Rep. Jim Clyburn still believes Biden could have served second term while acknowledging cover-up of ex-prezs cognitive decline hurt party

Rep.Jim Clyburn claimed “still” believes former President Joe Biden could’ve served out another four years as president, despite mounting evidence of cognitive decline. “Yes, I thought that back then.

I still think that, but I don’t know that,” Clyburn told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday when asked if Biden could’ve served out another term that he would’ve completed at age 86. Still, Clyburn, 84, who is widely credited with rescuing Biden’s then-flailing presidential bid in 2020, admitted that Biden’s disastrous debate performance against President Trump in June of last year had him second-guessing that belief.“I watched that debate, and you and I talked about it.And, yes, I was concerned,” he said.

“Now, the question is, is this a condition or is this an incident?”“A lot of us were a bit concerned about his schedule in the run-up to the debate.He took two overseas trips, came back, and started preparing for that debate.”CNN host Jake Tapper asked Clyburn whether the Democrats’ “incredibly low standing” with the public is related to the impression among many that they “hid his actual dysfunction, his non-functioning abilities from the American people.”“It very well could have.

I haven’t looked at the numbers behind the numbers to come to any conclusion as to what exactly is going on here,” Clyburn replied.The South Carolina Democrat noted that he’s heard mixed reactions from everyday South Carolinians about Biden’s cognitive state.“I have talked to people, talked to students,” he explained.

“And people still feel that Joe Biden had the capacity to do the work that needed to be done.They still feel that Joe Biden was a good president.

And I do as well.”“But these people are also concerned when they look back at those tapes, they remember the debate,” he continued.“And they are concerned as to whether or not that was, in fact, just an incident or whether that was a condition tha...