Rhode Island senator is shocked by Biden’s debate performance
After last week’s presidential debate between President Biden and former President Trump, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, expressed his concerns about Biden’s performance. Whitehouse said he was “horrified” by the debate and the “barrage of lying” from Trump, which was not what one would hope for in a presidential debate.
In an interview with 12 News, Whitehouse stated his belief that Democrats are united in the need to defeat Trump, despite the concerns raised by Biden’s performance during the debate. Reports surfaced immediately after the debate, suggesting that Democrats were in a state of panic over Biden’s performance.
Whitehouse emphasized the importance of transparency regarding Biden’s condition, ensuring that his performance during the debate was an anomaly and not indicative of his current state. The optics of the debate led to speculation among journalists and Democratic officials about Biden’s ability to continue as the party’s nominee.
In response to criticism of his debate performance, Biden acknowledged that he may not debate as well as he used to but reiterated his confidence in his ability to do the job and get things done.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Pete Aguilar, among others, also acknowledged Biden’s underwhelming performance during the debate. Despite the criticism, Democrats have continued to express their support for Biden and their commitment to defeating Trump.
Following the debate, the Biden campaign reached out to supporters via email to provide guidance on how to defend him against criticism. Supporters were encouraged to counter negative narratives about Biden and his debate performance, referring to detractors as the “bedwetting brigade.”
Overall, while the debate raised concerns about Biden’s performance and mental capacity, Democrats remain focused on their goal of defeating Trump in the upcoming election. The events of the debate have sparked a conversation within the party about the best way forward and how to address the challenges posed by Trump’s rhetoric and tactics.
