ARLINGTON, Va. (Fwrd Axis) — With one week to go until voters go to the polls in Virginia, President Joe Biden stumped for Democrat Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday and compared his opponent, Glenn Youngkin, to former President Donald Trump in the process.
Biden took to the stage in Arlington, Virginia, and spoke for 15 minutes. The crowd of 2,500 chanted “We Love Joe” as the President took the lecture. Protesters interrupted the beginning of Biden’s speech but he told the crowd to not boo because it is not a Trump rally.
That was just the first mention of the former President for Biden on the night. He repeatedly compared Youngkin to Trump, citing the similar characteristics between the two men.
“But how well do you know Terry’s opponent?” Biden said. “Remember this: I ran against Donald Trump. And Terry is running against an accolade of Donald Trump.”
Biden slammed Trump on everything from his claims of election fraud to the recent attack he made on the late Secretary of State Colin Powell following his death. The President tied Youngkin to Trump despite the gubernatorial candidate trying to distance himself from the former president.
“I can’t believe Glenn Youngkin puts Trump and integrity in the same sentence,” he said.
Prior to Biden taking the stage, McAuliffe tore into his opponent, calling him out for a recent campaign ad featuring a woman who had tried to have Morrison’s novel “Beloved” banned at schools despite it winning several awards. Biden noted his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, went to Princeton University to interview the author.
“Glenn Youngkin is promoting banning books by one of America’s most prominent Black authors,” McAuliffe said.
The late push comes as a new Monmouth poll shows a tight race between Youngkin and McAuliffe with both men deadlocked at 46 percent support among registered voters.
A loss in Virginia is something that would be devastating to Democrats, who are facing their first real test ahead of the midterms next year. Democrats are viewing the race as a referendum on the presidency so far and a potential preview of several races next November.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, Dr. Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other big names have stumped for McAuliffe.
Democrats are concerned about turnout in next week’s election and Biden made sure to close with both a warning and a plea for voters in Virginia to not go backward but forward.
“Extremism can come in many forms,” he said. “It can come in the rage driven to assault the Capitol. It can come in a smile and a fleece vest. Vote. Vote. Vote. Show up!”
To close, the President pleaded with voters to show McAuliffe supports the way they had for Biden when he ran with former President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and Harris in 2020.
“Virginia, show up,” the president said. “Show up as you did for Barack and me. Show up as you did for me and Kamala. Show up for a proven leader like Terry McAuliffe. Show up for democracy. For Virginia. For the United States of America.”
