Joe Biden’s wife takes cue from McCain’s mother

Jill Biden advises Dems to “swallow a little bit,” not to look for the best candidate, but one who can “beat Trump”

John McCain was a distinctly unpopular presidential candidate in both 2000 and 2008. Like Bob Dole, who also lost his bid in 1996, the longtime senators — misreading the Republican base — considered the presidency their “due.”

In 2008, John’s mother, Roberta McCain, became known for her advice to reticent voters, essentially recommending, “Hold your nose and vote for Johnny.”

Fast forward to 2019. Speaking of her gaffe-prone husband, perennial presidential candidate Joe Biden, Jill Biden gave a bizarre reason for supporting him in the crowded Democrat primary election field. Biden unsuccessfully sought the presidency in 1988 and 2008.

“I know that not all of you are committed to my husband, and I respect that. But I want you to think about your candidate and who’s going to win this race.”

Dispensing an unusual bit of candor, Jill Biden also said that Democrats’ goals should not be to elect the best person for president, but to defeat Trump.

“My goal is to beat Donald Trump,” Mrs. Biden said. “We have to have someone who can beat him. So if you look at the polls, if you look at Joe with his record with independents…your candidate might be better on, I don’t know, health care than Joe is. But you’ve got to look at who’s going to win this election. And maybe you have to swallow a little bit and say, ‘OK, I personally like so-and-so better,’ but your bottom line has to be that we have to beat Trump.”