Despite debate struggles, NC Democrats say they still back Biden

As President Joe Biden arrived in North Carolina to rally supporters Thursday, North Carolina Democrats say they’re standing by their candidate as he fends off criticism over a poor debate performance against Republican former President Donald Trump.

Calls and emails to more than a dozen local and state Democratic leaders, donors and strategists by reporters at The News & Observer went largely unanswered Thursday as Biden prepared to take the stage in Raleigh.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, for example, who is running for North Carolina attorney general, had no comment when reached by a reporter Thursday.

But those who did speak with the N&O said the president’s performance did not shake their faith in his ability to lead. And a mix of Democratic leaders on the state and local level appeared alongside the president as he arrived in North Carolina and were in the crowd or rallied the audience in advance of the speech.

Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue and a gaggle of mayors, city councilors and county commissioners were among the supporters when the Bidens arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport just before 2 a.m. Friday.

Several drew a sharp contrast between his appearance in the pre-dawn hours with that of his debate performance just hours before.

“It was like night and day,” Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams told The N&O in a phone interview Friday. “The energy he had on the Tarmac, the energy he had at the watch parties is the energy I wish he had on stage.”

Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton was among the first to greet the president at the airport. He said Biden was “energetic and engaged” and spent around 30 minutes talking with supporters.

“He did not look like someone who was tired,” Melton said. “I felt and probably looked more tired than he did.”

Debate left supporters wanting

Melton acknowledged that the debate was not Biden’s best performance and that he got off to a particularly “slow start.”

“But I think the content of his answers was good,” Melton said. “You can tell he cares about the American people, he cares about his job and he has a clear vision for what the next four years will look like.”

He contrasted the president’s performance with Trump’s, which he characterizes as mostly “lies and gaslighting.”

Citing post-debate comments from Vice President Kamala Harris, Melton said he agreed with her that it’s important to look outside the 90-minute debate to what Biden has accomplished in his three and a half years in office.

“I would hope that any undecided voters would be taking into account the entire term of his presidency, which has been really very effective‚ particularly considering the mess he was handed when he started,” Melton said.

And he dismissed criticisms of the president’s age. Given that his opponent is just three years younger, the age difference is “splitting hairs.” What’s more important, he said, is the candidates’ character and where they stand on the issues.

“The fact that Donald Trump would not disavow Jan. 6, the fact that he would not give a clear answer on women’s rights to health care, he wouldn’t give a clear answer on child care — these are really important issues to voters,” Melton said. “Donald Trump has shown us where he stands, and it’s not with the American people.

While waiting in a watch line for Friday’s rally, Williams told The N&O he remains committed to Biden’s campaign, despite calls for him to step aside. And he summed up the debate as “a binary of fact versus foolery.”

“There’s been a lot of noise and chatter about Biden’s fitness for office. I don’t think that’s helpful,” Williams said. “The real story is what is good and not good for the American people.”

Melton said he does believe the Democratic Party needs to cultivate new leadership — and that people his age should step forward. But “that’s not the issue for today.”

“I think the most important aspect of this election is ensuring that Donald Trump does not return to the White House,” he said. “President Biden has beaten him once. I believe he can beat him again.”

Republicans react

North Carolina Republicans meanwhile, seized the opportunity to intensify criticism of the president.

“America saw the real Joe Biden last night: a weak, failed, dishonest man who has no business leading our country for the next fours months, let alone the next four years,” NC GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer said in a statement. “Today in Raleigh, Democrats must confront the fact their nominee for president is wrong on policy, wrong on facts, and simply the wrong choice for a strong America.”

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who formerly chaired the state party, said in a statement that Biden’s “weak performance” at the debate means he has no chance of winning the Tar Heel State.

“And a rally won’t repair the damage done to his flailing campaign on the world stage,” Whatley said in a statement. “The entire country, including my home state, knows that President Trump is the best candidate whose America First policies will make us great again.”

The N&O’s Danielle Battaglia and Avi Bajpai contributed reporting.