MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Joe Biden paused and made the sign of the cross when asked for his thoughts on President Trump awarding conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his State of the Union address.
Biden, 77, said he felt “badly” that Limbaugh, 69, was battling advanced lung cancer, but he ripped the media personality for spending his career “dividing people, belittling people” during a televised CNN town hall on Wednesday. The former vice president specifically referenced Limbaugh’s comments regarding minorities.
Biden also didn’t spare Trump on Wednesday night, describing the Medal of Freedom as “the highest honor that can be bestowed on a civilian.” Biden is himself a recipient of the award.
“I don’t think he understands the American code of decency and honor, but, look, this is Donald Trump,” Biden said at the event, adding the president’s “decision was driven more” about shoring up his “right-wing political credentials than anything else.”
At the town hall, which precedes the New Hampshire debate on Friday, Biden admitted his showing in Iowa was disappointing. With 86% of the caucus precincts reporting, he’s projected to finish fourth behind former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38, as well as Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 78, and Elizabeth Warren, 70.
“I expected to do better, and I expected that our organization would perform better, but the fact is, I’m happy to be here in New Hampshire,” he said.
Politico reported Wednesday afternoon that the Biden campaign parted ways with its top organizer in the first-in-the-nation state after the poor, though partial, results.
