Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) reiterated his support for President Joe Biden seeking reelection this November, though he admitted the president “needs to do more” to assure voters that he is up for the job.
Murphy questioned why most of the post-debate discussion was on Biden’s mental fitness over former President Donald Trump’s “pathological lying.” However, he contended that Biden’s performance at the first presidential debate did raise questions among voters and that his first interview after the debate did not do much to put these concerns to rest.
“Personally, I love Joe Biden,” Murphy said on CNN’s State of the Union. “I don‘t know that the interview on Friday night did enough to answer those questions, and so I think this week is going to be absolutely critical. I think the president needs to do more. I‘m not advising this campaign, but if I were, I would probably suggest that the president get out there and do a town hall, that he do a press conference, and that he show the country that he is still the old Joe Biden.”
“Let‘s just be honest, I think there are still questions out there in the minds of many voters,” he added.
Murphy was also asked about a report that Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is trying to rally other Senate Democrats to ask Biden to drop out, with the Connecticut senator stating he does not know of this effort and would let Warner speak for himself.
Murphy added that Biden could “absolutely” beat Trump in a potential rematch this November. He said that if Biden can quell the concerns voters have about him, it would put him in “a very good position” in the 2024 race.
In the wake of the presidential debate, a number of Democratic lawmakers have asked for Biden to step aside from his reelection bid. Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA), a close Biden ally, has asked Biden to “carefully evaluate” continuing his reelection bid.
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Among those within the Democratic Party defending Biden is Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who argued that Democrats calling for Biden to step aside are “scared” of Trump.
Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign announced a $50 million ad blitz on Friday, as the campaign seeks to “capitalize on pivotal high viewership and political diverse audiences.” Some of these ads will play during the season premiere of The Bachelorette, as well as during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
