A Biden campaign staffer interrupted interviews between a New York Times reporter and voters at a Las Vegas rally when comments critical of President Biden were made.
According to Fox News, the incident follows criticism of Biden’s debate performance against former President Trump, with calls for him to step aside from the 2024 presidential race.
Simon Levien, a New York Times politics fellow, was reporting from a Las Vegas rally for Vice President Kamala Harris. A Nevada Biden campaign staffer followed Levien as he was speaking with voters and asked them to end their interviews when critical comments about Biden were made.
One undecided voter, Stephen Stubbs, expressed a wish for Biden to step aside for Harris. The staffer interrupted, stating: "I’m going to stop it here, sorry, if I can. It’s a Biden event. Is that okay?" Levien asked the staffer why she interrupted, and she replied she was "just doing her job."
The incident occurred one day after the CNN Presidential Debate between Biden and Trump in Atlanta. Biden has faced significant criticism for his debate performance. The New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial boards have called on Biden to exit the 2024 race.
The Biden campaign confirmed that the president has no plans to withdraw from the race and remains committed to a second debate in September. Biden acknowledged his poor debate performance at a rally in North Carolina, admitting he is "not a young man."
Biden received a wave of criticism following his debate performance. Editorials from major publications called for Biden to step aside from the 2024 race.
Biden spoke at a post-debate rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 28, 2024. He addressed his debate performance, acknowledging his age and physical limitations. Biden told supporters:
I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t talk as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job; I know how to get things done. And I know what millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up.
The Times' editorial board criticized Biden's debate performance, stating:
At Thursday’s debate, the president needed to convince the American public that he was equal to the formidable demands of the office he is seeking to hold for another term. Voters, however, cannot be expected to ignore what was instead plain to see: Mr. Biden is not the man he was four years ago.
The editorial continued, highlighting Biden’s struggles during the debate. "The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trump’s provocations. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence."
The editorial board praised Biden's presidency but suggested that stepping down would be his greatest public service. "Mr. Biden has been an admirable president. Under his leadership, the nation has prospered and begun to address a range of long-term challenges, and the wounds ripped open by Mr. Trump have begun to heal. But the greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election."
Despite the criticism, the Biden campaign remains steadfast in its commitment to the race. The campaign confirmed to Fox News that Biden has no plans to withdraw and is preparing for a second debate in September.
In conclusion, a Biden campaign staffer intervened during voter interviews critical of President Biden at a Las Vegas rally, reflecting the heightened scrutiny following Biden’s debated performance against Trump. With major publications calling for Biden to step aside, the president’s campaign remains committed to the race despite acknowledging the challenges posed by his age and recent criticism. How Biden navigates these issues will be pivotal as the 2024 election approaches.
