Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said Friday that Democrats need to find “the best candidate to protect our democracy” following widespread criticism of President Biden’s performance in the presidential debates.
When asked by CNN host Wolf Blitzer whether he thought it would be a “good idea” for Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee, Kinzinger replied, “I’m not going to go that far because that would be a cumbersome process.”
“Democrats have to figure out how to put forward the best candidate, maybe Joe Biden, to protect our democracy, because the risks in November are no joke,” said Kinzinger, one of 10 Republican senators who voted to impeach former President Trump following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Biden’s husky, stammering performance at Thursday night’s debate sparked widespread anxiety among Democrats. After the debate, insiders and commentators suggested discussions were ongoing about whether Biden should step down as the party’s nominee. Biden’s campaign and White House have said he’s not going anywhere.
“I was actually struck by how he came out at the beginning of the debate, the tone of his voice. He seemed a little confused. He certainly got stronger as the debate went on,” Democratic strategist David Axelrod told CNN. “I don’t know if it’s going to lead to anything, but you’re going to hear arguments about whether he should continue.”
A White House official said Biden had been suffering from a cold during the debate, and his campaign defended him as questions swirled about his status as the top Democratic candidate.
