Joe Biden agrees with House Majority Whip James Clyburn that his campaign needs to be overhauled following his win in South Carolina.
The former vice president won his first primary on Saturday night, but Clyburn, his most prominent supporter, argued that the campaign needs to be overhauled to keep the momentum from the landslide victory going.
“We need to do some retooling in the campaign, no question about that. I did not feel free to speak out about it or to even deal with it inside because I had not committed to his candidacy. I have now,” Clyburn told CNN. “I’m all in, and I’m not going to sit idly by and watch people mishandle this campaign.”
In a Sunday appearance on State of the Union, Biden responded to Clyburn’s criticisms. The former vice president pushed back slightly by touting his recent fundraising numbers but agreed that the campaign needed some changes.
“It is about addition and not subtraction. We’re bringing on in each of the primaries and/or caucus states, and once they go by, we bring on more and more people of competence and consequence,” Biden said. “And he is right about the fundraising, but for example, just last night we raised $5 million online. We’ve raised about $18 million, so far, this month.”
He continued, “Things are beginning to change. And he’s right, and I listen to his counsel. And I think he — and I listen to his counsel relative to how I can get better, as well.”
Biden also acknowledged that he does not have enough money to put “boots on the ground” in many Super Tuesday states but said he remains hopeful about his performance because he has several endorsements from leaders in those states.
“This is a marathon. We gotta continue to improve,” Biden said. “That’s what it’s all about, and I think that’s what’s happening.”
