Prominent Democrats say they stand firmly behind President Joe Biden following his interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos which aired Friday evening.
“I’m still in good shape,” President Biden told Mr. Stephanopoulos during the interview which followed a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin. “I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me.”
Following the ABC interview, a top ally of President Biden, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), voiced his support for the president and commended his record.
“From the American Rescue Plan to the PACT Act, @JoeBiden has delivered tremendous progress on behalf of the American people these last 3 years,” he wrote on X.
“Joe Biden is who our country needs and his presidency has laid a foundation upon which we can continue our pursuit of a more perfect union,” he added.
In the 2020 primary, Mr. Clyburn’s endorsement of then-candidate Joe Biden was widely seen as a pivotal moment for the Biden campaign.
Following President Biden’s debate with former President Donald Trump, a small group of lawmakers as well as media pundits have called President Biden to resign from the Presidential campaign. The latest lawmaker to do so was Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) who in a statement on Saturday that she didn’t believe that “the president can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, however, told reporters following a rally in Bucks County, north of Philadelphia, that “the vast majority of the caucus remains solidly behind the president.”
“President Biden made that point very effectively yesterday in the interview. I thought his speech in Wisconsin was very, very good,” Gov. Newsom, who has emerged as one of President Biden’s strongest supporters, said.
For Democrats, Bucks County is a crucial battleground to secure a victory in Pennsylvania. Mr. Newsom also stumped for the president in the critical swing state of Michigan on Thursday and Pittsburgh on Friday.
President Biden himself is expected to campaign in Pennsylvania on Sunday.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said in a CNN interview Friday evening, “He’s our leader and he’s been a great president.”
“No expert now, back in 2020, thought he was going to win the primary, but of course he did. And then he is the only American that’s ever beaten Trump in an election right now,” he said.
President Biden also received support from other prominent Democrats, such as Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and DNC Chair Jaime Harrison.
Mr. Coons emphasized the president’s achievements, stating on X, “President Biden has delivered remarkable progress for the American people, and he has plans to do even more in his next term.”
The DNC chair also voiced his support for the incumbent president after the ABC interview, posting to X: “President @JoeBiden beat Trump before, and he will beat Trump again. That’s our president!!”
Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is reportedly trying to rally a group of senators to encourage the president to withdraw from the race. When asked about this during Friday’s interview, President Biden expressed no concern about the rising opposition.
“Mark and I have a different perspective. I respect him,” the president said.
