WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday joined CNN’s State of the Union with Dana Bash to discuss President Biden and the stakes of the 2024 presidential election. In his discussion with Dana Bash, Murphy highlighted the threat Donald Trump poses to the future of democracy and reaffirmed his longstanding support for President Biden but underscored the need for the President to do more in the coming weeks to restore voters’ confidence.

“Listen, I think there's no doubt that the President's performance at the debate has raised questions for voters,” Murphy said. “Not questions about his character or his decency or who he cares about or who he fights for. But questions as to whether this is still the old Joe Biden. Now, I've worked with Joe Biden. I've been on the phone with him, I've been in the room with him. This is one of the most effective presidents that I've ever served under. I've watched him repair this nation's reputation all around the world. I worked with him on the 2022 gun bill that would not have happened without his detailed support and intervention that saved lives all around the country.”

Murphy continued: “I also watched the debate and I think it's pretty amazing that 90% of the conversation is around Joe Biden's style when up on that stage, Donald Trump was engaged in a level of pathological lying that we've never seen before in a debate. He endorsed political violence over and over and over again. It's a statement on our politics that we're not talking more about Donald Trump. Now, that being said, voters do have questions, and, personally, I love Joe Biden. I don't know that the interview on Friday night did enough to answer those questions. And so I think this week is going to be absolutely critical. I think the President needs to do more. I’m not advising this campaign, but if I were, I would probably suggest that the President get out there and do a town hall, that he do a press conference, that he show the country that he is still the old Joe Biden, one of the best retail politicians this country has ever seen. The President says he can do that. I trust that he can.”

On Joe Biden remaining the Democratic party’s presidential nominee, Murphy said: “No president has had this level of legislative accomplishment in their first four years as Joe Biden. I think that he's got to go out there this week and show the American public that he is still that Joe Biden that they have come to know and love. I take him at his word. I believe that he can do it, but I think that this is a really critical week. I do think the clock is ticking. I support Joe Biden. Period, stop. But I know that there are a lot of voters out there that need to be convinced that Thursday night's debate performance was a bad night. And, ultimately, I'm supporting Joe Biden, I'm going to vote for Joe Biden, but the President needs millions of votes and I think the President needs to make some moves this week to put himself out there in a position to answer those questions. And if he can't do that, then of course, he's going to have to make a decision about what's best for the country and what's best for the party.”

On what is at stake if Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election, Murphy said: “There's a lot of anxiety in the country and in the party today, and that's because the stakes are so high. That's because Donald Trump presents an existential threat to democracy. He has advertised he is going to transition this country from a democracy to a dictatorship. He is going to continue the work to take away women's right to reproductive health care choices on their own. He's going to do another massive tax cut for billionaires and corporations, taking money out of the pockets of ordinary average Americans. So, yes, the stakes are very high. Yes, this party wants to make sure that we are in a position to win. Joe Biden has made it clear that he believes that he can be the candidate that will deliver us victory. And this week, I think the President needs to engage in the kind of interaction and with voters that will prove to those that are skeptical out there that he can do the job. And if he can't do that, then he's got a decision to make about what the path forward is. He deeply, deeply loves this country and I know that he wants to do whatever is necessary in order to make sure that Donald Trump doesn't become President and destroy this democracy.”

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