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WHEELING - West Virginia Democrat Glenn Elliott was on Fox News Wednesday morning to talk about his own campaign for U.S. Senate, but instead found himself answering questions about whether President Joe Biden should remain the Democrats' presidential nominee.
In short, Elliott said Biden needs to put himself out into the public in tough situations and prove he still has the mettle to do the job of president. If Biden cannot achieve this, "he should step aside and do what is right for the country," according to Elliott.
In comments to The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register on Wednesday evening, Elliott indicated he was ready to answer the tough questions on Fox News - typically considered a conservative-leaning media entity.
The former Wheeling mayor faces a contest with current Gov. Jim Justice, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, in the Nov. 5 general election.
"I am not afraid of tough questions -- in fact, I welcome them," Elliott said. "This is a very important Senate race. And in my opinion, it has not received the attention it deserves from West Virginia media entities. And when it is covered, it usually suggests the inevitability of the governor winning.
"I know I am an underdog," he continued. "But Jim Justice might be the most flawed candidate to seek statewide office in West Virginia in decades. He doesn't pay his bills, doesn't pay his taxes, doesn't show up to work - and doesn't accept responsibility for anything. He and I have one thing in common: We have both never lost an election. And I do not intend this one to be my first."
Elliott added he was "hoping to have a little more time to discuss my own candidacy, but I knew that they would want to focus on the presidential race."
"The president had a really bad debate," Elliott told Fox reporter Lawrence Jones on "Fox & Friends." "To come back from that, the president has to show the American people he has the vitality and ability to do the job, and he needs to put himself in situations where that can be tested.
"If he can't do that, I do think he has to consider what's best for the country, at this point. I know a lot of down ballot races can be impacted by this."
Elliott acknowledged he is "running in West Virginia where it doesn't matter who the Democratic nominee is."
"I doubt that person is going to win because of the popularity of the former president here, but I do think for a lot of races, it can make a difference," he said.
In comments after the interview, Elliott explained he "did not mean to suggest that the President's race would not impact mine."
"Rather, I wanted to make the case that no matter who the Democratic nominee is, he or she is not likely going to win West Virginia," he said. "Obviously, the better that nominee does, the better down-ballot Democrats will do. But each of us is going to need to win over some Trump voters to win our respective races.
Elliott suggested during the Fox interview that Biden put himself out in the media more, and face more pundits who are going to ask hard questions.
"If he can't do that test, he has to think about stepping aside," Elliott continued. "We're not there yet. I think he can come back from it, but it remains to be seen.
"We've spent the last week talking about the president's mental health, instead of what is at stake in this election."
Elliott credited Biden with having policy that resulted in economic development coming to West Virginia, and he believes Biden is fit for the presidency.
"He has been a successful president. He can do the job," Elliott said. "But at this point, he has to prove to the American people he still has it. And after that debate, it's going to take a lot of appearances in the media in tough settings to prove he can do that.
"And if he can't do that, it's incumbent on him to step aside and do what is right for the country," he continued.