Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., spilled the beans recently, suggesting that former President Joe Biden should have thrown in the towel on his presidential run much earlier. Murphy was quoted saying that without a doubt, the Democratic Party would have been better off if Biden had made his exit sooner. In an interview with NBC “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker, Murphy expressed his hindsight views on the matter, stating, “Obviously, in retrospect, the president should have gotten out of the race earlier. There’s no doubt that the Democratic Party would have been better served by having the ability to have an open primary.”
Biden’s abrupt departure from the presidential race in July 2024 came shortly after a dismal debate performance against now-President Donald Trump. The debate left Biden looking confused and flustered, prompting his decision to step down. With less than four months left to campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris swiftly stepped in as the nominee. The timing of Biden’s exit and Harris taking over the reins raised questions about the Democratic Party’s strategy for the upcoming election.
The scrutiny surrounding Biden’s cognitive abilities intensified with the release of CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Politico reporter Alex Thompson’s book, “Original Sin.” The book shed light on the president’s alleged cognitive decline, with recordings surfacing of Biden’s Oct. 2023 testimony to Special Counsel Robert Hur, where he struggled to recall significant details. Despite the mounting evidence, Murphy defended Biden’s emotional struggle with the topic, stating that it was unfair to judge the former president solely based on that recording. However, the senator acknowledged the voters’ desire for a different candidate in 2024, indicating a clear shift in public sentiment.
