Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) released a new advertisement Wednesday raising alarm about the rise of socialism in the Democratic Party, offering a preview of Republican messaging should Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) emerge as the party's presidential nominee.
The ad argues that the current surge toward socialism will strip Americans of economic freedom and social stability.
"They fought and sacrificed to keep us free," the ad opens, with images of U.S. servicemen. "But now socialism has taken over the Democratic Party. Socialism has devastated countries like Cuba and Venezuela."
The ad ties Sanders to socialist dictators around the world, a likely tactic for Republicans to adopt during the 2020 presidential campaign. Cotton said far-left policies advocated by Sanders are now embraced by the entire party.
"None of the Democrats running for president are moderates," he said in a press release, saying the party "has become the party of far-left socialists."
Cotton said Biden has also promoted socialism on the campaign trail, pointing to his support for federal health care coverage for abortions and illegal immigrants.
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, is the most vocal supporter of socialism in the Democratic primary field. He supports abolishing private health insurance, forgiving student loan debt, and drastically raising taxes on businesses and individuals in order to redistribute wealth.
He has also supported socialist leaders abroad. He surprised viewers in a 60 Minutes interview last month when he said it was "unfair" to denounce Fidel Castro's brutal regime in Cuba, choosing instead to praise the deceased dictator for his "massive literacy programs."
The ad will run in Arkansas as well as in swing states during the 2020 election, in an effort to elect conservative veterans and keep Trump in the White House.