Presidential debate 2024: Both Biden and Trump had issues
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump clashed in the presidential debate. Here is what happened.
HASTINGS, MINN. — After a rocky debate performance last week against former President Donald Trump, questions have stirred about whether President Joe Biden is fit to serve another four years, even from his own party.
After a press conference about a newly introduced fentanyl bill, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., told reporters that despite Biden being the only one to decide whether he steps down, she and her colleagues will be watching his campaigning very closely.
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“I’ve been in touch with his campaign in the last couple of days; I’ve let them know what I need to see from the president,” she said. “I need to see him out everywhere, talking unscripted, no teleprompter, and he needs to make sure that the American people have confidence in his ability to run for re-election.”
More: Biden already earned a majority of delegates. Could Democrats still nominate someone else?
On Monday, Minnesota Democratic Governor and chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Tim Walz organized a meeting with his colleagues regarding the president’s debate performance, CNN first reported. Walz has been an adamant supporter of the Biden administration and campaigned for the president’s re-election bid.
Walz’s office has not yet confirmed his participation in the call and referred to a statement provided by the DGA when asked for comment.
“Democratic governors are some of the President and Vice President’s most proactive and vocal supporters because they’ve seen how the Biden-Harris Administration’s accomplishments are directly benefiting their residents,” the unnamed official said in the statement. “The Biden/Harris team is in constant communication with the governors and their teams, including about yesterday’s meeting.”
More: After Biden’s shaky debate performance, Democrats’ support is lukewarm
During the call, some Democratic governors discussed wanting an in-person meeting with the president to address concerns. The White House agreed to the meeting, which will take place Wednesday with some governors attending in-person and others virtually.
During the first presidential debate of the election cycle, Biden struggled to answer questions from moderators, freezing and producing confusing, inaudible responses. The debate was without an audience and candidates were not allowed to have pre-written remarks or access to their campaign teams.
In response to a question about whether or not Craig found Biden fit to run, she pointed to last week’s performance:
“What I know is, it was a terrible debate,” she said. “President Biden couldn’t communicate effectively; Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth.”
More: How much did debate hurt Biden’s re-election bid? New poll offers insight.
Other high-profile Democrats have shifted their tone around Biden’s mental acuity, including U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who are calling for the president to step down from the ticket. Craig wouldn’t go that far but made it clear that there are doubts on Capitol Hill.
“I’m talking to a number of my colleagues in Congress right now, and I think we need to let the president think about whether he wants to continue moving forward,” Craig told reporters.
The North Star state hasn’t voted for a Republican for president in 50 years, and in 2020, Biden won the state by more than seven points.
— Sam Woodward is the Minnesota elections reporting fellow for USA Today. You can reach her at swoodward@gannett.com, on X @woodyreports, or on Threads @samjowoody.
Source link : https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/02/mn-rep-angie-craig-raises-doubts-about-bidens-post-debate-performance/74280691007/
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Publish date : 2024-07-04 14:32:22
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