President Biden intended to use his first televised interview since a poor debate performance to calm Democratic supporters and address calls within the party for him to drop out of the race. However, his appearance on ABC News Friday night had limited impact on shifting opinions. Many Democrats, whether critical or supportive of Biden, indicated the interview did little to change their views.
Several current and former Democratic officials who had urged Biden to end his re-election campaign felt their concerns remained unaddressed. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas emphasized the urgency for Biden to step aside, arguing Biden’s legacy should not involve turning the country over to a “tyrant.” Similarly, Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois found aspects of the interview “disturbing” and doubted Biden’s vigor to overcome his current deficit.
Conversely, steadfast Biden supporters reiterated their loyalty. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, and Rep. Nanette Barragán of California vocalized their continued backing. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania encouraged Democrats to rally behind Biden, asserting he is the right candidate for the party.
Rep. Ro Khanna of California expected further efforts from Biden to gain voter trust, advocating for more transparency from the White House. Critic Julián Castro noted Biden seemed steadier but in denial about his perceived decline. Former Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio echoed this sentiment, expressing concerns about Biden’s capability to lead the party to victory.
Prominent Biden donor Mark Buell encapsulated the situation, suggesting Biden is on a political decline he needs to reverse to prevent damaging his historical standing.
Reporting contributions came from Maya C. Miller, Robert Jimison, Zolan Kanno-Youngs in Washington, and Simon J. Levien in Massachusetts.
Original Story https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/us/politics/biden-abc-news-interview-democratic-reaction.html
Category : Presidential Election of 2024,ABC News,Democratic Party,Barragan, Nanette D,Biden, Joseph R Jr,Clyburn, James E,Coons, Christopher A,Doggett, Lloyd,Garcia, Robert (1977- ),Khanna, Ro,Quigley, Mike,Ryan, Timothy J (1973- )
Tags:
