Clyburn says he’d back Harris after telling Democrats to ‘focus on the record of this administration’

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) is sticking by President Joe Biden‘s side and said the conversation should move to talking about the administration’s record — while also backing Vice President Kamala Harris should Biden step aside.

Since Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate against former President Donald Trump, the president has faced mounting questions from voters and from within Democratic circles about his age and mental acuity. Clyburn, one of Biden’s biggest allies in Congress who saved his run in the 2020 Democratic primary, left the door open to the president stepping aside, noting the Democratic National Convention while speaking on NBC News’s Today on Friday.

“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,” Clyburn said. “He’s earned that right. And I am going to give him that much respect.”

“If he decides to change his mind later on, then we would respond to that. We have until the 19th of August to open our convention,” he added.

When asked if Harris would have his endorsement if Biden stepped aside and she became the nominee, Clyburn enthusiastically responded, “Absolutely.”

“No question about that. She has acquitted herself well in the job as vice president, and he never would have picked her in the first place if he did not think that she was capable of being president. And I think that she’s demonstrated, especially in these recent weeks, when all of this microscope has been focused on her and him. She has acquitted herself famously,” Clyburn said.

Clyburn was later asked a followup on if he had left the door open for continued questions on Biden’s candidacy, to which he backed Biden but also made clear he would support Harris if the president were to step aside.

JUST IN: @savannahguthrie: “Did you leave the door open just a little bit for these continued questions about President Biden?”

Rep. Jim Clyburn: “I am all in. I’m riding with Biden no which direction he goes, no matter what method he takes. I’m with Joe Biden.” pic.twitter.com/yQ8H8FeWRY

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 12, 2024

“I took him at his word, and 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. And if he were to change his mind — now I just answer the question — I will be all in for the vice president,” Clyburn said.

Biden held a rare solo press conference Thursday, where he looked to ease concerns about his age and mental acuity. Shorty after the press conference concluded, three more House Democrats called on Biden to step aside.

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When Clyburn was asked about the limited number of press conferences Biden has done during his presidency and whether he should do more, the South Carolina Democrat said he believes Biden should hold more town hall-style events.

“I think that he performs well when he interacts with people, and I think people feel better about him when they’re allowed to interact with him,” Clyburn said.