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Former Vice President Joe Bidens remark during the final presidential debate that he would transition away from the fossil fuel industry was met with heavy pushback not only from Republicans who instantly identified the remark as Bidens weak point of the night but vulnerable Democrats as well.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 22: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden ... [+] answers a question during the second and final presidential debate at Belmont University on October 22, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. This is the last debate between the two candidates before the election on November 3. (Photo by Morry Gash-Pool/Getty Images)

Asked by President Donald Trump during the debate if he would close down the oil industry, Biden replied: I would transition from the oil industry, yes which Trump called a big statement.

Biden said his rationale was that the oil industry pollutes significantly and has to be replaced by renewable energy over time, adding that he would stop giving them federal subsidies.

Trump expressed glee about the comment which seemingly confirmed his common claim that Biden is against oil asking: Will you remember that Texas? Will you remember that Pennsylvania? Oklahoma?"

Rep. Kendra Horn (D-Okla.), one of the most endangered House Democrats, affirmed Trumps reaction, calling Bidens stated position one of the places Biden and I disagree, and declaring: We must stand up for our oil and gas industry.

Another vulnerable freshman Democrat, Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-M.N.) warned against demonizing the industry and stated she would continue to stand up to my party when theyre out of touch with the reality on the ground.

Biden attempted to walk back the comment later in the night, telling reporters he meant a transition from government subsidies for the industry, stating: Were not getting rid of fossil fuels for a long time probably 2050, and claiming nobody in oil would lose their jobs because a lot more jobs are going to be created in other alternatives.

Democrats, Republicans and Independents know that the U.S. natural gas and oil industry delivers affordable and reliable energy to American families and businesses and all over the world, the American Petroleum Institute said in a statement following the debate. We are proud of the grit, innovation and progress we've made so that Americans no longer have to choose between environmental progress and access to affordable, reliable and cleaner energy. And we arent going anywhere.

Biden's comment about transitioning from oil isn't the game-changer some of you believe it is, argued Politico chief political correspondent Tim Alberta. We've been transitioning from oil for 50 years. Voters see that in their everyday lives w/ industries utilizing new green tech. Biden didn't say anything tonight he hasn't said before.

5 points. Thats the size of Bidens lead in Pennsylvania, a pivotal battleground state, in the RealClearPolitics average. He trails by 4 points in Texas, a state Democrats hope to net but is unnecessary for an electoral college win for them. A Morning Consult poll of 799 Pennsylvania voters, conducted in June and July on behalf of API, found that 80% of Pennsylvania voters say gas and oil provide some value or a great deal of value to them personally. 67% said oil and gas would be a part of Americas energy needs 20 years from now.

The Biggest Falsehoods Of The Final Trump-Biden Presidential Debate (Forbes)

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Vulnerable Democrats Break With Biden Over Transition From Oil Industry - Forbes