Rep. Jim Clyburn, a pivotal figure in President Joe Biden’s 2020 nomination, addressed Biden’s subpar debate performance on Thursday, attributing it to “preparation overload.” Clyburn discussed the issue on CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Dana Bash.
Clyburn’s Assessment of Biden’s Debate Performance
Clyburn candidly acknowledged the poor performance, explaining it as a result of excessive preparation. “It was a bad performance. I’ve been around these things. I’ve been a part of debate preparation before, and I know when I see what I call preparation overload,” he said. According to Clyburn, Biden appeared to struggle with remembering prepared words, phrases, and numbers during the debate. He noted, “That’s exactly what was going on the other night.”
Contrast with Biden’s Rally in North Carolina
Clyburn highlighted Biden’s contrasting demeanor during a rally in North Carolina the following day. “The next day, he gets to North Carolina. He’s freewheeling and he captivated the audience,” he said. Despite Dana Bash pointing out that Biden used a teleprompter at the rally, Clyburn maintained that the President appeared more at ease and effective in that setting.
Criticism of Debate Format and Fact-Checking
Clyburn also criticized CNN for not fact-checking former President Donald Trump during the debate. “The debate I think it all depends upon what the rules are. I don’t like the debate where nobody will do any fact-checking. You just say what you want to say, you know it’s a lie — the guy told 30 some odd lies and nobody checked him on it,” he argued. Clyburn suggested that the responsibility of fact-checking should not rest solely on Biden.
Reflection on Biden’s Presidency
Despite the debate performance, Clyburn emphasized Biden’s successful tenure as President. “It was a bad night for Biden but has been a great four years for the president,” he stated. Clyburn underscored the need to consider the broader context of Biden’s presidency rather than focusing solely on a single debate performance.
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