Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) warned that President Biden is running out of time to ease voters’ concerns about his age and ability following a lackluster debate performance last month.
Murphy said in a CNN “State of the Union” interview with Dana Bash on Sunday that the president must make significant progress in proving himself to voters by this week, or else consider leaving the race.
“I think the president needs to do more,” Murphy said. “I’m not advising this campaign, but if I were, I would probably suggest that the president get out there and do a town hall, then you do a press conference.”
“[Suggest] that he showed the country that he is still the old Joe Biden, one of the best retail politicians this country has ever seen. The president says he can do that. I trust that he can,” Murphy continued. “I think this week is going to be really critical for him to answer those remaining questions.”
In a prime-time interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday, Biden committed to staying in the race despite rising pressure from within his party. Murphy said he wants to give Biden a chance to prove himself, but noted that the interview may not be enough.
“Voters do have questions, and personally, I love Joe Biden. I don’t know that the interview on Friday night did enough to answer those questions,” he said. “And so, I think this week is going to be absolutely critical.”
Five Democrats in the House have called on Biden to leave the race, and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is reported to be organizing senators to do the same. Murphy did not say whether he supported Warner’s effort, but said Biden will soon be at a crossroads.
Biden needs to engage “in the kinds of interaction with voters that will prove to those that are skeptical out there that he can do the job,” Murphy said. “But if he can’t do that, then he’s got a decision to make about what the path forward is.”