Democratic lawmakers weigh in on Biden’s first post-debate interview

President Biden’s first post-debate interview with ABC apparently did little to change the minds of Democrats who were shaken by Biden’s weak debate last week and questioned his ability to defeat former President Trump in November.

The interview was seen as the president’s defining moment in trying to reassure voters and party leaders that the lackluster performance on stage – when Biden appeared to lack energy, had a hoarse voice and stumbled over his words – was a major issue. -time thing.

The debate raised alarm bells among Democrats about whether he should remain at the top of the ticket. Although several names have been mentioned as possible replacements, the incumbent insisted that he intends to remain in contention.

Several Democratic lawmakers have joined calls for Biden to drop out of the race and make room for someone else to challenge Trump in the fall — some even questioning whether the president could survive another four years in office.

Here’s what some of them said after Biden’s interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)

“Powerful interview tonight with the president,” Jackson Lee posted on social media platform X on Friday night in response to another post from Biden that featured a clip from the interview.

Jackson Lee supported Biden despite doubts that had arisen among the party about his mental fitness. The previous Friday, she he said that “there should be no mention of the president’s resignation.”

“We know Joe Biden for who he is. Instead, I am raising my voice in outrage at the Donald Trump-created monster that is Project 2025,” the Texas Democrat wrote. “I read this document, it is a shame. Now is the time to stop this. That’s enough!”

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)

Doggett was the first sitting House Democrat to call for Biden’s resignation days after the debate debacle.

The Texas Democrat joined CNN’s Jim Sciutto on Friday following Biden’s appearance on ABC. Asked if he heard anything from the incumbent in the long-awaited interview that made him “guess” his call, Doggett didn’t seem optimistic, saying “nothing.”

“Joe Biden is a good man, he is an American patriot, but the need for him to step aside is more urgent tonight than when I first requested it on Tuesday,” Doggett added.

Earlier this week, Doggett pointed to Biden’s latest poll numbers as a reason for him to pass the baton, arguing that he even ran behind Democratic senators in key states.

“I was hoping the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It didn’t,” Doggett said in a post-debate statement. “Instead of reassuring voters, the president has failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump’s many lies.”

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)

Coons, as well as Jackson Lee, celebrated Biden’s showing in the ABC interview.

“President Biden has delivered remarkable progress for the American people and has plans to do even more in his next term,” said Coons he said Friday in a post on X responding to the Biden campaign’s interview clip. “I can’t wait to help you continue to fight Trump and win in November.”

Coons, a close Biden ally and national co-chair of his campaign, acknowledged after the debate that the president needed to conduct more interviews and host more events without a teleprompter.

“We need to see more unscripted, unofficial moments,” Coons said Monday. “That’s something I’m encouraging.”

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.)

Quigley became the fourth Democrat — behind Doggett and Reps. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) and Seth Moulton (Mass.) — to push for Biden to resign on Friday.

He was asked about his response to a clip from ABC News’ Juju Chang interview.

“If your allies, your friends and supporters of the Democratic Party in the House and Senate tell you, reliably, that they are worried that you will lose the House and the Senate if you remain in office, what will happen? Do you?” Stephanopoulos asked Biden in the clip.

“I’m not going to answer that question,” Biden responded. “Will not happen.”

Quigley responded to the video, saying he’s “not sure I share your confidence” when it comes to potentially losing both houses of Congress.

In his call for Biden to step aside, the Illinois Democrat said the president’s legacy is already set and he should give someone else a chance.

“Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you a great debt of gratitude,” Quigley said in an interview with MSNBC. “The only thing you can do now to cement this forever and avoid total catastrophe is to resign and let someone else do it.”

He previously said poll numbers would be the only thing that would change Biden’s mind. Despite the drop in post-debate polls, however, the incumbent continues to insist that he will continue and win.

Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.)

Fetterman was asked by Sciutto on “CNN Newsroom” on Friday about his response to the ABC interview and whether he had heard “enough” from Biden to calm Democrats’ concerns.

The freshman senator did not directly answer the question.

“Well, of course it’s going to be an ongoing conversation,” he said, adding, “But yes, of course, he’s done a good job of it.”

Fetterman has been a fierce defender of Biden in the post-debate chaos, responding sharply to The New York Times editorial board requesting that Biden suspend his campaign.

“Fuck this,” Pennsylvania senator wrote in response on X last week.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story