Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is encouraging conservatives to vote for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.
Flake, who served in the Senate until he retired in 2019, says at beginning of the ad, āIāve been a conservative Republican my entire life.ā
āIāve never before voted for a Democrat for president,ā he added as he noted the first presidential vote he cast was for Ronald Reagan in 1984.
However, he said, āBut this year, principle and conscience require me to do just that. Iām voting for Joe Biden.ā
He encouraged viewers to ask themselves, āWho will best restore decency and civility to the White House? Who can I be proud to tell my children and grandchildren I voted for?ā
He continued:
āMy fellow Republicans, itās not easy going against the head of our party. Believe me, I know. But I also know that character, moral leadership, integrity are values that we cannot put aside when we cast our vote for president. If we hold onto these values, our country will be better for it, and so will our party.ā
Finally, he said, āPlease, donāt let anyone tell you that by casting your vote for Joe Biden, youāre somehow not being conservative. This year, the most conservative thing you can do is to put the country over party. Thatās what Iām doing. I hope youāll join me.ā
Watch the ad below:
https://twitter.com/GeoffBurgan/status/1321493697565880320
Flake endorsed Biden in August, āGiven what we have experienced over the past four years, itās not enough just to register our disapproval of the president, we need to elect someone else in his place.ā
āHere, today, I will say to my fellow conservativesā¦ indifference to the truth or to the careful stewardship of the institutions of American liberty is not conservative,ā he added.
The ad appeared to be an appeal to Arizona conservatives. Currently, polls show Biden is leading in that state by an average of 2.2 points. The last time a Democrat won the state in the presidential election was in 1996.