Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) reiterated his support for President Joe Biden to continue campaigning in the 2024 election on Friday, as some members of the Democratic party have called for the president to step aside from the race.
Clyburn, 83, said on TODAY July 12 that Biden's performance at a press conference on Thursday evening was normal for someone who has a stutter.
"Those of us who are real close watchers of Joe Biden, we do know that he sometimes mangles words and phrases. But all of that is almost natural for people who grew up stuttering, and they do focus a little more," Clyburn said. "And when you focus a little more, you tend to lose the flow."
TODAY's Craig Melvin clarified that what the world has seen from the president in the past few weeks must be more than a stutter, and Clyburn replied that Biden is "still working to overcome the stuttering of his childhood."
"I've been around that condition for a long time, and I know exactly how it operates, but he has one of the best minds that I've ever been around," Clyburn explained. "The people who've been around him will tell you that, and so I would hope that we will focus on the substance of this man, rather than these sometimes misspoken words and phrases, and how he has run this country."
Following analysis from Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker after Clyburn's interview with Craig, Clyburn told TODAY's Savannah Guthrie that he takes Biden "at his word" on his decision to stay in the race.
"That's why I'm all in, I'm riding with Biden, no matter what direction he goes, no matter what method he takes, I'm with Joe Biden," Clyburn said. "And if he were to change his mind, I just answered the question that I will be all in for the vice president."
Clyburn's declaration of unwavering support for Biden came after Craig suggested a hypothetical scenario in which Biden stepped down, leaving the door open for Vice President Kamala Harris. The TODAY host asked the congressman if he would show the same support for Biden's second-in-command.
"Absolutely, no question about that," he said. "She has acquitted herself well in the job as vice president, and he never would have picked her in the first place if he didn't think that she was capable of being president. I think that she's demonstrated, especially in these recent weeks, when all of this microscope has been focused on her and him, and she has acquitted himself famously."
Biden, 81, has faced calls to withdraw from the race following his performance at a June debate against former President Donald Trump. At least 17 Democrats, including Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), have called on Biden to step aside.
The conversation about Biden withdrawing from the race should not continue, Clyburn said.
"The conversation should focus on the record of this administration, on the alternative to his election, and let Joe Biden continue to make his own decisions about his strategy. He's earned that right. And I am going to give him that much respect," Clyburn said.
"If he decides to change his mind later on, then we will respond to that," he continued. "We have until the 19th of August to open our convention. And so I would hope that we will spend our time now focusing on the record that we will lay out for the American people."
Clyburn added he thinks Biden is focused on the future of the country.
"I always say the best predictor of future performance is past behavior," he said. "Let's continue to compare the past behavior of Joe Biden to the past behavior of his opponent Donald Trump, and let that be a guide to our reactions going forward."
"I think if we do that, we will give the American people exactly what they need to make the choice for our children and grandchildren," he added. "That's what this campaign is all about."
Biden spoke at his first formal solo news conference in months following the NATO summit on July 11. Minutes into fielding questions from reporters, Biden referred to Harris as "Vice President Trump." Hours earlier, he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin," though he later corrected himself.
Following the press conference, at least three more Democratic lawmakers called on Biden to withdraw from his re-election campaign. Biden's own allies, including three people directly involved in efforts to re-elect him, said his chances of winning in November are near-zero, NBC News reported.
When asked if Biden should take another neurological exam, which the president said he would be willing to during his press conference, Clyburn said he should do what his doctors suggest.
"I'm not going to put my myself in the place of his doctors, and I don't think any of us should," Clyburn said.
When asked if knowing what he knew now of all that's transpired with the president, if he still would have endorsed Biden four years ago, Clyburn responded: "Absolutely."
