Former senior White House adviser Cedric Richmond accused Democratic candidates not campaigning with President Joe Biden of “political malpractice” in an interview published Sunday.
Richmond left the Biden administration for a senior adviser role with the Democratic National Committee in April. He was interviewed as part of a Washington Post report that surveyed more than 60 Democrats running in the most competitive races in the country. Most of the candidates have either not asked the 46th president to come campaign with them or are “actively avoiding him when he does,” the report said, despite Democrats’ recent legislative and political wins.
DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGN ON STRING OF VICTORIES IN CONGRESS
“A lot of these things, Democrats have been trying to accomplish them for a long time,” Richmond said, referencing Biden’s string of accomplishments. “Who wouldn’t want the person who was finally able to do that to come and campaign for them?
“If they are reluctant, I think it’s political malpractice,” he continued. “If you don’t want Biden, it’s malpractice.”
Richmond predicted that Biden would be a regular on the campaign trail this fall, dismissing the idea that candidates will distance themselves from the president.
“If we had a dollar for every time someone underestimated or counted Joe Biden out, we could pay off the national debt,” he said. “You’ll see his numbers go up. You’ll see accomplishments happen. That’s what voters want to see — and if I’m a candidate, I’d tie myself to that.”
The Washington Post report noted that Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), both facing difficult Senate races, shut down suggestions of Biden campaigning in their states. Bennet offered no comment on the matter, while Ryan spokeswoman Izzi Levy explained in a statement: “We have not asked President Biden or VP Harris to campaign in Ohio and have no plans to do so. Tim has been very clear that he wants to be the face of this campaign, and that’s not changing anytime soon.”
Not all Democrats in key battleground states are against the president joining them on the campaign trail. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said in an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that he would welcome having Biden stump for him.
“Hey, I will welcome anybody to come to Arizona, travel around the state at any time as long as I’m here, if I’m not up in Washington in session, and talk about what Arizona needs,” Kelly told host Jake Tapper.
Asked by Tapper if he was concerned that Biden could not be the best Democrat to keep Arizona blue in 2024, the senator and former astronaut replied: “Not at all, Jake.”
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the Democratic nominee in the Senate race against Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), said in a separate interview with the Washington Post last month that he would encourage the president to join the fight.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“If he wants to come to Wisconsin, please, come on down,” Barnes said. “We’re here to talk about a vision, rebuild the middle class, and if he wants to join us in carrying that vision across the state, he’s more than welcome to do so.”
While a Wisconsin trip does not appear to be on the calendar yet, the 46th president will attend a rally for Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wes Moore this Thursday. Moore, who is facing a Trump-backed opponent in a largely blue state, also has the backing of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, a centrist with a penchant for bipartisanship.
