'He's scared to death I'll be the nominee': Biden seizes on Joni Ernst's comments tying Trump impeachment to 2020
Ms Ernst suggested Republicans have attacked Mr Biden to hurt his chances heading into the Iowa caucuses, which will be held next week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Joe Biden has claimed that Donald Trump is “scared to death” that he’ll be the Democratic nominee, after a Republican senator suggested the ongoing impeachment trial could damage the former vice president’s standing in Iowa.
The comments, from Iowa senator Joni Ernst, were quickly seized upon by political observers, who suggested that the Republican was verbalizing what has so-far been an unsaid intent to damage Mr Biden’s chances.
“Caucuses are this next Monday evening,” Ms Ernst said on Monday after a session in the Senate where Mr Trump’s team mounted its defence. “And I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters, those Democratic caucus goers. Will they be supporting vice president Biden at this point?”
Mr Biden has seized on those comments, which followed after Mr Trump’s legal defence team argued that Mr Biden should be investigated for corruption or abuse of power for his efforts as vice president to ensure the dismissal of Ukraine’s former prosecutor general, which he did while his son Hunter was on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
“Iowa caucus-goers take note,” Mr Biden tweeted. “Joni Ernst just spilled the beans. She and Donald Trump are scared to death I’ll be the nominee. On Feb 3rd, let’s make their day.”
Mr Trump’s impeachment follows after his apparent efforts to coerce the Ukrainian government into launching such an investigation into Mr Biden and his family, which he allegedly attempted to force by using a White House visit and US military aid as leverage.
Given his apparent targeting, Mr Biden and his family have been inextricably tied to the claims against Mr Trump, even as the former vice president has maintained that he did nothing wrong during his interactions with Ukraine.
Mr Biden is facing an uncertain path to that nomination, having found stiff competition from the likes of Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren.
His standing at the top of the polls has diminished recently, and finds himself in second place among averages of national polls in Iowa, which will hold its caucuses next week.
While a loss there is not a death sentence, the result could severely undermine any momentum he would have had otherwise, and cut into the narrative that he is the most “electable” candidate that he has suggested.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments