Biden to Illinois to Save Endangered Congressional Dems
President Joe Biden waves to the crowd at an elementary school in Joliet Saturday. The President flew to Illinois Friday and Saturday to help protect endangered Democratic incumbents Sean Casten and Lauren Underwood.
On the final weekend before Election Day, the President of the United States traveled to a blue state in what was expected to be a safe district to save an endangered Democrat.
President Joe Biden spoke Saturday at a rally at an elementary school in Joliet in support of Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville), who has reportedly seen her lead in a seemingly safe Democratic district evaporate. Sources close to the race say polling has shown Kendall County Board Chairman Scott Gryder within a couple of points of Underwood in the waning days of the campaign.
Underwood, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Senator Dick Durbin were all in attendance for the President’s speech, which attempted to paint a rosier picture for Democrats than the party is facing nationwide.
“Folks, I’m not buying the notion that we’re in trouble,” Biden said. “I think we’re going to win. I really do.”
Notably absent from the event were Gov. JB Pritzker and Congressman Bill Foster (D-Naperville) who, himself, is locked in a tight race with Republican Catalina Lauf in the neighboring 11th District.
Protestors met Biden outside of the event, who Biden criticized.
“I love those signs when I came in. ‘Socialism.’ Give me a break. What idiots,” Biden said.
Republicans jumped on the President’s statement.
"The union carpenter, the single mother, and the seniors struggling to pay their bills? All 'idiots' according to Joe Biden and Lauren Underwood,” Gryder wrote in an e-mail to constituents. “While families are struggling thanks to their failed policies, the Democrats attack them. It's disgusting and wrong. Lauren Underwood owes her constituents an apology and should be ashamed of what was said.”