Biden camp used my name in fundraiser text without permission, says strategist

Joe Biden’s campaign sent out an endorsement message from a veteran Democratic strategist – hours after he predicted the US president would drop out of the election race.

James Carville, the mastermind behind Bill Clinton’s 1992 election victory, said he was surprised to see a text go out in his name urging Democrats to donate to Mr Biden’s campaign.

The message, sent to thousands of voters on Saturday afternoon, reads: “Hi, it’s James Carville. I need you and Democrats everywhere to make a contribution to the Biden-Harris campaign ASAP. Help them defeat Donald Trump.”

However, earlier the same day, Mr Carville had predicted the end of Mr Biden’s campaign following his disastrous performance in Thursday night’s debate against Trump. “That which can’t continue … won’t,” he told Axios, a news outlet.

Mr Carville said he had checked with his team and that they had not signed off the text, despite claims from the Biden campaign to the contrary.

“Of all the glitches they made, I guess this is pretty minor,” he said, but added: “It’s kind of weird to see your name go out to half a million people.” He said the fundraising text “didn’t bother me as much as the debate”.

The 79-year-old said on Saturday that he did not believe the debate with Trump was a “nifty idea” and cast doubt on whether the US president really listened to his team, barring a few close aides. “He doesn’t have advisers. He has employees,” he said.

Even before Thursday night’s debate, Mr Carville had said he did not think Mr Biden should run for re-election and suggested that the 81-year-old would struggle to appeal to younger voters.

Mr Carville, known as “the Ragin’ Cajun” for his outspoken and fiery demeanour, has previously claimed the Democrats would lose male voters because their messaging had “too many preachy females” and was “too feminine”.

“There are actually people who don’t mind losing elections because it makes them feel better and superior,” he said this week. “If you don’t win, you aren’t s---. You don’t win elections by telling people their dietary habits are bad.”

It came as Mr Biden looked to reassure major donors at a Saturday fundraiser that he was up to the challenge of beating Trump in November.

“I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder,” he told attendees at the home of Phil Murphy, the New Jersey governor.

Lauren Hitt, of the Biden campaign, said Mr Carville’s team “signed off on a robust fundraising package for our campaign including [Saturday’s] message”, adding: “We’re grateful for everything he does to ensure that Joe Biden is re-elected to a second term.”