Two Democratic lawmakers express concern about Biden after debate
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Mr Sheldon Whitehouse, a senator from President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, said the American public wanted to be sure Mr Biden's dismal debate performance was just an “anomaly.”
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON – A senator from President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, Mr Sheldon Whitehouse, has asked for reassurances about Mr Biden’s health, saying the American public wanted to be sure his dismal debate performance
In an interview aired on July 1 on WPRI, a local CBS affiliate in Mr Whitehouse’s home state of Rhode Island, the senator said: “Like a lot of people, I was pretty horrified” by Biden’s debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump.
In the June 27 night debate, Mr Biden sometimes lost his train of thought, gave halting responses or stared blankly with his mouth agape.
“People want to make sure that this is a campaign that is ready to go on and win, that the President and his team are being candid about his condition, that this was a real anomaly and not just the way he is these days,” Mr Whitehouse said.
Mr Whitehouse was joined in his concerns by Representative Debbie Dingell, who represents a deep blue district that encompasses Ann Arbor.
Ms Dingell criticised the Biden campaign for reports that its leaders were “going to stick to their strategy” and were considering holding some kind of interview or news conference to allay concerns about Mr Biden.
“One interview isn’t going to fix this,” Ms Dingell said in an interview on CNN, adding: “I think the campaign’s got to listen to people. And by the way, I think the campaign needs to listen to us.”
She continued: “I know how to win campaigns. My strategy is to stick my ear to the ground and know what people are saying.”
On June 28, the 81-year-old President defiantly sought to reassure supporters
“I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high,” he said in a fiery speech.
For months, the White House has downplayed any concerns about Mr Biden’s physical and mental health
While Democratic Party heavyweights are still publicly backing Mr Biden, nerves are jangled among both his supporters and donors
Others have asked Mr Biden to respond directly to the concerns, by either taking part in press conferences or sitting down for interviews with journalists.
On July 1, Mr Biden spoke briefly at the White House about a landmark Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
After he finished his scripted remarks, a journalist asked Mr Biden if he planned to withdraw from the presidential race.
He left the room without answering. AFP, NYTIMES
