Democrats had to contend with a whirlwind of chaos on Capitol Hill on Friday, as many were left disappointed by President Biden’s debate performance on Thursday night.
“I think the emotions of the night were basically frustration, anger and, ultimately, panic,” one House Democrat, who was asked to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital.
“Now, with that premise, where do we go? Obviously, there There are conversations I believe this needs to happen at all levels, understanding that this isn’t just about the presidency, it’s about down-ballot positions.”
Democratic lawmakers appeared nervous Friday morning as hordes of reporters pursued even typically low-profile members for comment on the debate. Several declined to speak to Fox News Digital about the contest, even on the condition of anonymity.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries gave a cryptic answer when asked if President Biden is the best candidate for the White House. (Getty Images)
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., looked tired and did not answer a reporter’s question about whether Biden is the party’s most effective messenger.
Instead he said, “As I understand it, President Biden is scheduled to speak in North Carolina today around noon. I look forward to hearing from President Biden. And until he lays out a path forward in terms of his vision for America at this point, I’m going to refrain from commenting on anything about where we are at this point, other than to say that I stand behind the ticket.”
A second unnamed House Democrat, who is tired of the process in general but who did not watch the debate, told Fox News Digital, “I’m hearing everybody panicking and talking crap, but debate of the day And age is stupid. Tell me what was the last debate you enjoyed watching and learned something from?”
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“I’d bet most Americans wouldn’t consider these two old guys as their only options,” the Democrat said.
A senior House Democratic aide compared the atmosphere on Capitol Hill to the feelings that gripped Republicans after former President Trump made a major mistake during his administration.
“Coming to work absolutely terrified, knowing that everybody’s going to be after you, and knowing that you’re not going to have anything nice to say,” the assistant said.
President Biden and former President Trump debated on Thursday night. (Getty Images)
Biden often appeared tired and unfocused during the 90-minute encounter with Trump. At one point, Trump shot back, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
This added fuel to long-standing concerns that Biden’s mental acuity has declined with age, while his Republican opponent is just three years younger than him.
A veteran Democratic Party activist said lawmakers he spoke to were concerned about the debate.
“I’m hearing a sense of frustration from people, because this was a moment we could have taken advantage of, but we missed it. Then there’s the panicked reactions, like how do we fix this? What do we do? That’s the main topic of discussion right now,” the Fox News Digital operative told Fox News Digital.
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Even Democrats reluctantly acknowledged that Biden’s performance was below expectations, but they were quick to insist that the election was about much more than a poor showing.
“The presidential debate night did not go very well. That much is clear. But, you know, this is more than just a debate performance, but a threat to the future and existence of America.” Donald Trump “This is a grave threat to Americans and to our national security,” Democratic-Colorado Rep. Jason Crow told reporters.
“I think he had a bad night … a bad debate,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Meeks still said Biden is “the right person at the right time to do this job.”
Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was a “terrible” night for Biden. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, others in the Democratic field expressed frustration with fellow leftists — particularly media pundits — who were going public with their concerns about Biden’s debate performance.
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“For those who are worried, it’s time to worry less and get to work,” Joel Rubin, a Democratic strategist and former Obama administration deputy assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs in the House, told Fox News Digital in a brief interview in response to concerns raised anonymously.
“There’s still more than four months to go, and the Democratic Party becomes adept at self-deprecation at times like this, and we saw that in full effect today. But winning this election isn’t just about one candidate being anointed from heaven … it’s about the entire infrastructure of the Democratic and progressive community organizing voters.”
“I mean, just because the president had a tough night doesn’t mean he’s not up to the job and we should stay home and stop fighting for him. He’s earned our support. One night of bad performance can’t undo three and a half years of extraordinary accomplishments,” Rubin said.
