Some Democrats in the crowded field sought to elevate their profile and weaken the candidate leading in early polls.
Several of Joe Biden’s Democratic presidential rivals seized the opportunity Friday to highlight his reversal on federal funding for abortions, seeking to elevate their profile in the crowded field and weaken the candidate leading in the polls.
In a morning tweet, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) took aim at the former vice president hours after Biden announced that he now opposes the so-called Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion. The tweet also highlighted another potential weakness for Biden.
“Bravo to @JoeBiden for doing the right thing and reversing his long-standing support for the Hyde Amendment,” Moulton wrote. “It takes courage to admit when you’re wrong, especially when those decisions affect millions of people. Now do the Iraq War.”
Moulton, a Marine Corps veteran who was among the first U. S. troops to arrive in Baghdad during the 2003 invasion, was referring to Biden’s vote as a senator from Delaware to authorize the Iraq War in 2002.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, meanwhile, sought to draw attention to Biden’s flip-flop with a play on words. He shared a reporter’s tweet that recounted the Biden campaign’s confirmation earlier this week that Biden still supported the Hyde Amendment and his announcement Thursday night that he no longer does.
