Rep. James E. Clyburn (D.C.) is rejecting arguments that President Biden should resign from the Democratic ticket following his subpar debate performance on Thursday night, arguing that the incumbent should “stay the course ”.
Clyburn — who is widely credited with Biden’s crucial South Carolina primary win that propelled him to the 2020 nomination — said he thought Biden had a “poor performance” in the debate, calling it a “first strike.”
“If it was a ball game, he would have two more shots,” he added.
But when asked about Democrats’ comments that the incumbent should resign, the longtime House member urged the president to move on.
“Stay the course,” Clyburn said when asked to respond to calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket. “To relax.”
Clyburn said he would “probably” speak to Biden later Friday and deliver the “stay the course” message.
Clyburn’s show of support came less than 24 hours after Thursday night’s presidential debate, where Biden — while facing former President Trump — sometimes stumbled over his words and seemed to lose his train of thought.
The performance fueled talk among pundits and lawmakers that Biden — who is 81 — should step aside and let another Democrat take his place at the top of the presidential ticket.
Asked Friday whether he thinks there is a better Democrat to communicate the party’s platform, Clyburn, who served in House Democratic leadership for more than two decades before resigning earlier this year, responded, “No.”
“There is no better Democrat,” he added.
Clyburn’s message coincides with that of other leading Democrats, who supported Biden after the debate.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) told reporters “no” when asked whether Biden should step aside, though he later said “I’m going to reserve comment on anything relative to where we are right now, except to say support the ticket” when asked if Biden is the most effective person to convey the Democrats’ message.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Biden “got off to a bad start; I thought he did well on the questions later on,” adding “I think on his worst night, his display of integrity was much better than the other guy’s dishonesty.”
Clyburn has been a close Biden ally for years, especially during the 2020 presidential campaign, when he threw his support behind the then-Democratic presidential nominee ahead of the South Carolina primary, turbocharging his struggling campaign. Biden’s victory in the Palmetto State primary served as a turning point for his campaign, putting him on a path to the Democratic nomination and, eventually, the White House.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
