Three former advisers to President Obama have voiced their criticisms of President Biden’s recent debate performance and interview, highlighting lingering tensions between the two camps.

Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, all former Obama advisers and hosts of the Pod Save America podcast, discussed their concerns about Biden’s recent public appearances, and their criticism was focused primarily on Biden's performance in the first presidential debate and a subsequent interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, as Fox News reports.

In their latest podcast episode, Vietor described Biden’s interview as “bad” and “very hard to watch.” He emphasized his concern over Biden’s unclear and incoherent responses during the interview. According to Vietor, Biden’s explanations for his poor debate performance, citing travel and sickness, were insufficient.

Interview Timing and Format Criticized

Lovett agreed with Vietor, noting that the timing and format of the interview were not in Biden’s favor. He pointed out that Biden’s vague explanations did little to alleviate concerns about his debate performance. Lovett stated, “The explanations are kind of vague… That doesn't do enough to assuage our concerns about what we saw that night.”

Favreau acknowledged that Biden’s interview was slightly better than his debate performance but still lacked the urgency and strong messaging needed to sway undecided voters. He cited polling data showing Biden trailing Trump in key swing states as a significant concern.

Concerns Over Biden's Communication

Vietor suggested that someone else might have a better chance of winning against Trump, while Lovett expressed frustration over Biden’s inability to deliver his message effectively. Lovett remarked, “The stakes are incredibly high. Trump is an incredible threat, but either he will prosecute that case, or someone else will, and right now, we get neither.”

The critical comments from the "Obama bros" came on the heels of remarks by David Axelrod, another former Obama adviser. Axelrod had previously stated on CNN that Biden was "certain" to lose to Trump if his performance did not improve. Axelrod also highlighted Biden’s age and questioned his ability to lead effectively.

Tensions Between Biden and Obama Camps

Reports suggest that the relationship between Biden and the Obama advisers has been strained. This tension dates back to the 2016 Democratic nomination, which went to Hillary Clinton instead of Biden. Despite these criticisms, Obama has defended Biden following the debate performance.

Favreau voiced his concerns about Biden’s lack of urgency in his messaging during the Stephanopoulos interview. He questioned how Biden plans to win over undecided voters with such a lackluster performance.

“What are you going to do to win over voters who are undecided between Biden and Trump when you have that message with George Stephanopoulos?” Favreau asked.

Debate Performance Sparks Debate

Vietor emphasized that the debate performance was a significant issue, stating, “The debate was just a bad night. We all saw it.” However, he expressed that the interview made him more concerned about Biden’s overall communication abilities.

Lovett echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Biden's unclear explanations and failure to present a coherent message were problematic. He said, “The explanations don’t offer anything. It can’t be another example of you being hard to understand.”

Implications for Biden's Campaign

The critiques from the former Obama advisers underscore the ongoing concerns about Biden’s ability to present a compelling case against Trump. With polling data showing Biden trailing in key states, these criticisms could impact his campaign strategy moving forward.

Favreau noted that while the interview was more coherent than the debate, it still left much to be desired. He expressed worry that Biden’s lack of urgency and strong messaging might hinder his ability to recover from the debate performance.

“It was a terrible interview. He did a terrible job articulating why he's in the race, what happened at the debate, and why he's the person to beat Trump,” Lovett said.

Conclusion

In summary, former Obama advisers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor have expressed significant concerns about President Biden’s recent debate performance and subsequent interview.

Their critiques highlight ongoing tensions between the Obama and Biden camps and raise questions about Biden’s ability to effectively communicate his message and secure a victory against former President Trump.

Despite these criticisms, President Obama has defended Biden, but the upcoming months will be crucial for Biden’s campaign to address these issues and win over undecided voters.