Former President Bill Clinton has stepped in to defend his one-time opponent, President Joe Biden, after a disastrous debate performance against his predecessor Donald Trump. In a post on X, Clinton sought to downplay the significance of Biden’s poor debate performance, instead highlighting his Administration’s achievements since taking office in 2020.
While acknowledging that Thursday’s debate did not go well for Biden, Clinton wrote that he will not be swayed by the pundits’ opinions. He lauded Biden for stabilizing the nation after the pandemic, creating a record number of new jobs, making tangible progress on addressing climate change, and reducing inflation. Clinton believes that these accomplishments warrant attention above any perceived setbacks in the debate.
Clinton’s sentiments mirrored those expressed by his predecessor in the Oval Office, Barack Obama. In his own post on the online platform, Obama cautioned that “bad debate nights happen,” but emphasized that the key issue is that the election remains a binary choice between someone who has dedicated their career to serving ordinary people versus an individual who exclusively prioritizes their own interests.
Several Democrats, including several members of the press and party donors, had expressed concern after Biden’s subpar debate performance. Some have even suggested replacing him, although the Biden campaign has so far stood firm in support of his continued candidacy. Amidst concerns, Biden himself reflected on the fact that he may not speak or debate as smoothly as in the past due to his age.
Despite this, Clinton’s assertion that history and facts matter ultimately reinforce the notion that, as Obama implied, this election remains a choice that goes beyond one’s personality or single debate performance. It has always been a choice that revolves around fundamental values and an individual’s ability to serve the greater good.
