Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, has added her voice to the growing chorus of Democrats expressing concern over President Biden’s fitness for the 2024 election. Murray, who is third in line for the presidency, issued a statement on Monday calling for Biden to demonstrate his ability to campaign effectively against Donald Trump. This statement comes after Murray defended Biden last month against a Wall Street Journal report detailing observations of Biden’s mental decline during meetings. The senator’s latest statement appears to contradict her previous defense of Biden. Murray acknowledged Biden’s accomplishments in his first term but emphasized the need for a more forceful and energetic campaign presence. She believes voters need convincing that Biden is up to the job. The senator’s recent call for Biden to prove his ability stands in stark contrast to her earlier criticism of the Wall Street Journal report. Murray had accused the publication of pushing a Republican agenda and asserted that Biden was fully engaged in a January meeting on Ukraine. She specifically denied being quoted in the WSJ report, questioning why her perspective was excluded. The Wall Street Journal’s report, based on sources who observed Biden in private meetings, detailed concerning behaviors, including speaking softly, relying heavily on notes, pausing for extended periods, and closing his eyes for prolonged lengths of time. Murray’s office declined to comment on the apparent contradiction between her previous defense and her current call for Biden to prove his fitness. Biden himself has attributed his performance in the first Republican debate to a bad night. He has not addressed the concerns raised by Murray or the Wall Street Journal report. It remains to be seen whether Biden will take action to address the concerns raised by his own party or if these concerns will ultimately impact his campaign.
Senator Murray Calls for Biden to Prove Fitness After Initial Defense
