Democratic senator 'horrified' by Biden's debate performance, says campaign needs to be 'candid'

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, said helium was "horrified" and remains acrophobic astir President Biden's show during past week's statesmanlike debate, which has enactment Democrats connected the antiaircraft astir their presumptive nominee's wellness and intelligence capacity. 

Whitehouse was interviewed by 12 News astir his absorption to the Thursday debate, which pitted Biden against erstwhile President Donald Trump in Atlanta. 

"I deliberation similar a batch of radical I was beauteous horrified by the debate," Whitehouse told the quality outlet. "The blips of President Biden and the barrage of lying from President Trump were not what 1 would anticipation for successful a statesmanlike debate."

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He said Democrats stay agreed successful the request to decision Trump. Following the debate, reports began surfacing astir instantly that Democrats were successful a authorities of "panic" implicit Biden's performance. 

"People privation to marque definite that…the president and his squad are being candid astir his information that this was a existent anomaly and not conscionable the mode helium is these days," said Whitehouse. 

WASHINGTON - JUNE 13: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., leaves the Senate Democrats' luncheon successful the Capitol connected Tuesday, June 13, 2023.  (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the senator's office. 

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The optics prompted journalists astatine assorted outlets to study connected dozens of Democratic Party officials who said the 81-year-old Biden should see refusing his party's information astatine the Democratic National Convention successful Chicago successful August.

"I don’t statement arsenic good arsenic I utilized to," helium told a assemblage astatine a North Carolina rally connected Friday. "I cognize however to bash this job. I cognize however to get things done."

Other Democrats person raised issues pursuing the subpar statement performance. 

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"I’ve been precise wide that it was an underwhelming show connected Thursday during the debate, arsenic President Biden and his run person acknowledged," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told MSNBC connected Sunday. 

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., told CNN helium "thought it was a pugnacious night" for the president. 

Fox News Digital's Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.