Pritzker stands by Biden as others show concern
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — As more Democrats call on President Joe Biden to abandon his campaign, Governor J.B. Pritzker is sticking by his candidate.
“Joe Biden is our nominee,” Pritzker said. “I am for Joe Biden. I’ve been campaigning for Joe Biden.”
Pritzker defended president Joe Biden’s record, despite the many speedbumps the campaign has hit.
“I think obviously the President had a bad performance in the debate,” Pritzker said. “That doesn’t help anybody. He knows that, and what you have to do is stand up say, I didn’t do it well, which I think he said, and prove people wrong about what they want to say about it. And he’s doing that.”
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Biden’s debate performance has led many in his own party to question his ability to win in November. Biden met with Pritzker and other democratic governors last week, and Pritzker said he had some advice.
“I said you got to get out there and talk to the American public more,” Pritzker said. “It was important. I think they took too long. I think he admitted this to after the debate, for him to really go out and do press that would get national attention.”
Multiple democrats have called on President Biden to step aside and let another candidate run, including Illinois democratic congressman Mike Quigley.
“The fighting spirit and pride and courage that served the country so well four years ago, that helped Joe Biden win, will bring the ticket down this time. He just has to step down,” Quigley (D-5) told the AP. “He can’t win.”
Even Senator Dick Durbin made it clear he has concerns about President Biden’s ability.
“Of course I do, and I think he is trying to address those by the style and the nature of his campaign,” Durbin told the AP. “I think he is aware of the fact that what happened at that debate was disastrous.”
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Pritzker said those concerns are warranted, and it’s on Biden to ease them.
“You’ve seen a lot of comments by congresspeople, by others who have questions,” Pritzker said. “In the end, everybody understands that we’re pulling together to put our party and our party’s nominee and our issues over the line.”
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski also said she is supporting Biden.
“During his first term, President Biden has repeatedly delivered results for communities in Central and Southern Illinois,” Budzinski said in a statement. “He won the Democratic primary, he is our party’s presumptive nominee and he has made it clear that he will stay in the race for the Presidency. I’ll continue to stand with President Biden as we fight to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.”
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