Biden: Trump 'Unqualified' To Be President, 'Would Have Loved Stalin'
SCRANTON, Pennsyl. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton got an assist from Vice President Joe Biden in Pennsylvania on Monday.
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Biden held his first campaign rally with Clinton in his hometown of Scranton.
Biden argued that Trump, the Republican hopeful, is the most uninformed presidential nominee in history.
Biden made the remark in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, at a rally for Democrat Hillary Clinton. He noted that the Republican presidential nominee has voiced praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
If Trump likes them, "He would have loved'' Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union until his death in 1953.
Scholars estimate that under Stalin, more than 1 million people were executed in political purges and millions more died as a result of harsh labor and cruel treatment in the vast gulag prison camp system, mass starvation in Ukraine and southern Russia, and deportations of ethnic minorities.
Biden also said Trump "has no clue'' about foreign policy, the lives of working class Americans and has "un-American'' policy ideas.
"He's trying to tell us he cares about the middle class? Give me a break," said Biden. "It's such a bunch of malarkey.''
The vice president said Trump is "unqualified'' to be president, arguing he lacks any kind of foreign policy experience or interest to learn about international challenges. If Trump had been president, Biden says he would have urged his late son, Beau, not to serve in the military because Trump would not be a trustworthy leader.
Biden says he's heading this week to Kosovo to reassure NATO countries that America stands by its alliances - a commitment he says Trump has weakened.
Biden said having the first female president will have a major impact on women and girls across America.
He says, "It will change their lives.''
Biden said he's known Clinton for three decades, dating back to before her time as first lady in the 1990s. He said voters know that Clinton is "smart,'' "tough'' and "bright,'' but don't recognize her passion for helping improve the lives of America's working and middle class.
"There's only one person in this election who will possibly help you and that is Hillary Clinton,'' he said. "She's always been there.''
Clinton has pressured Trump to release his tax returns and questioned his jobs agenda for middle-class workers.
Trump said he plans to watch certain parts of Pennsylvania closely on Election Day. He noted that he's had huge turnout for rallies in the state as evidence of what he says is overwhelming support.
Meanwhile, Trump is expected is giving a speech in Ohio on Monday, laying out his vision for foreign policy.
Trump says he will replace nation building with what aides are calling "foreign policy realism'' focused on destroying the Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations.
The GOP presidential candidate will argue the country needs to work with anyone that shares that mission, regardless of other disagreements.
Trump is also expected to propose a new immigration policy under which the U.S. would stop issuing visas in cases where adequate screenings can't be performed, and he's expected to propose creating a new, ideological test for admission to the country that would assess a candidate's stances on issues like religious freedom.
New polls show Clinton is still leading Trump in key battleground states. According to a new CBS/You-Gov poll, Clinton is up five points over Trump in Florida -- with 45 percent of the vote, compared to Trump's 40 percent. In New Hampshire, the gap is wider, with a 45 percent to 36 percent gap in Clinton's favor.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
