Democrats Abandon Biden After 'Disastrous' Debate Performance

Several key Democratic senators, House members, and candidates remain silent after Biden's widely criticized debate performance, raising concerns about his fitness for office and his impact on their own campaigns.

Following President Biden's widely panned performance in the presidential debate on Thursday, numerous Democratic lawmakers and candidates have conspicuously declined to defend him, leaving him politically isolated.

Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have all refrained from offering support for Biden after the debate, despite previously praising his abilities. Tester had previously stated that Biden was "absolutely 100% with it," a statement that Republicans have seized upon in attack ads.

Democrats Abandon Biden After 'Disastrous' Debate Performance

Baldwin's campaign distanced itself from Biden, stating that she is "running her own race for the people of Wisconsin." Republican Senate candidates have highlighted this lack of support, using it to cast doubt on Biden's mental sharpness and fitness for office.

House Democrats facing tough races have also failed to defend Biden. Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Colin Allred (D-Texas), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) all declined to comment on Biden's debate performance when asked.

Democrats Abandon Biden After 'Disastrous' Debate Performance

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) avoided a direct answer when questioned about Biden's fitness to be president. The National Republican Congressional Committee posted a video of Kaptur being trailed by a GOP operative asking the same question, further highlighting the lack of support for Biden from his own party members.

Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes, who won a close race in Ohio's 13th Congressional District in 2022, and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who is facing a tough re-election race in Washington state, both failed to respond to requests for comment.

Ohio Rep. Greg Landsman was the lone Democrat willing to acknowledge Biden's struggles in the debate. However, he emphasized Biden's honesty and compassion, contrasting him with former President Trump, whom he called a "con man." Landsman maintained his focus on serving his constituents rather than speculating on Biden's future.

The avoidance of Biden by key Democrats has raised concerns about his impact on their own races. Some worry that his unpopularity and perceived cognitive decline could drag them down, while others fear that acknowledging his weaknesses would undermine their own credibility.

Republican candidates have seized upon this Democratic disarray, running ads criticizing Biden and questioning his competence. They argue that his mental state is deteriorating and that he is unfit to hold office.

The silence from Democrats regarding Biden's debate performance has created a political vacuum, which Republicans are eager to fill. Whether Biden can regain the support of his own party and recover from this public relations disaster remains to be seen.