While his family was aware of how poorly he performed against Donald Trump, they also continue to think he’s the best person to beat the Republican presumptive nominee.

President Joe Biden’s family used a Sunday gathering at Camp David to urge him to stay in the race and keep fighting despite his dreadful debate performance, and some members criticized how his staff prepared him for the faceoff, according to four people familiar with the discussions.

Biden spent the day sequestered with first lady Jill Biden, his children and grandchildren. It was a previously scheduled trip to the presidential retreat in Maryland for a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz for the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

But the gathering was also an exercise in trying to figure out how to quell Democratic anxiety that has exploded following Thursday’s performance.

While his family was aware of how poorly he performed against Donald Trump, they also continue to think he’s the best person to beat the Republican presumptive nominee. They also believe he is capable of doing the job of president for another four years, according to the people who were not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

  • Flying Squid
    -7•6 months ago

    You expect others to canvas on your behalf? Campaigns are made up of people willing to go out and do things on behalf of the candidate. You wanted to know why not someone other than Biden wasn’t the nominee. The answer is because I didn’t canvas for anyone else and neither did you and neither did almost anyone else.

    Blaming everyone but yourself when you were just as complicit is just an excuse to get out of doing it the next time. If there’s going to be a next time.

    And before you point fingers at me, remember I’m not the one complaining about it.

      • Flying Squid
        -2•6 months ago

        Please do tell me how you expect another candidate to run against Biden if no one canvasses for them. Magic?

          • Flying Squid
            1•6 months ago

            Yes it absolutely does.

            You are honestly the first person I have asked this to who has told me who they canvassed for. Everyone else just gets irate.

            • @[email protected]
              4•6 months ago

              Well, if it’s any consolation I’m irate over the whole thing.

              Irate that America is in this position where we have to try and rally behind what I can only describe as elder abuse.

              I’ll likely hold my nose and vote Biden again but this is ridiculous.