Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) mustered up a dodge that only a politician could on Sunday when confronted about President Joe Biden’s dismal polling.
Despite former President Donald Trump facing an onslaught of legal issues with three indictments, polls show that Biden and Trump remain in a statistical tie among voters when asked about a possible 2024 rematch. On Sunday, NBC News anchor Chuck Todd confronted Raskin about that political reality.
“Why do you think a thrice-indicted former president is neck-and-neck with the current president?” Todd asked.
Raskin called the inquiry a “great question” — an odd description considering the premise of the question shows Biden is politically weak — and then dodged it completely, trying in the process to use Abraham Lincoln to slam Trump.
“It’s a great question. I wish that Lincoln were around to pose it to him, because it’s his political party that they’ve dragged into the mud here,” Raskin responded.
“I mean, that was a pro-freedom, anti-slavery, anti-Know-Nothing, pro-immigration party — and now it’s become a cult of authoritarian personality,” he continued. “And, you know, even the candidates running against Trump dare not challenge his clear betrayals of his constitutional oath.”
The Maryland Democrat used the rest of the interview to prosecute publicly the case that special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump for last week. He did not answer the question, and Todd, unfortunately, did not press Raskin further.
Full Raskin: Trump lawyer offers a ‘deranged argument’ in Trump defenseyoutu.be
While Raskin refused to address Biden’s political weaknesses, his colleague, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), had no qualms about broaching the subject.
On Sunday, Phillips urged Democrats to primary Biden, citing polling that shows a majority of Democratic voters would prefer their party nominate a candidate for president who is not Biden.
“If we don’t heed that call, shame on us,” Phillips said. “And the consequences, I believe, are going to be disastrous.
“So, my call is to those who are well positioned, well prepared, of good character and competency — they know who they are — to jump in because Democrats and the country need competition. It makes everything better,” he added.
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