Democratic Members May Call for Biden to Abandon Re-election BidDemocratic Members May Call for Biden to Abandon Re-election Bid A report by Reuters suggests that 25 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives may urge President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Concerns Raised by House Democrats According to an anonymous Democratic Party aide, the move will be considered if Biden, 81, exhibits signs of weakness in upcoming appearances. The aide cited Biden’s perceived struggles in his first presidential debate against Donald Trump. Biden’s Upcoming Interviews and Appearances Biden is scheduled for a major interview with ABC News on Friday, July 5, and has several other planned appearances. His performance in these events will be closely scrutinized by Democrats. Impact of Presidential Debate The Reuters report follows Biden’s debate performance, which many Democrats considered lackluster. A second House Democratic Party aide claimed that moderate Democrats in competitive districts faced questions from constituents after the debate. Calls for Biden to Resign On Tuesday, July 2, Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic member of Congress to publicly call for Biden to withdraw from the race. Doggett argued that Biden’s health and mental sharpness had become liabilities. Biden’s Response A White House spokesman denied a report by The New York Times that Biden had expressed concerns about his political future. Biden plans to debate Trump again in September. Potential Impact on Congressional Races CNN reported that Biden’s debate performance could have consequences for Democrats lower down the ticket, potentially costing them the House of Representatives in November. This has added pressure on Democratic lawmakers.
According to a report from Reuters, 25 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives are prepared to call on President Joe Biden to abandon his re-election bid.
According to the outlet, an anonymous Democratic Party aide in the House of Representatives is said to have said they will make the move if Biden, 81, appears “shaky” in the “coming days.”
Biden will have a major interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Friday, July 5, and has several more appearances planned.
The Reuters report comes less than a week after Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump held their first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle on Thursday, July 27.
During the debate, Biden appeared weak and struggled to articulate his points. He spoke about his poor performance the next day at a rally in North Carolina. “I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t speak as fluently as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I know, I know how to tell the truth,” he told the crowd, with much more energy than he had shown the night before.
US President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty
According to Reuters, a second House Democratic Party aide claimed that “moderate Democrats in competitive districts were peppered with questions in their districts after the debate.”
The second source continued: “It appears the dam has broken,” as calls for Biden to resign grow louder from members of his own party.
On Tuesday, July 2, Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first Democratic member of Congress to publicly call for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, according to CNN.
In a statement obtained by the outlet, Doggett said, “I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw (from the 1968 presidential race). President Biden should do the same.”
He went on to say that Biden should end his candidacy for the good of the country.
“Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I hope he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw,” Doggett wrote. “I respectfully urge him to do so.”
US President Joe Biden delivers a speech.
DANIEL COLE/POOL/AFP via Getty
Doggett later told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that he wished he had “said it sooner, because I think we needed it — this should have been a decision that was made much earlier in the process.”
Earlier on Tuesday, CNN suggested that the fallout from Biden’s debate performance could hurt Democrats lower down the ticket — and potentially “cost Democrats the House of Representatives in November” — putting additional pressure on Democratic lawmakers.
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On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Biden recently spoke with an anonymous key ally about the uncertainty of his political future. The ally said of the conversation, “He knows if he has two more events like this, we’re in a different position” and argued that the president is aware that his campaign may not be salvageable without a rapid change in the narrative.
A White House spokesman denied the Time‘ report, and called it false.
Biden plans to debate Trump again in September.
