Ted Trimpa, a top Democrat operative in Colorado, called Joe Biden one of the weakest Democratic nominees for president in recent history during the Colorado Oil and Gas Energy Summit this week.
The Colorado Sun reports the comments came in a panel discussion with a former Gov. Bill Owens official, during which Trimpa wondered aloud whether the aging Biden was up to the task of running for president.
“It’s true — Biden is probably one of the weakest Democratic candidates we have had in some time,” Trimpa said.
Trimpa argued that Biden should do something unconventional and announce his top cabinet picks in part to “give us all some comfort because the guy is 78 years old and you have these wonders: Is he just going to fall over?”
As we reported previously, Trimpa is well known in Colorado political circles as one of the driving forces behind the “Blueprint” which shifted the state towards Democrat control.
Trimpa has been referred to as “Colorado’s answer to Karl Rove” by The Atlantic and was a key architect in the Democrats’ takeover of the Colorado statehouse in 2004 and 2006.
Trimpa is also a prominent Democratic donor, and serves on the boards of both American Bridge and ProgressNow.
The idea he would go on record slamming Biden on a particularly sensitive issue to their campaign can’t be taken lightly by Democrats.
While Biden’s acceptance speech Thursday received favorable reviews, he created low expectations by his extensive gaffes throughout his campaign that Trimpa alluded to.
“You know the rapidly rising umm uh in with uh with I don’t know.” – Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/WQMkgISM1D
— Francis Brennan (@FrancisBrennan) June 11, 2020
The Colorado based strategist is hardly the only Democrat to have raised doubts about Biden’s ability to win the presidency.
As Politico reported last week, Biden’s doubters include none other than President Obama himself.
One Democrat who spoke to Obama recalled the former president warning, “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to fuck things up.” Speaking of his own waning understanding of today’s Democratic electorate, especially in Iowa, Obama told one 2020 candidate: “And you know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden.”
Trimpa’s caustic remarks about Biden come on the heels of a scathing op-ed he published in the Denver Post earlier this month calling out Democrats for allowing “thugs” to vandalize the capitol with no consequences.