Democratic senator criticizes Biden campaign over debate backlash
Sen. Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, accused President Biden’s campaign on Monday of downplaying concerns within the party about Biden’s age and sharpness. He said those questions were justified after the president’s struggles during Thursday’s debate with former President Donald J. Trump.
“I really criticise the campaign for its dismissive attitude towards people who ask questions for discussion,” Mr Welch said Blessinga digital news site. “It’s just facing the reality that we find ourselves in.”
Mr. Welch was referring to a fundraising email the Biden campaign sent to supporters on Saturday in which Mr. Biden’s deputy campaign manager, Rob Flaherty, described people calling for Mr. Biden to withdraw from the race as the “bedwetting brigade.”
“The campaign itself raised the concerns,” Mr. Welch said. “So to dismiss others who raise those concerns, I think, is inappropriate.”
Biden’s campaign declined to comment Tuesday.
At a campaign rally in North Carolina on Friday, Biden acknowledged that his debate performance was not right, saying, “I know I’m not a young man anymore.” His campaign continued that theme in a advertisement which was released on Monday.
Mr Welch said Democrats had an “existential responsibility” to defeat Mr Trump in November.
“Passivity is not the response that is going to work for us,” he said. “We all have to be self-aware.”
He continued: “We must all be fully aware that our obligation is to the country, even more than to the party.”
