Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is attempting to refocus attention on Donald Trump, hours after distancing himself from President Joe Biden’s “garbage” comment.
“It’s important to focus on Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and the stark contrast that exists between the two of them, particularly the hateful rhetoric that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth, not just every day, but every hour,” Shapiro told reporters Wednesday morning when asked about the AWN comment.
“This is a man who constantly tries to divide us based on how we look, where we come from, who we love, and who we pray to. Shapiro, a top surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris and governor of a key electoral state, argued that by creating ‘others’ in our society, he makes things more dangerous.
Shapiro first reacted differently to the uproar that erupted when Republicans accused Biden of calling the previous president’s supporters “garbage.”
“I would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn’t support,” Shapiro stated on CNN the previous evening.
He also urged keeping the focus on the contrast between Harris and Trump and “not attacking supporters of either candidate” — a message he echoed while campaigning for Democratic governor nominee Joyce Craig in New Hampshire on Wednesday.
Democrats are in damage control mode after Biden’s comments on a Zoom chat with the leftist nonprofit group Voto Latino surfaced online.
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American,” the White House transcript of the discussion said. But Trump and Republicans accuse Biden of saying “supporters” without an apostrophe.