Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) criticized President Biden’s campaign for its “dismissive attitude” toward the concerns of many Americans about his ability to lead after last week’s debate.
“I really do criticize the campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion. That’s just facing the reality that we’re in,” Welch told Semafor in an interview Monday.
Biden’s disastrous debate performance last Thursday raised alarm within the Democratic Party over his chances of beating former President Trump and leading the country for another term.
Welch argued that the discussion around Biden’s capabilities is one that “we have to have.”
“It has to be from the top levels of the Biden campaign to precinct captains in the southside of Chicago,” he told the outlet.
Biden’s performance sparked panic among Democrats, with some calling on the president to step down. The White House and Biden campaign have insisted the president will stay in the race and no national official has publicly joined the calls for Biden to step aside.
Biden sought to tame worries in an energetic speech in North Carolina, and gave a brief address Monday night responding to the Supreme Court granting broad immunity to former President Trump in his Jan. 6 case.
His reelection campaign spent much of the weekend trying to calm party leaders’ and donors nerves and convince them supporters are strengthened after the debate.
The Vermont senator argued that Biden’s campaign has questioned its candidates’ own abilities at times. “So then to be dismissive of others who raise those concerns, I think it’s inappropriate,” he said.
Welch said the Democratic Party has an “existential responsibility” to its voters to keep Trump from securing a second term.
After the Supreme Court’s Monday ruling that a president can be immune from prosecution for official acts taken in office, Biden warned that Trump will be “even more emboldened” to do whatever he wants.
Welch said the ruling underscores the need for the Democratic Party to have a candid conversation about Biden leading the ticket.
“We all have to be acutely aware that our obligation is to the country, even more than the party. That’s the obligation we have — what’s best for the country,” he said.
