Hillary Clinton has told Americans to vote for Joe Biden this November, even though he is old.
In an interview with Zerlina Maxwell on SiriusXM this week, the former presidential candidate disclosed a conversation she recently had with someone who told her: ‘Well, but, you know, Joe Biden’s old’.”
“I said, ‘You know what, Joe Biden is old,” she clapped back. “Let’s go ahead and accept the reality. Joe Biden is old… we have a contest between one candidate who’s old, but who’s done an effective job and doesn’t threaten our democracy.”
“And we have another candidate who is old, barely makes sense when he talks, is dangerous, and threatens our democracy,” she continued, referring to Donald Trump.
“Pick between your two old ones and figure out how you’re going to save our democracy.”
“Because no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, you want to maintain freedom, and the rule of law, and protection for people’s fundamental rights, or at least I used to think so.”
Clinton urged voters to back the 81-year-old president as news emerged on Tuesday morning that Trump’s last remaining rival for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, dropped out of the race.
Haley drops out
Haley formally conceded on Tuesday morning, announcing her decision during a speech in Charleston, in her home state of South Carolina.
“I am filled with the gratitude for the outpouring of support we’ve received from all across our great country, but the time has now come to suspend my campaign,” she said.
“I congratulate Donald Trump — and wish him well. I wish anyone well who would be America’s president.”
“Margaret Thatcher provided some good advice when she said, never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind.”
Haley stopped short of endorsing Trump, instead, merely adding, “It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that.”
“At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away, and our conservative cause badly needs more people.”
“I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets.” She went on to say that the US should support Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
Haley, 51, dropped out of the Republican race on Super Tuesday after she won just one out of 16 primaries. The former South Carolina governor was the first woman of colour and the fifth woman to seek the Republican presidential nomination last February.
As Trump’s former UN ambassador, Haley became known for firmly taking on Syria, Russia, Iran, North Korea and for backing Israel. She was particularly tough on calling out the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and defended Trump’s decision to move the American embassy to Jerusalem.
In a statement issued after Haley announced her departure from the race, Biden praised her “courage” in seeking the Republican nomination.
“Nikki Haley was willing to speak the truth about Trump: about the chaos that always follows him, about his inability to see right from wrong, about his cowering before Vladimir Putin,” Biden said .
Addressing Haley’s supporters, Biden added, “There is a place for them in my campaign.”
“I know there is a lot we won’t agree on, but on the fundamental issues of preserving American democracy, on standing up for the rule of law, on treating each other with decency and dignity and respect, on preserving Nato and standing up to America’s adversaries, I hope and believe we can find common ground.”
“The results of last night’s Super Tuesday contests cemented what we have known for some time now: Donald Trump limps into the general election as a wounded, dangerous and unpopular candidate.”
“The Republican nominee is cash-strapped, beleaguered by a host of external issues, and is running on an extreme agenda that is already proving to be a significant liability for key voting blocs that are critical to the pathway to 270 electoral votes.”
Meanwhile, Trump took aim at Haley in a social media post, boasting how he had “trounced” her in “record-setting fashion” and accusing her of drawing support from “Radical Left Democrats.”
“Nikki Haley got TROUNCED last night, in record-setting fashion, despite the fact that Democrats, for reasons unknown, are allowed to vote in Vermont and various other Republican primaries,” he wrote.
“At this point, I hope she stays in the ‘race’ and fights it out until the end!” he added, before welcoming Haley’s supporters to “join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation”.
“Much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters.”
“At this point I hope she stays in the ‘race’ and fights it out until the end! BIDEN IS THE ENEMY. HE IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
With Haley’s departure, Trump is set to secure the required number of delegates to clinch the Republican nomination. This, despite currently facing 91 criminal charges, including attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, election interference, falsifying business records and mishandling classified records after stepping down as president.