Barack Obama concerned about Joe Biden’s re-election bid after shaky debate: Report

Former US President Barack Obama privately told allies that President Joe Biden’s re-election bid grew more challenging after the latter’s rocky debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump on June 28, according to a report by The Washington Post.

Obama, who has rallied behind his former vice-president Joe Biden in his re-election bid, also spoke to him after the June 28 presidential debate. The report comes amid growing discontent among the Democrats over Biden’s debate performance and his concerns over his health.

Biden’s verbal stumbles and occasionally meandering responses in the debate on Thursday heightened voter concerns that he might not be fit to serve another four-year term.

After the debate, Barack Obama came out in support of Biden, saying the President remains in the race despite a “bad debate night”.

“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth, who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November,” Obama said.

Earlier this year, Obama has shared his concerns with Biden about the difficulties the latter’s re-election bid may face. According to a Washington Post report`in January, Obama suggested to Biden’s advisers that the campaign needs more top-level decision-makers at its headquarters or it must empower the people already in place.

Obama also recommended that Biden seek counsel from his own former campaign aides, who helped during his re-election bid in 2012, according to the report.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, one in three Democrats think Biden should end his re-election bid following last week’s debate against Trump. However, no prominent elected Democrat does any better than Biden in a hypothetical matchup against Trump, the poll suggests.

Biden, 81, meanwhile, was huddling with family members at the Camp David presidential retreat. While the Camp David trip had been planned for months, the timing and circumstances of Biden being surrounded by family members who have weighed heavily in his past decisions to run for the presidency have added to the scrutiny around the visit.