Biden ally accuses Democrats of "political malpractice"
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Former top White House adviser Cedric Richmond denounces Democratic candidates who do not want US President Joe Biden campaigning alongside them.
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Rep. Cedric Richmond speaks with Joe Biden at Columbus Airport in Columbus, Ga., in October.
A former senior White House aide, Cedric Richmond, slammed Democrats who are hesitant to have President Joe Biden campaign alongside them ahead of the November elections.
“If they are reluctant, I think it’s political malpractice. If you don’t want Biden, it’s malpractice,” Richmond told The Washington Post.
Richmond praised what he deemed as Biden's recent high-profile victories, including the sweeping health and climate measure signed into law last week, and predicted that Biden's numbers will rise, saying that “if I’m a candidate, I’d tie myself to that.”
Read next: Majority of Americans oppose Biden's performance: Poll
“A lot of these things, Democrats have been trying to accomplish them for a long time,” Richmond said. “Who wouldn’t want the person who was finally able to do that to come and campaign for them?”
A former Louisiana Democrat in Congress, Richmond served the Biden administration as director of the Office of Public Engagement. He is now an adviser to the Democratic National Committee.
A number of Democrats have sidestepped questions about whether they’d back a Biden reelection bid in 2024, and some candidates are keeping a distance from their party leader.
Few Democrats said they want the President campaigning for them, according to a Washington Post survey.
Widespread concerns about the economy and inflation have contributed to a decidedly gloomy national mood, both on #Biden and the nation's trajectory.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 12, 2022
A new poll shows that a majority of #Democrats would prefer a new candidate on the ballot in 2024 over #US President #JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/p5yUDhhIuK
They want Biden out
The Washington Post mentions Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) as two members who have rejected the idea of Biden campaigning in their states.
In a new campaign ad, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) goes as far as distance herself from the President, saying she “doesn’t work for Joe Biden.” Despite low approval ratings and concerns about his age, the president insisted he plans to run again
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) on the other hand stated on Sunday that he would welcome Biden's company on the campaign road.
Read next: Most Democrats don’t want Biden in 2024: Poll
“Hey, I will welcome anybody to come to Arizona, travel around the state at any time — as long as I’m here, if I’m not up in Washington in session — and talk about what Arizona needs,” Kelly said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union.
Biden is expected to join Democrats in Maryland for a rally this Thursday.
Wes Moore, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee facing Trump-backed GOP nominee Dan Cox in the battle to replace Gov. Larry Hogan (R), is anticipated to attend.
