Fetterman Defends Biden, Warns 2024 Election Will Be "Very Close

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) dismissed calls for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race, arguing that despite a challenging debate performance in 2022, he emerged victorious and believes Biden can do the same. Fetterman also praised Biden's economic record and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, but cautioned that the upcoming election will be closely contested.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has defended President Biden's decision to run for a second term in 2024, despite calls from some within the Democratic Party to step down.

During an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," Fetterman dismissed the concerns of the New York Times, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and left-leaning pundits who have suggested that Biden should withdraw from the race.

Fetterman Defends Biden, Warns 2024 Election Will Be "Very Close

"There's no value in, in any of those things," Fetterman told host Shannon Bream. "I mean, there was that same kind of a freak out after my debate. And in fact, I might even say that I had a more difficult evening than the president did."

Fetterman referred to his own debate performance in 2022 against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, which was widely criticized. Despite his struggles, Fetterman emerged victorious, defeating Oz by a margin of five points.

Fetterman Defends Biden, Warns 2024 Election Will Be "Very Close

"We had a difficult debate, and yet we still managed to go on to win," Fetterman said. "Now everybody was calling that… the end of my career. That was the end of this race. And everyone was predicting that I was going to lose actually by two points or more. And I smoked Oz by five points. And that's why I'm saying it's like one debate. It's not a career any more than Donald Trump's… convictions for felonies aren't really going to define, you know, his reputation and his presidency. And that's why they're both here again."

Fetterman's comments come as some Democrats have expressed concern about Biden's age and energy levels. Bream noted that Fetterman was recovering from a stroke at the time of his debate, and has improved over time, while voters are more concerned about 81-year-old Biden because of his advanced age.

Fetterman Defends Biden, Warns 2024 Election Will Be "Very Close

"We had a difficult debate, and yet we still managed to go on to win," Fetterman said. "Now everybody was calling that… the end of my career. That was the end of this race. And everyone was predicting that I was going to lose actually by two points or more. And I smoked Oz by five points. And that's why I'm saying it's like one debate. It's not a career any more than Donald Trump's… convictions for felonies aren't really going to define, you know, his reputation and his presidency. And that's why they're both here again."

Fetterman argued that Biden's economic record and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic make him deserving of a second term.

Fetterman Defends Biden, Warns 2024 Election Will Be "Very Close

"I've watched him for the last four years and he's done incredibly good things. I mean, he got us through that pandemic, that pandemic, that over a million Americans lost their lives through that. And look at our economy. Ours is the world's envy," he said. "And look at the stock market. Look at all these other kinds of metrics. People were calling that it was going to be a recession. And here we are now, booming and all of those kinds of things. So the president has done a really good job and he deserves a second term. But I really do want to be clear, it's going to be very close."

According to a Fox News poll conducted April 11-16, registered voters in Pennsylvania gave Trump wide margins over Biden regarding who they trusted to best handle the economy, foreign policy, and the border.

"The only poll that's really going to matter is Election Day," Fetterman said. "And the polls changed and they inverted in my race as well. And here I am as a United States senator. And I just got back from Israel just a couple days ago. And that's why I want to remind everybody that one debate does not define a person's record or the kind of person or the situation."

Fetterman's defense of Biden is notable, as he is one of the few Democratic senators to have publicly supported Biden's decision to run for a second term. His comments underscore the challenges facing Biden ahead of the 2024 election, as he seeks to win a second term in a closely contested race.