Politics

Joe Biden Campaigned for Michigan Republican Rep. Fred Upton during Midterms

January 23, 2019, 1:58 PM


Joe Biden and Fred Upton

When Democrats were pulling for a blue wave during the November midterms, Joe Biden — a Democrat who may soon seek his party's nomination for president — was shooting for purple.

The New York Times reports Biden stumped for U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) at a rally in Benton Harbor this fall, and pocketed $200,000 for the speech.

Mr. Biden stunned Democrats and elated Republicans by praising Mr. Upton while the lawmaker looked on from the audience. Alluding to Mr. Upton’s support for a landmark medical-research law, Mr. Biden called him a champion in the fight against cancer — and “one of the finest guys I’ve ever worked with.”

Mr. Biden’s remarks, coming amid a wide-ranging discourse on American politics, quickly appeared in Republican advertising. The local Democratic Party pleaded with Mr. Biden to repair what it saw as a damaging error, to no avail. On Nov. 6, Mr. Upton defeated his Democratic challenger by four and a half percentage points.

The Times reports the Upton campaign used Biden's words in subsequent mailers, including Biden’s description of Upton as “the reason we’re going to beat cancer.” Upton helped lead House Republicans' effort to repeal Obamacare in 2017 as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Over the summer, Biden said he would decide whether to run for president by this month.


Read more:  The New York Times


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