Journalists alleged Friday that President Joe Biden's campaign staff tried to stop interviewing voters as they began to become critical of the president following his struggles in the debates.
Biden faced off against former President Donald Trump in an unprecedented debate format. The two appeared without an audience in a CNN studio on Thursday, with microphones ready to be cut off on Friday. Panic spread among Democrats 30 minutes into the debate as Biden stumbled over his answers and appeared to freeze before moderator Jake Tapper stepped in to help. Panic was in full swing, with Democrats beginning to call for the president to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. (Related article: White House media criticizes CNN after it banned reporters from Biden-Trump debate studio)
In the aftermath of the first presidential debate, multiple reporters alleged that Biden campaign staff interrupted conversations at campaign events with voters on Friday, steering the conversation in a negative direction.
“While I was speaking to voters at VP Harris' Las Vegas rally, a Biden campaign staffer from Nevada followed me and “Voters asked for the interview to end when the comments became critical of President Biden,” New York Times reporter Simon Levine said. I have written.
“I can't tell you there isn't a better person out there,” one voter told Levine, expressing their desire for a different Democratic presidential nominee.
“We're at a Joe Biden event and we have to interrupt you, sorry,” a Biden staffer told Levine, interrupting the interview.
Levine continued that a campaign staffer intervened after a voter indicated they wanted Biden to drop out of the presidential race and for Harris to become the Democratic presidential nominee.
“Who's running the country?” Levine said during the debate, another voter reported.
Regarding the possibility of the vice president being the nominee, he said, “Let's nominate Kamala!”
According to Levine, the staffer said, “Sorry, I'm going to stop here. If I can, this is a Biden event. Is that OK?” A New York Times reporter, in a representative interview, identified the staffer as Clio Calvo Platero, deputy communications director for the Biden campaign in Nevada.
— Jake Rosen (@JakeMRosen) June 28, 2024
Taylor R. Avery, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, tweeted that he had encountered a similar situation at the same event.
“The same thing happened to me. Not once, but twice, staff tried to interrupt an interview with a constituent who said Biden should resign. Then they let me and the constituent in, saying, 'The vice president will be there soon,' but the vice president didn't show up for another 30 minutes,” she said. I have written.
The same thing happened to me. Not once, but twice, staff tried to shut down an interview with a voter who said Biden should step down. Then they let me and the voter in, saying, “The VP will be here soon,” but he didn't show up after 30 minutes. https://t.co/E8SLw4AtW0
— Taylor R. Avery (@travery98) June 28, 2024
Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York magazine, tweeted after the debate that press access to upcoming Biden campaign events had suddenly been restricted.
“On Wednesday, the Biden campaign informed me that I would be allowed to join the expanded pool to cover the President's fundraiser on Saturday. Today they informed me that I will no longer be allowed to cover the event. I am wondering why this is happening…” Nuzzi wrote.
On Wednesday, the Biden campaign told me I would be allowed to join the expanded pool to cover the President's fundraiser on Saturday. Today they told me I would no longer be allowed to cover the event. I wonder why that is…
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) June 28, 2024
Nuzzi posted an update late Friday night, writing that he was once again able to attend campaign events.
“I've spoken with the Biden campaign and White House and they are changing their press access plans for Saturday to allow @NYMag to participate. They blamed a miscommunication for initially revoking my access and insisted it was not a response to the President's performance in last night's debate,” she wrote.
Update: I've spoken with the Biden campaign and the White House. They are changing their plans for press access on Saturday. New York Magazine To join in. They claim that their initial revocation of my access was due to a communications error, and not a response to the President's… pic.twitter.com/VovkixaHKg
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) June 28, 2024
Biden and his campaign remain optimistic about his performance even as the president's allies call for him to withdraw from the race.
“I think we did a good job,” Biden said. Said After the debate. (President Added At Friday's meeting, the debate was not as good as in previous years.
“We haven't talked about that at all,” Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said. Said in response to speculation that the president might give up on reelection.
