Sen. Patty Murray says Biden 'needs to do more' to prove he can beat Trump

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, said Monday that President Joe Biden has yet to prove he is up to the task of defeating Republican rival Donald Trump, suggesting the incumbent Democrat should consider dropping out of the 2024 race to “preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future.”

“More than a week after the debate, and after speaking with my constituents, I believe President Biden must do more to demonstrate that he can campaign hard enough to defeat Donald Trump,” Murray, a six-term Senate veteran who serves as the chamber’s president pro tempore, said in a statement.

Murray, who served alongside Biden when he was a U.S. senator, said she had “a deep appreciation and respect for Joe” and believed he had “a historic first term as president.”

“We need to see a much more energetic and forceful candidate campaigning in the very near future so that he can convince voters that he is up to the task. At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider how best to preserve and build on his incredible legacy.”

Murray’s statement stopped short of calling on Biden to withdraw from the race, but it remains one of the most critical statements by a Democratic U.S. senator toward the 81-year-old Biden since Biden’s disastrous debate nearly two weeks ago. Six House Democrats have publicly called on Biden to withdraw from the race, but no Democratic senator has gone that far.

Murray said the Democratic nominee must be able to articulate the party’s accomplishments and make its case against Trump, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee for 2024.

“There is such a strong case to be made against Donald Trump — President Biden must lead the charge to do so,” Murray said. “With so much at stake, the American people need to understand how serious a threat a second Trump presidency would be to our democracy, our fundamental freedoms and their livelihoods.”

“Equally important, our nominee must be able to articulate what Democrats have accomplished and what we will do to improve the lives of American families and protect their freedoms – like making child care affordable and accessible for parents everywhere and restoring abortion rights for women in all 50 states.”

Biden has repeatedly said he has no plans to abandon the election, calling those who want him out “elites” and saying Democratic voters have already decided the party’s nomination in the primary process.

Contact Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.