Fundraising Surge: Biden Campaign Raises $14 Million Post-Debate
APP
Washington: In an effort to stabilize his presidential campaign, US President Joe Biden engaged in vigorous damage control on Friday following a shaky performance in a debate with former President Donald Trump.
Elected Democratic officials rallied to dismiss any talk of replacing Biden as their candidate for the presidency.
At a rally in North Carolina the next day, President Biden displayed the vigor Democrats had hoped to see during the previous night’s debate with Trump. Speaking forcefully to a crowd of supporters, Biden directly addressed the issue:
“I know I’m not as young as I used to be,” acknowledged the 81-year-old. “My gait isn’t as smooth, my speech isn’t as fluent, and my debating isn’t as sharp.
But I do know this: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done.”
Commentators viewed Biden’s remarks as a candid admission of his debate shortcomings, satisfying his supporters’ desire for accountability. “I know, as many Americans do, that when you’re knocked down, you get back up,” Biden assured his audience.
Regarding Trump’s performance, Biden didn’t mince words: “I believe he set a new record for the most lies told in a single debate.”
He particularly criticized Trump’s denial of involvement in the January 6 insurrection, describing it as his “biggest lie” and emphasizing, “We all saw it. We watched it on television. We saw thousands, at his direction, attack the Capitol.”
Former President Barack Obama stood by his former vice president, acknowledging that “Bad debate nights happen,” drawing a parallel to his own struggles in the 2012 reelection campaign’s first debate. Obama affirmed the election’s stakes: “This election remains a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks all his life and someone who only cares about himself.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries firmly rejected suggestions that Biden should step aside, responding with a straightforward “no.” Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres of New York expressed discomfort with Biden’s performance but emphasized that a Trump presidency would be far worse.
In fundraising updates, Biden’s campaign announced a $14 million haul on debate day and the following morning, outpacing Trump’s campaign, which reported raising over $8 million during the same period.
Vice President Kamala Harris, tasked by the Biden campaign to defend his debate performance, characterized it as having a slow start but a strong finish in an interview with CNN.
Despite concerns raised by some Democratic leaders, including Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, about Biden’s debate showing, they advised against hasty decisions and urged maintaining focus on the upcoming election.
Congressman James Clyburn, a senior South Carolina Democrat, planned to advise Biden to “stay the course” during a later discussion. Biden and his supporters aimed to redirect attention from his debate delivery issues and highlight critical distinctions in policy and leadership ahead of the November elections.
They underscored Trump’s reluctance to commit to respecting election outcomes, his failure to condemn Capitol rioters, and his endorsement of the Supreme Court’s recent decision on Roe v. Wade, which overturned nationwide abortion rights.
