Former Democratic senator Bob Torricelli said during a discussion of Thursday's Democratic primary debate that voters will not support former Vice President Joe Biden because people don't want a "third Obama term."
"We will not beat Donald Trump by playing it safe, in the margins, offering more of the same, or, to my friend Joe Biden, a third Barack Obama term," Torricelli said Friday on MSNBC. "People don't want—no matter how much they admire him—a third Obama term. They want something bold and different."
Torricelli predicted that as the campaign rolls on, Biden will continue to lose support from Democrats as more voters migrate toward the vision of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.).
"This race, if you ask people who run campaigns, not journalists, run campaigns—"
"Just right there," anchor Stephanie Ruhle interrupted. "You're an idiot, Stephanie, that's what you were just saying."
Torricelli ignored her and continued with his point.
"This campaign right now is on a steady course," he said. "Every week that goes by, every month that goes by, Elizabeth Warren is gaining. Bernie Sanders votes are migrating slowly to her. Joe Biden slowly but steadily loses votes as it becomes not about name recognition, not about loyalty to Barack Obama with minority voters, she gains. The party is running the risk of a fundamental change."
Throughout his campaign, Biden has allied himself with the legacy of the Obama administration on health care, immigration, and trade. Obama, however, repeatedly urged Biden not to run for president before the former vice president announced his candidacy in April.
"You don't have to do this, Joe, you really don't," Obama reportedly told Biden earlier this year.
Biden reportedly replied he could not turn down another opportunity to challenge President Donald Trump, after deciding not to run for president in 2016.