Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) reaffirmed his support for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, acknowledging that Biden “needs to do more” to alleviate concerns about his fitness for the job. Murphy expressed disappointment that the post-debate discussion focused primarily on Biden’s mental fitness rather than former President Donald Trump’s “pathological lying.”
Murphy criticized Biden’s first interview after the debate, stating that it did little to address voter concerns. He suggested that Biden needs to take a more proactive approach to reassure the public, recommending that he participate in a town hall or press conference to demonstrate his continued ability to lead.
“I think there are still questions out there in the minds of many voters,” Murphy acknowledged. “Personally, I love Joe Biden, but I don’t think the interview on Friday night did enough to answer those questions.”
When asked about reports that Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) is trying to rally other Senate Democrats to ask Biden to drop out, Murphy declined to comment, stating that he would let Warner speak for himself.
Murphy also expressed confidence that Biden could “absolutely” defeat Trump in a potential rematch, noting that if Biden can address voter concerns, he would be in a strong position to win the 2024 election.
Several Democratic lawmakers have called for Biden to step aside, including Governor Maura Healey (D-MA), a close ally of the president. However, Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has defended Biden, arguing that Democrats who are calling for him to drop out are “scared” of Trump.
In response to the growing concerns, Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign launched a $50 million ad blitz, which will include ads during the season premiere of The Bachelorette and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
