Fmr top Dems rally behind Biden amid dropout calls, claim debate performance was due to 'preparation overload'

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and erstwhile House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., rallied down President Biden during tv appearances Sunday, saying helium should stay successful the contention contempt his disastrous statement performance.

The lawmakers admitted during appearances connected CNN's "State of the Union" that Biden had a "bad night" Thursday, but some rejected the increasing calls for him to driblet retired of the race. Pelosi claimed helium lone struggled owed to erstwhile President Trump's on-stage "lies," portion Clyburn argued his mediocre show was simply owed to "preparation overload."

CNN big Dana Bash opened her interrogation with Pelosi by citing a canvass showing that 72% of Americans judge Biden is nary longer mentally susceptible of holding office.

"Well, what bash they deliberation astir the different guy?" Pelosi asked of voters. "Do they deliberation that helium has the integrity to beryllium president aft that performance? Let america not marque a judgement astir a presidency based connected 1 debate."

BIDEN'S INNER CIRCLE SILENT AS PARTY REELS FOLLOWING ‘EMBARRASSING’ DEBATE PERFORMANCE

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. James Clyburn rallied down President Biden during TV appearances Sunday, saying helium should stay successful the contention contempt his disastrous statement performance. (Getty Images)

"The information is, the absorption to the lies of Donald Trump is thing that… radical are focusing on, and to person a statement wherever you person to walk fractional your clip negating what helium said due to the fact that helium knows thing astir the truth," she added. "On 1 broadside of the surface you person integrity and connected 1 broadside you person dishonesty."

Clyburn, who was the House adjunct Democratic person until past year, besides brushed disconnected Biden's embarrassing statement successful his interrogation with Bash, saying helium has afloat assurance that Biden tin some beat Trump successful November and service arsenic the person of the escaped satellite for 4 much years.

BIDEN DEBATE DEBACLE: 10 EYE-OPENING MEDIA RESPONSES, FROM MSNBC PANIC TO ‘THE VIEW’ CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT

"I bash not judge that Joe Biden has a occupation starring for the adjacent 4 years, due to the fact that he's done a large occupation of starring for the past 3 years," helium said. "Joe Biden should proceed to tally connected his record."

Clyburn besides brushed disconnected Biden's embarrassing debate, saying helium has afloat assurance that Biden tin some bushed Trump successful November and service arsenic the person of the escaped satellite for 4 much years. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Clyburn went connected to admit that Biden had a "bad performance" connected Thursday, but offered his ain mentation for wherefore it happened.

BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRATS LEAVE BIDEN HIGH AND DRY AFTER ‘DISASTROUS’ DEBATE PERFORMANCE

"I've been astir these things. I've been a portion of statement mentation before, and I cognize erstwhile I spot what I telephone mentation overload," helium said. "That's precisely what was going connected the different night. I saw Joe Biden grappling for words and phrases and adjacent numbers that helium was loaded up with. But contiguous helium arrived successful North Carolina, helium was freewheeling and helium captivated the audience."

Biden has faced increasing calls to driblet retired of the statesmanlike contention aft his show connected Thursday. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Biden has faced increasing calls to driblet retired of the statesmanlike contention aft his show connected Thursday. The New York Times editorial committee argued that him staying successful the contention would beryllium a "reckless gamble." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial committee made a akin argument, calling connected Biden to driblet retired "for the bully of the nation."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

So far, the ceremonial unit connected Biden to driblet retired has each been external, however. Like Pelosi and Clyburn, apical Democrats successful Congress and crossed the state stay publically supportive of his statesmanlike bid.