Obama Backs Biden, Giving Lifeline to Geriatric Campaign

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Former President Barack Obama expressed his confidence in President Joe Biden on Friday, one day after a disastrous debate performance spurred many Democrats to suggest that Biden should drop out of the presidential race.

“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know,” began Obama. “But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares 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. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November. http://joebiden.com.”

Obama’s opening lines would appear to be a reference to his performance in his first debate with Mitt Romney in 2012, which was widely panned.

Biden struggled mightily in Thursday night’s showdown with Donald Trump , prompting many in the Democratic Party and media to float the idea of replacing Biden atop the Democratic ticket.

“I think this is something he needs to consider and those around him need to consider: What does he want his legacy to be?” mused CNN’s David Axelrod , the architect of Obama’s successful presidential campaigns on earlier Friday afternoon.

“If he then becomes a vehicle by which a very unpopular Donald Trump, who, by the way, did not do particularly well last night, becomes president again, what does that do to his legacy?” he asked provocatively.

Even MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough , a stalwart Biden defender, said he feared that “unless things change” Trump would retake the presidency on Friday morning.

Still, Obama’s vote of confidence will should come as relief to the embattled president, who by all indications fully intends on remaining in the race until the bitter end.