CNN’s Jake Tapper: ‘Biden Appeared Quite Confused’ in Recent Interview
By Jake Beardslee ·
July 18, 2024
President Joe Biden's re-election campaign is facing mounting challenges as new polls show him losing ground to former President Donald Trump in key battleground states. The situation has prompted increasing calls from within the Democratic Party for Biden to consider stepping aside. The White House / Wikimedia
CNN's Jake Tapper reported on a controversial plan by the Democratic National Committee to virtually nominate Biden before the official convention in Chicago next month. This move comes despite growing concerns from Democratic officials, donors, and voters about Biden's viability as a candidate. nrkbeta / Wikimedia
Commenting on Biden's recent interview with Speedy Morman on "360 with Speedy," Tapper said, "The president's performance will no doubt do little, however, to calm anxious Democrats because there were, as we've seen for quite some time now, moments where President Biden appeared quite confused." nrkbeta / Wikimedia
Recent polling funded by Democratic donors has revealed Biden trailing Trump in 14 key states, including traditional Democratic strongholds like Colorado, Minnesota, and Virginia. Adding to the party's worries, the same polls showed other prominent Democrats performing better against Trump in hypothetical matchups. The White House / Wikimedia
Kate Bedingfield, former Biden White House communications director, in conversation with Tapper, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "There's no question this is not a great state of play for the Biden campaign," she said. Bedingfield suggested a change in messaging strategy, urging Biden to focus on his ability to mount a comeback rather than denying the current polling data. The White House / Wikimedia
The pressure on Biden intensified with Congressman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat running for Senate, becoming the 20th Congressional Democrat to call for Biden to step down. CNN analyst Manu Raju characterized Schiff's announcement as "very significant," noting his high profile and influence within the party. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia
Further complicating matters, reports emerged of a heated phone call between Biden and moderate House Democrats. According to Jeff Zeleny of CNN, representatives Jason Crow and Chrissy Houlahan expressed doubts about Biden's ability to win. Crow, a military veteran, reportedly pressed Biden on national security issues, prompting a forceful response from the President. The White House / Wikimedia
As the Democratic Party grapples with these challenges, questions remain about how party leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer will navigate the growing calls for a change at the top of the ticket. Maryland GovPics / Wikimedia
