Joe Biden Evokes John McCain's Legacy To Attack GOP Front Runner: 'There Is Something Dangerous Happening In America'

In a blistering attack on Donald Trump, President Joe Biden emphasized the need for America to confront fresh challenges to its democracy, citing his predecessor’s role in this peril during a speech in Arizona.

What Happened: Biden, on Thursday, emphasized the importance of preserving American institutions, arguing that this should not become a partisan issue, Politico reported.

The President chose Arizona for his fourth major speech on democracy, a state that has been a battleground for election results. It is also the home state of the deceased Sen. John McCain, whom Biden has cited as an illustration of the principles the Republican Party upheld before Trump’s presidency.

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Biden leveraged McCain’s legacy to underscore his message, stating that the late Senator often prioritized patriotism over party politics. In his address, the president expressed concern that the current Republican Party might pledge loyalty to Trump over the Constitution.

"For John, it was country first," said Biden.

"All of us are being asked right now what we will do to maintain our democracy? We will put a partnership aside and put country first? I say we must. And we will."

The President also highlighted the threat to democracy posed by MAGA extremists and expressed the need to protect the nation’s democratic institutions. "We have to stand up for America's values embodied in our Declaration of Independence because we know MAGA extremists have already proven they won't," Biden said.

"We have to stand up for our Constitution and the institutions of democracy because MAGA extremists have made clear they won't."

"There is something dangerous happening in America," Biden said, adding, "There is an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs of our democracy. The MAGA Movement."

Why It Matters: Biden comments came a day after the second Republican primary debate, in which the GOP candidates took a few jabs at Trump, who chose to skip the event. However, these efforts did not appear to significantly hinder his evident journey to securing the nomination.

With the upcoming general election becoming more apparent, Biden’s team is relying on the focus on democracy to boost the president’s campaign. This strategy is particularly relevant in the wake of political violence and challenges to the integrity of elections that have deeply shaken the American system in recent years.

Meanwhile, the weekly Morning Consult poll showed Biden regained his lead over Trump with a one-point advantage over him. While Biden had 43% support, trump was behind with 42% support in the national poll.

Photo by Leonard Zhukovsky and Trevor Bexon on Shutterstock

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