Biden to Alabama: No more extremist senators

Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) on Tuesday made his pitch to Alabama voters to support Democratic Senate nominee Doug Jones, telling the campaign rally’s crowd that it doesn’t need “another extremist” serving in the upper chamber.

“We don’t need another extremist up in the United States Senate,” Biden said, referring to former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who last week won the Republican primary runoff.

During his run for Senate, Moore has come under scrutiny for controversial remarks he has made over the course of his career, including one in 2005 when he stated homosexuality should be illegal, CNN unearthed.

{mosads}Biden, who endorsed Jones in August ahead of the state’s Democratic primary, noted his long relationship with Jones and said the former U.S. attorney has the “integrity” and “sense of honor” to serve Alabama in the United States Senate.

“And Doug knew that if he ran, he didn’t say it, but he knew that I’d be here if he wanted me to be,” Biden said.

“I promised Doug I’d campaign for him or against him, whichever will help the most,” he later added.

Jones is viewed as an underdog in the race, as Alabama is a heavily red state. A Democrat has not served as senator for Alabama since 1997, when former Sen. Howell Heflin retired.

But Biden took a centrist approach during his speech to Alabama voters, which could help Jones as he campaigns against the conservative Moore. The former vice president particularly mentioned taxes and support for a strong middle class as he made his case for Jones.

“Doug understands about tax fairness,” Biden told the rally. “Guys, the wealthy are as patriotic as the poor. I know Bernie doesn’t like me saying that, but they are,” he added, referring to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has historically criticized tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. But Biden noted that this does not mean wealthy individuals should receive tax cuts.

Biden also referenced the tense political environment in Washington, D.C., as he made his case for Jones to represent Alabama. 

“Doug possesses what the American political leaders and the system needs today,” he said. “It’s become so nasty, so mean-spirited, such a mean-spirited political environment.”

Jones will face off against Moore in the December special election that will decide who will fill the Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.