Biden the ‘only’ Dem who can beat Trump, Chris Coons says

Despite conceding it was a "weak debate performance" by President Joe Biden, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said Sunday that Biden is the "only" Democrat who can defeat former President Donald Trump in November.

Speaking to host Jonathan Karl on ABC's "This Week," Coons said, "The stakes of this race couldn’t be higher. And the only Democrat who’s ever beaten Donald Trump is Joe Biden."

When Karl asked him if he thought anyone else could defeat Trump in November, Coons said no.

"I think he's the only Democrat who can beat Donald Trump," the senator said.

When a startled-looking Karl challenged him on that, Coons doubled down in his backing of Biden. "Let me tell you, he had the single best day of grassroots fundraising after the debate," he said. "The first poll that we saw after the debate showed Joe Biden gaining ground on Donald Trump. I understand there’s a lot of hand-wringing and concern and pearl-clutching amongst the commentariat. That’s great. That’s expected, frankly."

Citing the widespread perception that Biden's performance in Thursday's debate was disastrously poor, Karl pointed out examples of various commentators urging Biden to withdraw from the race. "I'm asking you, is President Biden at all listening to, considering, what these people are writing?" Karl asked Coons.

Coons, a longtime Biden ally from his home state, said no major figures in the party are calling for Biden to drop out.

"There is not one single senior Democrat, there’s not a single governor, there’s not a single senator, there’s not, obviously, his vice president who endorses him and supports him," Coons said.