Ahead of Trump rally, Biden makes his counter pitch: 'Character is on the ballot'

[flamingdem]

DES MOINES — Joe Biden seized on President Donald Trump's visit to Iowa Thursday to deliver a forceful contrast with the president and make the argument to Iowans that "character is on the ballot" this year.

Biden used an address in Waukee to encourage Iowans to imagine a general election campaign between himself and Trump, criticizing the president on issues like health care, climate change, gun control, national security and, above all, character.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in November America will have the chance to answer the question: Does the character of the president matter? Yes or no," Biden said to the crowd.

Trump will rally in Des Moines on Thursday evening, four days before the Iowa caucus, to urge Iowa Republicans to support him. Although Trump has two primary challengers, he is expected to be the overwhelming choice of Republican caucusgoers.

Biden took advantage of the media attention surrounding Trump's visit to Des Moines, delivering his address in front of dozens of members of the press — far more than the contingent of reporters that typically follows him.

"I do not believe we are the dark, angry nation that Donald Trump sees in his tweets in the middle of the night," Biden said. "I don’t believe we’re the nation that rips babies from the arms of their mothers and thinks that’s OK."

Biden's approach was similar to the last time he and Trump were in Iowa together last June. That day, Biden also gave an address where he took on Trump directly, calling him "a threat to our core values" and "a threat to our standing in the world."

This time, Biden's speech was more hopeful in tone as he made his closing argument to Iowans before Monday's caucuses kick off the presidential nominating process.

"The American people are good, decent, honorable people and given half a chance, they’ve never, ever, ever let their country down," Biden said. "They deserve a president who tells them the truth, not lie after lie after lie. They deserve a president who will put the country’s interests first, not his own self-interest."

As he has throughout his campaign, Biden leaned into a message of unifying the country.

[squirecam]

1. Trump gets

An F- on character.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. Trump is quite a character

But not in a good way.

[Thekaspervote]

3. +1000

[Cha]

4. Thank you for this, flamingdem!

This time, Biden's speech was more hopeful in tone as he made his closing argument to Iowans before Monday's caucuses kick off the presidential nominating process.

[karynnj]

5. I would argue that EVERY Democrat can make this argument

Like the Bloomberg anti Trump commercials, this can be seen as distinguishing between Trump and the Democrats.

While all Democrats, in one way or another will call Trump's character into account, Biden HAS to make that argument because his characters was been smeared.