Former New York Governor David Paterson said he believes an embattled President Biden will be the Democratic nominee in November.
Paterson made the prediction despite growing concerns about the 81-year-old president’s mental and physical health and his ability to prevail against Republican rival Donald Trump and growing calls for him to step down.
Interview with former governor The Cats Roundtable show on 770 WABC radio was also recorded Sunday morning before the assassination attempt on former President Trump, a horrific incident that some experts believe could further boost Republican candidate Joe Biden’s chances of victory.
“I think with President Biden as the nominee, the elder statesmen of the party like President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be the ones to bring the party back together. It’s interesting that we don’t hear much from Bill Clinton.” Patterson said on the show:.
“That will probably happen at the Democratic National Convention. If I were to make a prediction about who will win in November? I think it will be a close race,” the former governor added.
He acknowledged that he doesn’t have enthusiastic support for Biden, but if Biden refuses to concede and wants to run, Democrats will have no choice but to comply.
“We Democrats are so afraid of what’s going to happen when President Trump finishes his second four-year term that we’re going to vote for Biden even if it means we have to push him into the presidency,” Paterson joked to WABC host John Catsimatidis.
“That’s not the best reason to support somebody… The weird thing is, the election is still close,” Patterson said.
The former governor pointed to Biden’s dismal performance in last month’s debate.
The president’s performance improved somewhat at last week’s NATO press conference but he still made gaffes, such as correcting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he mistook him for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He later made the gaffe by calling Vice President Kamala Harris “President Trump.”
At least 20 Democrats have publicly called on Biden to step aside and support another top candidate, while others, including members of the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucus, have backed Biden.
