Sunday 7 August 2022 11:37 PM Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal REFUSES to say whether Biden is party's best ... trends now

US Sen. Richard Blumenthal has refused to say whether he thinks Joe Biden is the best Democrat to make a bid for the White House in 2024.

The Connecticut lawmaker said he believes the midterms will determine Biden's success over next two years and 'how strong he would be as a candidate' in 2024.

Blumenthal's remarks came after the Senate voted 51-50 to advance the Democrats' $740 billion climate change and healthcare spending bill.

The legislator stressed the need for Democrats to pass Biden's goals, pointing to the  recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act as 'making tremendous progress.'

Meanwhile, 75 percent of Democratic and left-leaning voters say they want a different candidate on their ballot in the 2024 presidential election as the party continues to show their lack of confidence in Biden.

Blumenthal, appearing on CNN's State of the Union Sunday alongside South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, said he 'will support Biden' if he runs again but refused to address if he was the best candidate for the job.

'Do you think President Biden is the best candidate in 2024?' moderator Dana Bash asked. Blumenthal diverted away from the question.

'I'm gonna be very blunt and very honest with you. My focus is totally on this November because I am running for reelection,' he said.

'But also I think this November's gonna determine how successful President Biden is in the next two years and how strong he would be as a candidate.' 

Blumenthal did note, however, that he would support Biden if he does decide to run for re-election. 

'I will support President Biden,' he told Bash, who hit back: 'Do you want him to run?'

'If he decides he wants to run and I think his decision will be determined by how November ends for the Democratic Party and for senators like myself who are running for reelection,' Blumenthal explained.