Both Biden and Trump have emerged as the presumptive 2024 presidential candidates for their respective parties, following a series of primary victories earlier this year. This sets the stage for a potential rematch of the hotly contested 2020 election. The first presidential debate of the current election cycle took place last Thursday, hosted by CNN in Georgia.
According to Newsweek, the debate was marked by concerns about Biden's age and mental sharpness. Democrats had hoped for a vibrant and energetic performance from the President. However, Biden, 81, seemed to struggle through his administration's current achievements and objectives. A Biden aide disclosed late Thursday night that the President was battling a cold during the debate.
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The President's debate performance has raised concerns among some Democrats about his ability to serve a second term in the White House. This has led to discussions about potentially replacing him as the party's nominee. However, there is no clear indication of who might be proposed as a candidate, and Biden's campaign has not signaled any intention to step down. The second debate between Biden and Trump is scheduled for September 10, hosted by ABC News.
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Clyburn, a close ally of Biden who played a significant role in securing his nomination for President four years ago, appeared on CNN on Sunday. He dismissed suggestions that Biden should step down from the ticket, stating, "It is very clear he should stay in this race. He should demonstrate going forward his capacity to lead the country. And I think the American people are demonstrating that."
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When asked by host Dana Bash about the possibility of another debate, Clyburn responded, "Well I don't know, I think Joe Biden would do well with the debate. I think it all depends upon what the rules are. I don't like the debate where nobody will do any fact-checking. You just say what you want to say, you know it's a lie—the guy [Trump] told 30 some odd lies and nobody checked him on it and say that was up to Joe Biden to do. I'm not too sure. So that to me was not the way to plan the debate. And whoever did that agreed to that really should think about what they are doing."
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CNN reported over 30 false statements made by Trump during the debate, while Biden made at least nine false or misleading statements. Bash noted that the Biden team had agreed to the debate format. Clyburn attributed Biden's debate performance to "preparation overload," adding that if there is another debate in September, Biden needs to prepare differently, with "deflection" instead of just information.
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Clyburn, who endorsed Biden ahead of the South Carolina primary in 2020, made these comments following a CNN poll that found 67 percent of debate watchers believed Trump won the debate, compared to 33 percent siding with Biden. Prior to the debate, 55 percent of respondents believed Trump would perform better, compared to 45 percent siding with Biden.
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Clyburn has previously expressed his thoughts on Biden's reelection efforts. In January, he revealed that he had discussed his concerns about Biden's reelection campaign with the President, emphasizing that he was "not worried," but "very concerned" about voters, particularly Black voters, showing up for Biden in November.
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Recent polls show a rise in Trump's support among Black voters in the swing states of Michigan and Pennsylvania, compared to 2020. This comes as Biden's backing from this crucial voting bloc in the two swing states has declined. Despite Trump's gains, Biden still maintains majority support among Black voters. However, the poll highlighted a growing interest in third-party candidates and a significant portion of undecided Black voters, indicating a fluid situation. The Black vote played a crucial role in Biden's victory in swing states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 2020.
