Following a contentious first presidential debate between President Biden and former President Trump, several of Biden's allies have come forward to defend him amidst criticism of his performance. The debate left many Democrats and media outlets questioning Biden's age and mental state, with some even calling for him to step aside and allow another Democrat to take the party's spot at the top of the ticket.
Despite the backlash, some Democrats have rallied behind Biden. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania dismissed calls for Biden to drop out, drawing parallels to his own debate experience and emphasizing that one performance does not define a candidate's ability to lead.
Former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, refrained from giving his opinion on Biden's candidacy but highlighted his positive experiences working with the president in the past.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi redirected the focus to criticizing Donald Trump directly, urging voters to consider the former president's integrity in contrast to Biden's debate performance.
Former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield maintained that despite concerns over Biden's performance, the fundamental dynamics of the election have not shifted significantly. She expressed confidence that Biden can bounce back from the debate setback.
Representative Jim Clyburn criticized the lack of fact-checking during the debate, pointing out numerous falsehoods from Trump that went unchallenged. He called for a more rigorous approach to holding candidates accountable for their statements.
Overall, Biden's allies have stood by him in the aftermath of the debate, emphasizing his strengths and resilience in the face of criticism.
