House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Thursday raised questions about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s readiness for the job, citing the former vice president’s limited campaign schedule.
McCarthy, a California Republican, raised the issue after Biden, 77, cut short his daily schedule for the press, known as a “lid” before 9:30 a.m., a pattern that has become typical of his campaign.
“It would be nice to see Joe Biden come out,” McCarthy said. “There are times I worry about his health, for the number of days he puts a lid on it before 10 a.m.”
Biden has been accused of avoiding questions from the press while also holding few public events. He has ended his public schedule every day this week before 10:30 a.m.
Biden’s absence on the campaign trail, McCarthy said, comes as he should be “talking to the American public,” and Biden is instead, “denying us the ability to know what he believes in or wants to say when he wants to be the leader of the free world.”
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates tweeted the public doesn’t care about Biden’s schedule, particularly “jargon and process – e.g. lid.”
But Republicans are increasingly making the case Biden’s absence is related to his inability to handle the job. Trump holds regular gaggles with the press, including long press conferences, and is campaigning at big rallies.
Trump, 74, tweeted about Biden Thursday morning.
“Sleepy Joe Biden just closed down his campaign for the day (Again). Wants to rest! He is a very LOW ENERGY INDIVIDUAL, and our Country cannot make it in these exciting, but complex and competitive times, with a Low Energy President !!!”
