Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-Colo., said in an interview that aired Tuesday that he plans to meet with the president soon to gauge his “standing” among the nation in the wake of Biden’s struggles in the debate.
“I was planning on speaking with him later today or tomorrow morning,” Clyburn told NewsNation’s Blake Berman in an interview with “The Hill,” “and I’m going to tell him how I really feel.”
Clyburn said that as a South Carolina Democrat, he plans to let the president know “where he stands with the American people.”
Clyburn is often credited with helping the president win the South Carolina primary in 2020, propelling him to the top of the Democratic field that year, but the president’s poor performance in last week’s debate, which included a hoarse voice and stammering, has cast a shadow over Biden’s chances of reelection.
In an interview with The Hill, Clyburn acknowledged that last Thursday night’s debate was a “bad night” for the president.
“I do know this: I think the American people want an explanation. They need reassurance. I expect that to happen in the next few days,” Clyburn said.
Several Democrats have called on Biden to either withdraw from this year’s presidential race or replace himself as the party’s leading candidate after Thursday’s debate, including former Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who has said he will support Vice President Harris as his successor.
“Harris has grown immensely in her work. [former President Trump] Highlights from the discussion [the] “Let’s make choice an issue, galvanize our base, bring back young voters and create generational change. The time is now!” Ryan said in a social media post on Tuesday.
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