The recent press conference held by Joe Biden has sent shockwaves throughout the Democratic Party, leaving top officials in a state of panic. The event, which followed the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s findings on Biden’s handling of classified material, has been described as a disaster for the 81-year-old president. In this article, we will delve into the reactions from Democrats, analyzing their responses and the potential impact on Biden’s re-election campaign.
Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified materials concluded that while Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials,” no charges should be brought against him. One of the key reasons cited by Hur for not pursuing charges was Biden’s strong signs of having serious memory issues. Hur noted that a jury would view Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
In response to the report, Biden decided to hold a press conference. However, what unfolded during the event shocked many. Biden exploded at reporters who raised concerns about his age and declared himself to be the most qualified person in America to be president. Throughout the press conference, Biden mixed up the presidents of Egypt and Mexico, forgot key details from the special counsel’s report, and even struggled to remember when his son died or when he served as vice president in the Obama administration.
The reactions from Democrats to Biden’s press conference were mixed. While some rushed to his defense, several others, mostly in private, signaled that the event had dealt a serious blow to his re-election campaign. Longtime Democrat strategist and former Clinton White House aide Paul Begala, speaking on CNN, admitted that the press conference had left him deeply concerned. He said, “Look, I’m a Biden supporter. And I slept like a baby last night. I woke up every two hours crying and wet the bed.”
A Democrat House member, speaking anonymously, told NBC News that the special counsel’s assessment was a “nightmare” that “weakens Biden electorally.” They added, “For Democrats, we’re in a grim situation.” Another Democrat operative echoed these sentiments, stating that the events of the press conference were “beyond devastating” and only served to confirm voters’ doubts and concerns. The operative questioned how Biden could be president if the only reason he wasn’t charged was due to his age.
CNN's Paul Begala on Joe Biden's press conference performance:
"I slept like a baby last night. I woke up every 2 hours & wet the bed. This is terrible for Democrats…"
Begala then takes a shot at Biden for not knowing when he was vice president.pic.twitter.com/ttKJfVuSgo
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 9, 2024
The impact of Biden’s press conference on his re-election campaign cannot be underestimated. The combination of the special counsel’s report and Biden’s disastrous performance has left many Democrats alarmed. Axios reported that many senior Democrats, including former Biden White House officials, were deeply troubled by the press conference. One former official described it as “brutal,” while another compared taking the nomination away from Biden to taking the car keys away from your parents.
The sentiment among Democrats is that the events of the press conference have dealt a severe blow to Biden’s chances of securing a second term. A Democrat strategist, in an interview with The Dispatch, went so far as to say that the report from Hur, coupled with Biden’s performance, was “worse than an indictment.” Another strategist described it as “extremely bad.” The general consensus among senior Democrats is that Biden’s press conference has significantly weakened his position and raised serious doubts about his ability to lead.
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