Potential Republican VP candidate Rubio says Biden is getting 'progressively worse' after the debate

Florida Senator and potential Republican vice presidential nominee Marco Rubio discussed the debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on Thursday, addressing what has become the main takeaway across the political spectrum: that the incumbent had a shaky performance that didn't help against the argument that he doesn't have the stamina to be commander-in-chief for another four years.

Speaking to Fox News after the event, Rubio described Biden as getting "progressively worse" over the past four years and said he was "dramatically different" compared to the 2020 debate.

"It's not just about making fun of the guy or whatever. It's also about this: there was they're gonna watch this debate or did in Beijing and in Moscow, and in Tehran, and you worry that adversaries will see that and conclude from it, 'They got a weak president,'" Rubio said.

He went on to suggest that Biden is not calling the shots at the White House, saying he thinks it's "pretty clear that this administration is being run by a bunch of deranged radicals." "You see it in their public policy. So there's a lot to unpack there. It's unfortunate for the country, but it's the reality we saw it today."

The assessment about Biden's performance has been shared by political actors and analysts, even Democrats. He also played into Trump's rhetoric, one that paints him as a frail man past his prime. His voice was raspy, and he repeatedly tried, and failed, to clear his throat as he rambled and at one point froze up.

"He had one thing he had to accomplish and that was to reassure America that he was up to the job at his age, and he failed at that tonight," said Claire McCaskill, a former Democratic senator from Missouri. "I'm not the only one whose heart is breaking right now. There's a lot of people who watched this tonight and felt terribly for Joe Biden."

In another passage of the interview, Rubio spoke about the chance that he will be selected by Trump as his running mate. ""We got like 10 or 12 people that are better than Kamala Harris or anybody they can come up with. So, I think anybody who's considered for that should be honored and you have an opportunity to serve our country at that level, especially now with the disaster that we're facing," he said.

"So, I think that point came across but the other point that came across was a sense of urgency that we are now at this tipping point where we can't afford another year like the last three years. That sense of urgency, I think that we should all share," he added.

Trump said this week he has already made up his mind about he'll pick but that he hasn't told the person. A source told The Hill that along with Rubio, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and JD Vance of Ohio, have received vetting requests.