James Clyburn draws flak as he says Joe Biden should 'stay the course' despite poor debate performance
WASHINGTON, DC: James Clyburn is standing firm amid calls for President Joe Biden to relinquish his Democratic ticket following a less-than-stellar performance at his first presidential debate against Donald Trump.
The South Carolina representative maintains that the incumbent should continue his campaign and remain the Democratic nominee for the upcoming election, as per The Hill.
Clyburn, a key figure in Biden’s 2020 primary victory in South Carolina, has been a steadfast supporter of the POTUS.
Having said that, the lawmaker did acknowledge Biden’s "poor performance" in the CNN debate, describing it as "strike one" in a metaphorical baseball game.
James Clyburn advises President Joe Biden to 'stay the course' despite debate performance
"If this were a ball game, he’s got two more swings," remarked Clyburn, indicating that he believes President Biden still has opportunities to prove himself.
When confronted with suggestions from fellow Democrats that Biden should step aside, Clyburn was straightforward. He advised, "Stay the course," urging Biden to ignore the critics and continue his campaign efforts. Clyburn also mentioned that he would likely communicate this message directly to Biden soon.
During the June 27 debate, Biden occasionally stumbled over his words and seemed to lose his train of thought, leading to a wave of criticism and renewed calls for him to step down in favor of a younger, more vigorous candidate.
Clyburn’s message of support aligns with statements from other top Democrats who have rallied behind the incumbent despite his debate performance. When asked if Biden should step down, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries simply replied, "No."
However, Jeffries noted, "I’m gonna reserve comment about anything relative to where we are at this moment other than to say I stand behind the ticket," when questioned about Biden’s efficacy in communicating the Democratic platform.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged Biden’s rough start in the debate but praised his later performance on the issues.
"I think that on his worst night, his presentation of integrity was far better than the other guy’s dishonesty," said Pelosi, underscoring a common theme among Democrats that President Biden’s character and honesty make him a better choice than Trump, despite any perceived weaknesses.
Clyburn’s endorsement is particularly significant given his influential role in Biden’s 2020 campaign. His support ahead of the South Carolina primary was a turning point for the POTUS, helping to revive his struggling campaign and setting him on the path to securing the Democratic nomination and eventually the presidency.
James Clyburn's defense of Joe Biden following debate draws flak online
Clyburn's defense of Biden despite his recent less-than-stellar debate performance sparked intense backlash across social media.
One Facebook user said, "Do so at your own risk buddy...," while another remarked, "Says the 83 year old who is addicted to corporate handouts."
"Not one dem on the face of the planet will tell Joe he’s done to his face. Symptom of being gutless," stated a person and someone else added, "Does Clyburn have good advice on anything at all? We will never forget his role in taking down the Sanders campaign. He's a corrupt hack who contributes nothing of value to the Democratic Party."
An individual expressed, "Only those who are senile think Biden is doing a good job," while another person wrote, "Spoken like a true idiot."
A netizen asserted, "Biden lost the election last night." "This late in the game .... democrats are screwed and they know it," shared one more.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
