Former President Barack Obama defended President Joe Biden's performance after the latter's challenging showing in the first 2024 presidential debate, raising concerns about Biden's age and suitability for another term. Obama's remarks have been met with mixed reactions from political commentators, reflecting unease among Democratic leaders.
Newsweek reported that Obama posted his support for President Joe Biden’s reelection on X (formerly Twitter) Friday afternoon. The post was in response to Biden’s debate performance the previous night, which raised significant concerns about his age and capability.
According to a Biden aide, the president was suffering from a cold during the debate.
Biden, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee, faced off against former President Donald Trump in the first debate of the election cycle.
The debate saw Biden speaking with a noticeably raspy voice and making several gaffes, which fueled further debate about his ability to lead. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated numerous false claims about Democratic policies on abortion, the economy, and immigration.
Obama's post aimed to draw parallels between Biden’s debate performance and his own in 2012 against Mitt Romney. "Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know," wrote Obama. "But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself."
Despite Obama’s supportive post, it has met with mixed reactions. Political commentator Chris Cillizza criticized the comparison between Biden’s performance and Obama’s in 2012. "Just to be clear: What Obama had in 2012 in the first debate against [Utah Senator Mitt] Romney was a 'bad debate night.' He was rusty and it showed," commented Cillizza.
Cillizza further argued that Biden’s performance was far worse. "That IN NO WAY compared to what we saw from Biden last night. Biden was not rusty. He was out of it. It was a historically bad performance," he stated.
Some within the Democratic Party have been concerned and have suggested replacing Biden with another candidate before November. This sentiment was echoed by political commentator Tim Miller, who remarked, "This would be a good tweet in 41 days. Not really helpful today."
Others, such as Louis Peitzman, expressed frustration with the party’s current stance. "It is completely f***ing insane that this is the party's position," tweeted Peitzman. The mixed responses to Obama’s post reflect a broader unease within the Democratic ranks.
Bill Kristol, a political analyst, raised further questions about Obama’s intervention. "A curious tweet," he described it. Kristol suggested that requesting Obama to make such a statement might indicate trouble among Democratic elites. "1. You don't ask President Obama for this unless you're seeing a meltdown among Democratic elites. 2. There's nothing in it particular to Biden. Obama's criteria for the anti-Trump side of the choice he describes also fit Harris, Whitmer, Shapiro, and others," Kristol elaborated.
In response to these concerns, Michael Tyler, Biden’s campaign communications director, stated unequivocally, "There were no conversations...whatsoever regarding plans for the president to step aside this election." Tyler reaffirmed Biden as the Democratic nominee, emphasizing that Democratic voters had chosen him.
"The Democratic voters nominated Joe Biden. Joe Biden is the nominee," added Tyler. This statement aims to quell any speculation about potential shifts in the Democratic nomination.
The debate performance and subsequent reactions underline the heightened climate as the presidential race intensifies.
While Biden struggles with questions about his age and competence, Trump continues to spread misinformation about several key policy areas. It remains to be seen how these dynamics will play out as the election approaches.
Concerns about Biden’s age and ability to serve another term have been a recurrent theme throughout his campaign. However, Obama’s intervention indicates an attempt to rally support for Biden within the party. The coming weeks will be crucial for Biden to demonstrate his capabilities and reassure both voters and party leadership.
In conclusion, Obama's defense of Biden after his debate performance, Biden’s current health issues, the Democratic Party's response, and the need to reaffirm the nominee’s position all paint a picture of a party grappling with internal challenges while facing a formidable opponent. The electoral stage is set for an intense showdown as November approaches.
