Cindy McCain—the widow of the late Senator John McCain (R-AZ)—officially endorsed Democratic candidate Joe Biden for President.
On Tuesday, she publicly proclaimed:
"My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost."
"There's only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is [Joe Biden]."
Senator McCain's widow added:
"Joe and I don't always agree on the issues, and I know he and John certainly had some passionate arguments, but he is a good and honest man."
"He will lead us with dignity."
She finished by stating:
"He will be a commander in chief that the finest fighting force in the history of the world can depend on, because he knows what it is like to send a child off to fight."
Unsurprisingly, John McCain's political rival—President Donald Trump—blasted the widow's public endorsement and denounced both the late Senator and his opponent.
Trump tweeted:
"I hardly know Cindy McCain other than having put her on a Committee at her husband's request."
"Joe Biden was John McCain's lapdog. So many BAD decisions on Endless Wars & the V.A., which I brought from a horror show to HIGH APPROVAL. Never a fan of John. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!"
The tweet followed some good news for the President, where the ABC News-Washington Post poll found Trump polling at 49% and Biden at 48% among likely voters in McCain's home state of Arizona.
Trump's tweet was instantly met with backlash.
McCain is a family friend of Joe Biden.
In an interview with The Arizona Republic, she said of her endorsement:
"I'm like everybody else: I like a good leader and I feel like right now the President doesn't have my back, he doesn't take a stand on things that are really important and we have a time of crisis."
"I'm worried that this could go further than it should. My point in getting on board with Joe is that he's proven — he's been there. I've known him for 40 years. I know his character and his leadership and his honor and his integrity and those things are very important to me."
Whether Trump's attacks hurt him in Arizona remains to be seen.
