus outbreak. Their states were the hardest hit when Covid-19 first reached the U.S., and their daily briefings, shared on national television and social media, were followed by people craving answers. New York's Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey's Phil Murphy weren't the only governors to hold daily briefings on the emerging pandemic. But on April 1 their states combined had about 106,000 of the U.S. total of 213,000 cases. So they became de facto leaders in the fight. Their steady, science-based briefings offered a marked contrast to those of President Trump, who has touted unproven treatments and downplayed the seriousness of the outbreak.
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