Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Congressman Tim Kennedy (D - NY-26) shared thoughts with WBEN on Monday on the presidential race between incumbent Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, and their unsatisfactory performances in last week's debate that undeniably left more than a few Democratic voters concerned with President Biden's mental fortitude or cognitive health to continue in his campaign.
"The focus has been on the rough night that President Biden had at the debate, but I'll tell you who had a worse night, Donald Trump, who lied his way through 90 minutes constantly being dishonest, constantly using his own facts, making up stories in history, disregarding the questions that were being asked right before the American public and anybody that was paying attention," said Kennedy.
"While it wasn't the best debate for President Biden, clearly, Donald Trump did worse, because I'll take a sluggish debate from President Biden over a dishonest one from the former president any day of the week and I think the American public will agree with that."
Congressman Kennedy reminds Democratic voters that despite Biden's "sluggish" performance during the debate, there are clear, "ideological" differences between the two parties.
"You have people that want to protect Social Security and Medicare, and continue to improve on the record level of jobs here in America in our current economy and protect human rights at every level, and a woman's ability to make her own health care decisions about her own body," Kennedy said.
"And you have MAGA extremists under Donald Trump that want to cut Social Security and Medicare, they want to create tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans while leaving middle class Americans out in the dust and completely turn over the middle class tax cuts that the Biden administration and Democrats championed and they want to take away a woman's right to choose. Those are the very clear cut, ideological differences that you're seeing play out and you'll see them play out in the next four months, and it's happening at the highest levels of government."
Many polls, including a recent CBS poll, taken in the aftermath of the debate show that an increasing majority of registered American voters (72%) now believe that Biden does not have the mental and cognitive health to serve as president, some publications and other officials even suggesting that he resigns and other Democratic nominees could fill his place.
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Kennedy believes Biden is capable of continuing the campaign and beating Trump again.
"Without question, President Biden is the only one that has taken on and beaten Donald Trump, and he'll win again this November based upon what he stands for," Kennedy said.
"I think President Biden is the nominee of our party at the moment, and he will be in November and we're going to back him 100%, because we know not only can he do the job, and will he do the job as he's done over the last four years to turn America in the direction that works for working families, but we know the alternative is a very bad one for democracy and for the people of this great nation, and we cannot afford another four years of former President and convicted felon, Donald Trump, it cannot happen because the fate of America and democracy stands in the balance. I believe America will stand up for democracy and what's right and re-elect President Biden this November."