Several leading Democrats attempted to present a united front on Sunday, flocking to morning news programs to defend President Biden after his shaky performance in the June 27 debate against former President Donald TrumpThe appearances come amid reports of tension within the party over whether Biden — who is expected to discuss his re-election campaign with family on Sunday — should step aside. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi appeared on CNN’s State of the Union where she was asked about major editorial boards, such as the New York Times, that have been calling on Biden to drop out of the race since the debate.
“We see Joe Biden up close, we know how knowledgeable he is on the issues, how informed he is. When I debate legislation with him — and not debate it, but discuss it with him — he is there,” Pelosi told Dana Bash. “So it was a bad night anyway. Let’s not sugarcoat that. It was a bad night. It was a great presidency.”
NBC News reported Saturday that Pelosi is among top Democrats who have privately expressed concerns about Biden’s “viability.” She denied this through a spokesperson and publicly supported the president on CNN.
Pelosi acknowledged that “members are always concerned about the top of the ticket,” but dodged a comment on whether people in her party are more concerned after the debate. Pelosi said it could be “chaotic” if Biden were to end his campaign at this stage, and argued that the president should carry the race “over the finish line.”
.@SpeakerPelosi responds to calls to replace President Biden on the list: “There’s nothing like Joe Biden standing up and taking the ball across the finish line. Anything else could be chaotic.” photo.twitter.com/Z6r8L9RHbq
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) June 30, 2024
Democratic Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, a Biden confidant, was also on the show. He was asked if he had any concerns about Biden’s ability not just to win, but to lead the country, in November.
“I don’t believe Joe Biden has a problem with leadership for the next four years because he’s done a great job the last three and a half years,” Clyburn responded.
On NBC’s Meet the press, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock said Biden “absolutely” should not drop out of the race.
“Bad debates are happening, [former] President [Barack] “Obama said,” Warnock said. “And this was 90 minutes. But let me tell you about those 90 minutes. Donald Trump lied for the entire 90 minutes.”
Host Kristen Welker asked Warnock about the growing calls for Biden to step aside and potentially clear the way for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I have great respect for Vice President Harris, who I’ve spent a lot of time with, but Joe Biden is the nominee,” Warnock responded. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore appeared on CBS’s Confront the nation in which he said he “will not” seek the Democratic nomination and “will proudly support the president.”
“Joe Biden will not take himself out of this race, and neither should he,” Moore said, adding: “Joe Biden is our nominee, Joe Biden is our leader, and Joe Biden has – and Joe Biden deserves – the trust earned. , the respect and, frankly, the partnership that we now have to offer him.”
Moore admitted that Biden was mostly fumbling Thursday night when he discussed abortion — “it wasn’t a great moment for the president,” he said. But he stuck to the Democratic talking point that Trump lied throughout the 90-minute debate.
Maryland @GovWesMoore says President Biden’s answer on abortion during Thursday’s debate “was not a great moment for the president, and no one can deny that.” But Moore adds that Biden’s position that Roe v. Wade is “the law of the land is very, very clear.” photo.twitter.com/gvnF9r0bk2
— Look at the Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 30, 2024
Biden himself acknowledged his lackluster debate performance on Friday at a rally in North Carolina, telling a crowd of supporters: “I don’t debate as well as I used to.”
“I know I’m not a young man. I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to… but I know what I do know – I know how to tell the truth,” said the 81 year old.
Biden arrived at Camp David late Saturday night for a pre-scheduled gathering with his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, their children and grandchildren, the New York Times reported. Though the Bidens were initially gathered for a photo shoot, multiple media outlets have reported that the president will discuss the future of his re-election campaign with his family. Biden has given no public indication that he plans to withdraw from the race after a busy 48 hours of campaigning across the country.
