(The Center Square) – Shots were fired in Virginia on Tuesday night, with President Joe Biden taking aim at former President Donald Trump and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin during a joint campaign rally with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden set his sights on Trump at the event in Manassas. The Floridian won New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary, besting former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley by 11%. The president made it clear last night that he believes Trump will be the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee.
“It is now clear that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee,” Biden said in a statement.
The rally focused on abortion rights, which seized on the opportunity to “hold [Trump] responsible” for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with the three successful appointments of conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Biden campaign is betting on the issue of abortion rights to secure a reelection victory, hoping to repeat a similar victory in the commonwealth. Virginia Democrats focused a majority of their campaign ads and attacks on abortion rights, resulting in a slim majority for the party in the House and Senate.
“The person most responsible for taking away this freedom in America is Donald Trump,” Biden told the crowd.
Biden seemingly echoing Virginia voters’ referendum on abortion hopes Americans will follow suit.
“He’s betting we won’t hold him responsible,” the president added. “He’s betting you’re going to stop caring.”
“But guess what?” Biden quipped. “I’m betting he’s wrong. I’m betting you won’t forget.”
Despite the Democrats’ November victory, Biden isn’t faring as well in a recent poll from Virginia Commonwealth University, with only 37% of those surveyed saying they are happy with Biden’s performance.
Biden didn’t reserve all his pot shots for Trump. The president referred to Terry McAuliffe, former Virginia governor and Youngkin’s Democratic opponent, as the “real governor” of the commonwealth.
“Hello, Virginia … and the real governor, Terry McAuliffe!” Biden exclaimed to the crowd.
The remark sparked backlash from Republicans, quick to accuse the president of being an election denier.
Youngkin bested McAuliffe by 2% during the 2021 election, topping off a slew of victories for Republicans that day.
Youngkin snapped back at the president’s comment, “Mr. President, I’m right here,” the governor posted on X.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares accused the president of being an “election denier.”
“So Joe Biden is an election denier?” Miyares posted on X.
The Spirit of Virginia political action committee pounced on the president for his remarks, pointing to the president’s unpopularity in the commonwealth.
“Joe Biden – underwater among Virginians by 17 points according to recent polling – came to the commonwealth today to spout election denialism,” the Spirit of Virginia wrote in an email blast to supporters.
The conservative PAC pointed to Youngkin’s popularity in Virginia, citing the governor’s high approval rating, which has increased since the summer.
“Governor Glenn Youngkin is far more popular among Virginians than Biden. A new poll was released just yesterday that showed Youngkin with a 54% approval rating, a net positive of 23 points, and a 5-point increase in Youngkin’s approval from August,” the Spirit of Virginia said.
In contrast, the poll found the president slipping by 2% in popularity since August. The PAC capitalized on the results, saying the president may face an uphill battle in the state come November.
“There is no denying that Virginians approve of the job Glenn Youngkin is doing as governor and disapprove of the job Joe Biden is doing as president,” the group concluded.
