Obama, Clinton try to rally support, patience for Biden in wake of debate debacle

President Joe Biden's startlingly bad debate performance has been the talk of cable news networks and the electorate in general since the moment the candidates departed the stage, and a host of prominent Democrats have since weighed in on what they think it all means.

In the days since the debacle unfolded, former President Barack Obama urged cooler heads to prevail in the wake of the incumbent's poor performance, and former President Bill Clinton also went over to the side advocating for grace with regard to the octogenarian's 2024 campaign, though his wife remained quiet on the matter, as CNBC reports.

Obama holds forth

Seemingly in response to Biden's alarming presentation on the debate stage, Obama took to X on Friday in what appeared to be an effort to assuage feelings of panic among Democrats.

The former president wrote, “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me I know.”

He continued, “But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who cares only 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.”

Acknowledging the concerns stoked by Thursday's on-stage scene, Obama then said, “Last night didn't change that, and it's why so much is at stake in November.”

Notably, Obama was not the only former occupant of the Oval Office to have a thought or two to share about Biden's predicament.

Clinton weighs in

It was not long before Bill Clinton added his voice to the chorus of support for Biden among certain segments of the party elite.

Also writing on X, Clinton mused, “I'll leave the debate rating to the pundits, but here's what I know: facts and history matter.”

The former president then went on to tell followers, “Joe Biden has given us 3 years of solid leadership, steadying us after the pandemic, creating a record number of new jobs, making real progress solving the climate crisis, and launching a successful effort in reducing inflation, all while pulling us out of the quagmire Donald Trump left us in.”

Joining those who want Americans to believe that Thursday night was an aberration or the result of a stroke of bad luck was first lady Jill Biden, who, after seeming to admit that her husband did not acquit himself well in his faceoff with Trump, cautioned against letting the event be a turning point in the election.

Mrs. Biden said she told the president, “Look Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that you've been president,” but unfortunately for all those hoping he wins a second term, it really is impossible to un-ring a bell and delete the evening's jarring images and soundbites from the minds of the American people.