Vulnerable Dem senator breaks silence on Biden's fitness, demands president prove ability

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Jill Biden 'all in' on Biden re-election, she says

First lady Jill Biden told supporters in Wilmington, North Carolina, Monday that she and President Biden are "all in" on his re-election.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said President Biden needs to prove his ability to serve a second term in the White House, joining a group of Democratic lawmakers scrutinizing the president after a lackluster debate performance last month and a sit-down interview that failed to calm concerns. 

"President Biden has got to prove to the American people – including me – that he's up to the job for another four years," Tester said in a statement Monday.

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Tester said Biden needed to prove his ability to him. (Getty Images)

"Meanwhile, I’ll continue to do what I’ve always done: Stand up to President Biden when he’s wrong and protect our Montana way of life," he added. 

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Republican Montana Senate candidate and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, left, and Democratic Montana Sen. Jon Tester (Tim Sheehy For Montana/ Getty Images)

Tester is up for re-election to the Senate in red state Montana, which was won twice by former President Trump. 

The statement from the Montana Democrat on Biden and his ability to serve another four years came more than a week after Biden's poor debate showing and several days following his ABC News interview. 

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Biden's debate performance was widely panned. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Tester's campaign previously did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital after the debate. 

In the past, the Democratic senator has sounded sure of Biden's fitness as president, saying last year he was "absolutely 100% with it."

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Tester is in one of the most competitive elections in the country. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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Tester stands a significant chance of being unseated come November, with Republican entities putting substantial resources into backing Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL. Cook Political Report rates the race as a "Toss Up."

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.