U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne endorses former Vice President Joe Biden for president

U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, has decided to back former Vice President Joe Biden for president.

"On all the issues that we care most about — that I care about, that our constituents care about — he’s the one candidate who, I believe, brings the experience and the heart to bring this country together to get it done for middle-class families," she told the Des Moines Register in an interview Friday.

"The most important objective is to defeat Donald Trump," she said. "And I believe that Joe Biden is the person that will do that."

Axne's is the latest in a string of high-profile endorsements for the former vice president among Iowa's current and former elected Democratic leaders. Two former governors — Chet Culver and Tom Vilsack — have endorsed Biden, as has U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer.

U.S. Rep Dave Loebsack is the only other member of Iowa's Democratic Congressional delegation. He has endorsed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Buttigieg.

Axne represents Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, which covers central and southwest Iowa and includes Des Moines.

Finkenauer and Axne both defeated incumbent Republicans in 2018 to become the first two women elected to represent Iowa in the U.S. House. Both are Republican targets as the GOP looks to reclaim those seats. Axne said that was on her mind as well as she considered who to support in this race.

"We need a nominee who’s got the vision to actually rebuild our alliances and strengthen our middle class, (who) can also make sure that we win in November and help down-ballot candidates like me win," she said. "I think he brings that to the table as well."

Biden recently has been making that same case to the public, telling The State in South Carolina that he's best positioned to lead the Democratic ticket because it will help down-ballot Democrats win.

"I'm just asking the rhetorical question: (U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders') the top of the ticket in North, in South Carolina or (U.S. Sen. Elizabeth) Warren's the top of the ticket. How many Democrats down the line you think are gonna win?” he told the newspaper.

Biden remains locked in a close contest in Iowa. The most recent Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows him in fourth place behind Sanders (20%), Warren (17%) and Buttigieg (16%). Biden is at 15% in the poll.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

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