President Biden crossed the Potomac to campaign with Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday night, a week before Virginia chooses its next governor. It is a tight race between McAuliffe and his Republican rival, former private equity executive Glenn Youngkin, and Biden pointedly asked the crowed why Youngkin is not campaigning with the head of his party, former President Donald Trump.
"Think about it, he won't allow Donald Trump to campaign for him in this state," Biden said. "And he's willing to pledge his loyalty to Trump in private? Why not in public? What's he trying to hide? Is there a problem with Trump being here? Is he embarrassed?"
In addition to razzing Youngkin and "firing up Democrats," CNN's Jeff Zeleny tweeted, "Biden seems to have another mission here tonight at this McAuliffe rally: Trying to goad Donald Trump to weigh in on the race in the final week." Trump's "(relative) quiet" on the Virginia race "has been a boon" to Youngkin and "disappointed Democrats," The New York Times' Jonathan Martin agreed, and now "Biden himself is throwing chum in the water."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden touted McAuliffe's accomplishments as governor in his 15-minute speech, but he also "hit Trump on everything from his claims of election fraud, the pandemic, and the Jan. 6 insurrection, to the former president's recent attacks on former Secretary of State Colin Powell following his death," Politico recaps. He called Youngkin a "Trump acolyte" and warned that extremism comes in many forms, in a mob siege of the Capitol or "in a smile and a fleece vest," Youngkin's typical look.
While McAuliffe has been "hammering Youngkin for his ties to Trump," Youngkin has been trying to turn out his base by "pressing culture war issues — prompting a debate over banning books in high school classrooms," The Associated Press reports. McAuliffe passed out copies of Toni Morrison's Beloved at his rally. Youngkin spent Tuesday campaigning down south in Clarksville and Danville, where he called his campaign "a movement" and apparently pledged to audit the DMV.
-
5 loony toons about the Warner Bros. buyoutCartoons Artists take on movie theaters, high quality cinema, and more
-
Political cartoons for December 13Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include saving healthcare, the affordability crisis, and more
-
Farage’s £9m windfall: will it smooth his path to power?In Depth The record donation has come amidst rumours of collaboration with the Conservatives and allegations of racism in Farage's school days
-
‘City leaders must recognize its residents as part of its lifeblood’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem might not be long for TrumplandIN THE SPOTLIGHT She has been one of the most visible and vocal architects of Trump’s anti-immigration efforts, even as her own star risks fading
-
Senate votes down ACA subsidies, GOP alternativeSpeed Read The Senate rejected the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, guaranteeing a steep rise in health care costs for millions of Americans
-
Abrego García freed from jail on judge’s orderSpeed Read The wrongfully deported man has been released from an ICE detention center
-
Indiana Senate rejects Trump’s gerrymander pushSpeed Read The proposed gerrymander would have likely flipped the state’s two Democratic-held US House seats
-
Will there be peace before Christmas in Ukraine?Today's Big Question Discussions over the weekend could see a unified set of proposals from EU, UK and US to present to Moscow
-
‘The menu’s other highlights smack of the surreal’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Democrat files to impeach RFK Jr.Speed Read Rep. Haley Stevens filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
