‘President Biden is our candidate’: What the Centre County Dems chair said after the debate
In the wake of Thursday night’s presidential debate — one in which President Joe Biden was heavily criticized for his performance — some Democrats have reportedly called for the 81-year-old politician to step aside. But, at least locally and statewide, Dems continue to publicly support whom they see as the better candidate.
Count Margie Swoboda, chair of the Centre County Democratic Committee, among them.
“I find it interesting that you are asking if a president should step down based on one performance,” Swoboda told the CDT in a written statement. “Why are you not asking if Trump — a convicted felon, a pathological liar, an insurrectionist, a person who promises to be a dictator and fantasizes about retribution ... should step down? Why are these candidates held to such vastly different standards?
“President Biden is our candidate.”
The Centre Daily Times reached out to the leaders of the county Democrats and the Centre County Republican Committee on Friday morning for their respective takes on the presidential debate. They were emailed simultaneously, with the same three questions, at both the chair’s and overall group’s email addresses.
To ensure an equal opportunity to respond, a follow-up call and message were left within the same 5-minute window at both parties’ respective headquarters. Both chairs were given a 4 p.m. deadline. County Republicans chair Michelle Schellberg did not respond before the publication of this story.
The Democrats’ Swoboda highlighted the difference in the two candidates’ approaches.
“This was not a debate! Trump spewed out so many fast-firing lies, non-sequiturs and specious arguments that it was impossible to fact-check or rebut them in the amount of time it took to say them,” she said. “President Biden operated in good faith during the entire night and Trump operated in a world of lies and fantasies and was never fact-checked. It was malpractice to agree not to fact-check when one of the candidates is such a prolific liar.”
The Washington Post outlined “dozens of false claims” made by Trump in a sizable fact-check, including the misleading assertion that doctors are intentionally killing some babies after birth. CNN, which hosted the debate, reported more than 30 such false claims made by Trump. (The Post reported Biden also made “a few.”)
But, fair or not, Biden’s early hiccups — which included losing his train of thought — are what most appeared to capture viewers’ attention. Trump was Trump and, to many, Biden didn’t appear himself — even if his campaign told reporters he was battling a cold.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was in Philipsburg earlier this week, acknowledged to CNN on Friday morning that Biden had a “bad night.” But, like Swoboda, he reiterated that Biden is the nominee.
And, even if Biden didn’t boast a great performance, “it doesn’t change the fact Donald Trump was a bad president,” Shapiro added.
Swoboda shared a similar sentiment, explaining a 90-minute debate shouldn’t erase a track record that spans years. She touted Biden’s accomplishments such as the creation of 15.6 million jobs, gun safety legislation, lowered prescription drug prices and infrastructure improvements.
“During the past three years, President Biden was able to build alliances and moved America forward with significant signed legislation and rebuilt our alliances across the globe,” Swoboda said. “He is a true American statesman.
“As president, he looked after the health and safety of all Americans both home and abroad. We should not look at just 90 minutes of his presidency, but rather we should look at the three and a half years that Joe Biden has been president. ... We must all continue to support and work hard to make sure that America remains a democracy, and that means voting for Joe Biden.”
