Former White House Chief of Staff conveys to congressional aides that Clinton and Sullivan voiced concern over Biden's declining popularity
Hillary Clinton and Jake Sullivan, two prominent Democrats, expressed concerns about Joe Biden's political viability as early as 2023, according to Ron Klain, Biden's former chief of staff. These concerns were raised before Biden ended his 2024 presidential campaign in July 2024.
Clinton warned that the Biden campaign was not succeeding in handling the issue of Biden's age during the 2023 campaign season. Sullivan expressed that Biden was "less effective in 2024 compared to 2022" and noted Biden was "losing support" especially after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump.
Klain, who defended Biden's mental sharpness, said both Clinton and Sullivan conveyed to him privately that they believed Biden was not politically viable by 2024. It is unclear if their concerns were directly about Biden’s cognitive abilities or related more broadly to his campaign effectiveness and public image.
These concerns were significant because they came from top Democrats months before Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024. Clinton’s spokesperson confirmed her worry about how the campaign was handling the age-related questions and attacks. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sullivan denied that he had discussed Biden's re-election plans with Klain before the September 2024 debate.
Republican members of the House Oversight Committee interpreted Klain’s testimony as evidence that Biden’s inner circle knew about possible declines in his political performance but did not disclose that to the public, fueling ongoing investigations into Biden’s fitness and transparency about his health.
In summary, the concerns raised by Clinton and Sullivan to Klain centered on:
- Biden’s political viability and campaign effectiveness in 2023–2024
- The campaign’s struggles with managing age-related attacks
- Observations of Biden being less effective or energetic by 2024, particularly after a poor debate showing
- Doubts expressed well before Biden suspended his re-election effort in July 2024.
Following the disastrous CNN debate, Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, making way for Kamala Harris to assume the Democratic nomination. Hillary Clinton was among the high-profile Democrats who supported Harris after Biden stepped aside.
The book "Original Sin" suggests that Biden, in the final two years of his presidency, had private moments where he could not recall the names of top aides. The book also states that Biden, his family, and his team let their self-interest and fear of another Trump term justify an attempt to put an at times addled old man in the Oval Office for four more years.
Klain told staffers he believed that Biden had the mental sharpness to serve as president, but acknowledged that Biden was less energetic and more forgetful. Clinton's spokesman did not dispute Klain's account, but stated that Clinton was concerned with how the question of Biden's age was being handled politically in light of the attacks and questions he was facing.
- The media buzzed with discussions about Joe Biden's political future in 2023, as Hillary Clinton and Jake Sullivan voiced worries.
- Their concerns regarding Biden's political viability dated back to months before he ended his 2024 presidential campaign in July.
- Clinton was troubled by the campaign's handling of Biden's age during the 2023 season.
- Sullivan felt Biden was less effective in 2024 compared to 2022, especially after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump.
- Klain, Biden's former chief of staff, confirmed these concerns were shared privately.
- It remains unclear if concerns were directly about cognitive abilities or broader campaign effectiveness and public image.
- Republicans on the House Oversight Committee viewed Klain’s testimony as evidence of hidden declines in Biden’s political performance.
- This fueled ongoing investigations into Biden’s fitness and transparency about his health.
- Clinton and Sullivan's concerns centered on Biden’s political viability, campaign effectiveness from 2023–2024, struggles with managing age-related attacks, and observations of less effectiveness or energy by 2024.
- Following a disastrous CNN debate, Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
- Kamala Harris assumed the Democratic nomination after Biden's exit.
- Clinton, among other high-profile Democrats, publicly supported Harris after Biden stepped aside.
- The book "Original Sin" details Biden's private moments of forgetfulness during the final two years of his presidency.
- It also suggests that self-interest and fear of another Trump term led Biden, his family, and his team to pursue putting an at times addled old man in the Oval Office for four more years.
- Klain assured staffers that Biden had the mental sharpness to serve as president.
- However, he also acknowledged Biden was less energetic and more forgetful.
- Clinton's spokesman did not challenge Klain's account, but emphasized concerns with how the question of Biden's age was being politically addressed, given the attacks and questions.
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