Six Democratic mayors from Minnesota’s Iron Range presented a letter in support of President Donald Trump during Vice President Mike Pence’s Duluth visit on Friday. They announced their support after presidential candidate Joe Biden shared his plans to campaign in Minnesota and other battleground states.
“Today, we don’t recognize the Democratic Party. It has been moved so far to the left it can no longer claim to be advocates of the working class,” wrote the mayors. “Lifelong politicians like Joe Biden are out of touch with the working class, out of touch with what the country needs, and out of touch with those of us here on the Iron Range and in small towns like ours across the nation.”
Their letter also thanked Trump for bringing prosperity and hope back to their citizens and the country overall.
“In this election, there is a lot at stake, but the biggest risk is our jobs, our economy, and our way of life. President Trump delivered the best economy in our nation’s history, and President Trump will deliver for us again. He will continue to fight for every American, regardless of party affiliation and continue to stand up for the working class.”
This follows Biden’s announcement that he would begin campaigning after Labor Day in Minnesota, along with Wisconsin, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Biden said that unlike Trump’s convention finale on Thursday, his campaign trail will go into “real people’s communities, in real local businesses, in their lives.”
This will be Biden’s first real traveling campaign since the beginning of this year. The challenger went virtual back in early March due to the coronavirus outbreak. Since then, Biden has campaigned from home. Exceptions were a few small, socially-distanced appearances in nearby counties.
Biden’s virtual campaign drew criticism from the beginning. Trump and others accused the nominee of “hiding in his basement,” and claimed going virtual was so that Biden could rely on prompters and aids.
In live appearances, Biden does indeed struggle to speak clearly. Just after announcing his in-person campaign, Biden confused Jacob Blake with Kyle Rittenhouse in an interview with CNN. Blake is the 29-year-old Black man shot in the back by police during an arrest. Rittenhouse is the 17-year-old White teenager who shot three people in self-defense during the Kenosha riots, killing two and injuring one.
This is far from the first time that Biden appears markedly confused while speaking live.
Biden also promised that he would finally debate the president. In an interview with MSNBC that evening, the nominee called it an opportunity to serve as a “fact checker.” His statements were a response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who argued a debate wouldn’t be prudent.
“I wouldn’t legitimize a conversation with him [Trump], nor a debate in terms of presidency of the United States,” stated Pelosi. “I think he’ll probably act in a way that’s beneath the dignity of the presidency. He does that every day. I think he will also belittle what the debates are supposed to be about.”
Biden and Trump’s will first debate on September 29 at Case Western University. An official date for Biden’s Minnesota visit has yet to be released.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Joe Biden” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
