Former president Barack Obama defended Joe Biden on Friday after the incumbent president’s disastrous debate performance caused Democratic operatives and liberal pundits to openly discuss the possibility of replacing him as their party’s nominee.
Obama weighed in with a statement on X acknowledging Biden’s poor showing after Democrats resumed panicking this morning because of last night’s disaster of a first presidential debate.
“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know,” Obama said of his old running mate, with a reference to his own lackluster first debate performance in 2012 when he ran for reelection. In 2012, Biden had a famously strong debate against Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan.
“But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November,” Obama added. He finished his post with a link to Biden’s campaign website.
Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 28, 2024
Later, former president Bill Clinton similarly came to Biden’s defense by defending his record against former president Donald Trump’s over their respective presidential terms.
“I’ll leave the debate rating to the pundits, but here’s what I know: facts and history matter,” Clinton said on X.
“Joe Biden has given us 3 years of solid leadership, steadying us after the pandemic, creating a record number of new jobs, making real progress solving the climate crisis, and launching a successful effort in reducing inflation, all while pulling us out of the quagmire Donald Trump left us in. That’s what’s really at stake in November.”
Immediately following the debate, CNN and MSNBC commentators began openly discussing the possibility of replacing Biden with another presidential candidate and reading off panicked texts from well-connected Democratic operatives. Even Biden’s old communications staffers admitted he lost the debate, with former White House secretary Jen Psaki comparing it to Obama’s 2012 performance.
While pundits are panicked, senior Democrats including former speaker Nancy Pelosi, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Representative Jim Clyburn joined Obama on Friday in urging the party not to ditch Biden.
“Stay the course,” said the 83-year-old Clyburn, whose endorsement helped Biden clinch the nomination in 2020.
Even before the party’s veterans came out in Biden’s defense, the possibility of replacing him seemed extremely unlikely. Now, it’s all but dead in the water, given Obama’s continued power and influence over the Democratic party.
During the debate, Biden struggled to articulate his words and form coherent sentences, as former president Donald Trump showed unusual amounts of restraint and discipline. Biden, 81, showed signs of his advanced age from the outset, and within the first half hour of the debate, the conversation was centered entirely on Biden’s age.
This afternoon, Biden acknowledged his nightmare debate showing at a rally in North Carolina and defiantly insisted he is still the right man for the presidency.
“I don’t debate as well as I used to,” Biden said, as his supporters cheered on.
“I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. I know, like millions of Americans, when you get knocked down, you get back up,” Biden added.
He appeared less confused and frail at the rally, likely due to assistance from a teleprompter and its earlier beginning.