Politics

Tim Ryan: ‘Biden Is Declining,’ Lacks ‘Clarity’ When He Speaks

Vice President Joe Biden swears in CIA Director John Brennan in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 8, 2013. Brennan was sworn in with his hand on an original draft of the Constitution that has George Washington's personal handwriting and annotations on it, dating from 1787. Members of Brennan's family stand with him. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.Ê

Democratic presidential candidate Tim Ryan said frontrunner Joe Biden is “declining” and lacks “clarity” when he speaks, questioning the former vice president’s fitness to contend with President Donald Trump.

“I just think Biden is declining,” Ryan, the Ohio congressman, told a Bloomberg reporter Friday. “I don’t think he has the energy. You see it almost daily. And I love the guy,” he added.

Ryan stood by his characterization of Biden on Saturday.

“I’m not backtracking from it. It is a concern you’re hearing from a lot of people in the country,” Ryan told reporters, adding that when Biden speaks “there is a lack of clarity and I’ll leave it at that.”

Biden’s campaign didn’t immediately return the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment on Ryan’s remarks.

Biden’s campaign has been marked by a steady stream of gaffes and mental slip-ups.

Ryan’s line of attack on Biden echoes that of Trump, who has hinted that Biden’s mental acuity is slipping.

“Joe Biden has lost his fastball, that I can tell you,” Trump told reporters last month.

“Look, Joe is not playing with a full deck… Joe Biden is not playing with a full deck,” Trump also said last month. “This is not somebody you can have as your president.”

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