State Democrats defend Biden following debate

New Mexico Democrats rallied around President Joe Biden on Friday following his unsteady performance in a debate with former President Donald Trump.

Members of the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation skirted questions about whether Biden should step aside or be replaced as the party’s presidential nominee.

“There’s no sugarcoating it — the President himself acknowledged it wasn’t a strong performance,” U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said of Biden’s showing Thursday evening.

“But one bad debate doesn’t change the stakes of this election,” Heinrich said in a written statement. “Donald Trump is a threat to our fundamental rights and freedoms, and our democracy itself. We have to defeat him in November.”

Heinrich’s remarks were similar to those of other Democratic lawmakers who acknowledged Biden’s poor showing and tried to shut down talk of replacing him at the top of the Democratic ticket. Democrats also tried to shift the focus to Trump’s attacks and falsehoods.

“I stand with our President,” U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury said in an email to the Journal. “Joe Biden is a fighter — when he gets knocked down, he gets back up.”

Stansbury described Trump as “a liar and a con man who spent the night lying to the American people” about Social Security and Medicare, his treatment of veterans, the economy, inflation and the deficit.

“And, he lied about his own criminal record and direct role in the insurrection on January 6th,” Stansbury said. “Donald Trump is unfit to serve. ”

Biden himself acknowledged criticism of his debate performance at a rally Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“I don’t debate as well as I used to,” Biden told supporters, but added, “I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done.”

Sen. Ben Ray Luján said Friday he remains committed to reelecting Biden “and Democrats up and down the ballot. The stakes are too high.”

“Last night’s debate showed Donald Trump is still the same failed president he was four years ago,” Luján said. “It served as another reminder that he’s all bluster and all lies. The American people rejected him once before — whether he accepts it or not — and will do it again.”

The Republican Party of New Mexico issued a statement Thursday after the debate applauding Trump’s emphasis on crimes committed by “criminals who have taken advantage of our open border.”

“Tonight, Biden didn’t offer any solutions but blamed everyone and everything except the real reason why prices are up: his expensive regulations and massive government spending,” said Leticia Muñoz, executive director of the state GOP.

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández avoided any discussion about Biden’s performance and took aim at Trump’s record on abortion.

“Last night, I watched former President and convicted felon Trump spew 90 minutes of lies that are hurting New Mexicans,” Leger Fernández said in an email.

“Because his extremist Justices overturned Roe v. Wade, New Mexico has seen thousands of women from Texas and other states come to New Mexico for reproductive health care,” she said. “He is putting pregnant women’s lives in danger and must never be President again.”