Democrats Start Distancing Themselves From Biden After Debate Comments About Oil Industry

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Oct 23, 2020

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden made a comment during Thursday evening’s last debate that might have did quite a bit of damage to his election efforts. During the event, Biden said he would “transition away from the oil industry,” which means that he would essentially destroy the economies of the states that depend on fracking and the oil industry to keep themselves afloat.

And the fallout from that statement is already starting. Vulnerable Democrats are beginning to put distance between themselves and Biden and it’s definitely not going to be helping his campaign any.

Here’s more from Washington Examiner:

“I disagree with VP Biden’s statement tonight,” New Mexico Rep. Xochitl Torres Small said in a tweet soon after the debate ended. “Energy is part of the backbone of New Mexico’s economy. We need to work together to promote responsible energy production and stop climate change, not demonize a single industry.”

Torres Small, elected as part of the “blue wave” in 2018, represents a southern New Mexico district that experienced an oil and gas boom in recent years. President Trump won the district in 2016 by 10 points, and Torres Small is in a tight rematch race against former state Rep. Yvette Herrell.

In oil and gas-rich Oklahoma, freshman Rep. Kendra Horn of the state’s populous 5th Congressional District is in a similarly vulnerable spot. Trump won the district by 13 points in 2016, and Horn, facing a close race against Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice, has framed herself as a defender of the state’s established oil and gas industries.

“Here’s one of the places Biden and I disagree. We must stand up for our oil and gas industry,” Horn posted on Twitter Thursday night. “We need an all-of-the-above energy approach that’s consumer friendly, values energy independence, and protects OK jobs. I’ll keep fighting for that in Congress.”

Biden’s comment came toward the end of the debate after Trump pushed him on the issue.

“I would transition from the oil industry, yes,” the former vice president said. “It has to be replaced by renewable energy over time. Over time. And I’d stop giving to the oil industry — I’d stop giving them federal subsidies.”

Yeah. Not a good move, Joe. Not a good move.