Senator Murphy Questions Biden’s Cognitive Abilities and 2024 Candidacy
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has expressed his belief that there is “no doubt” former President Joe Biden has experienced cognitive decline during his time in office, suggesting that the Democratic Party would have fared better had he chosen not to seek reelection.
“There’s no doubt about it,” Murphy stated in an interview with POLITICO when asked about Biden’s cognitive state. “The real question is whether this decline has significantly impaired his capacity to fulfill his duties as chief executive.”
Murphy, who is often speculated to be a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race, elaborated on his views, indicating that Biden’s decision to run for a second term in 2024 could be seen as detrimental to the party’s prospects. “I mean, isn’t that self-evident? We lost,” he remarked with a hint of irony. “Clearly, in hindsight, we should have pursued a different path. While the odds were likely stacked against us regardless, it was evident that the electorate was craving change, and neither Biden nor Harris were positioned to deliver a compelling message of transformation.”
Interestingly, few Democrats have been as candid in critiquing Biden’s cognitive capabilities. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg suggested on Tuesday that Democrats might have been better off had Biden opted out of the race. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pointed out that if Biden were not committed to running, he should have withdrawn prior to the Democratic primary, as the timeframe left for former Vice President Kamala Harris to “introduce herself” to the electorate was alarmingly short.
As Biden reenters the national spotlight, the Democrats face increasing scrutiny regarding his age and cognitive health. He recently appeared on The View and is set to be the subject of an upcoming book by journalists who claim to document what they describe as the former president’s decline during his tenure in office.