Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn expressed their support for President Biden during television appearances on Sunday, disregarding calls for him to drop out of the race following his disastrous debate performance. Despite admitting that Biden had a "bad night" during the debate, both lawmakers remained steadfast in their belief that he should continue his campaign.

During their appearances on CNN's "State of the Union," Pelosi and Clyburn provided explanations for Biden's poor performance. Pelosi attributed his struggle to former President Trump's false statements on stage, emphasizing the need to spend time debunking his lies. She posed a question to voters, asking whether they believed Trump had the integrity to be president based on his own performance.

Clyburn, who was the House assistant Democratic leader until last year, echoed Pelosi's support for Biden, expressing confidence in his ability to beat Trump in November and lead the country for the next four years. He acknowledged Biden's "bad performance" but attributed it to "preparation overload," suggesting that Biden was overloaded with information during the debate. Clyburn pointed out Biden's successful appearance in North Carolina, where he captivated the audience.

Despite growing external pressure for Biden to drop out of the race, with editorials from The New York Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution calling it a "reckless gamble" and urging him to withdraw for the good of the nation, top Democrats in Congress and across the country continue to publicly support Biden's presidential bid.

The formal calls for Biden to drop out have not been echoed by prominent Democrats, including Pelosi and Clyburn, who believe that Biden's ability to lead and his past record are strong indicators of his capabilities as a presidential candidate.

The ongoing support from Pelosi, Clyburn, and other Democratic leaders illustrates their belief in Biden's perseverance and his potential to lead the nation effectively. Biden's debate performance may have been a setback, but these prominent Democrats are confident that he can regain his momentum and continue his campaign towards the presidency.