In March 1968, President Lyndon Johnson made a historic decision to abandon his re-election bid, citing the immense responsibilities of the office, partisan divisions, and the ongoing Vietnam War. “I shall not seek, and will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president,” Johnson declared. This moment remains remarkable, as veteran Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf notes, “No one gives up being the most powerful person in the world. It just doesn’t happen.” Johnson’s decision was influenced, in part, by his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, who was not enthusiastic about the political life, according to biographer Julia Sweig.
Fast forward to today, and the Democratic Party faces a similar dilemma with President Joe Biden. Despite a catastrophic debate performance, the decision to step aside or continue his re-election bid rests solely with Biden. There is no formal mechanism for Democrats to force him out, leaving the task of convincing him to step down to his closest adviser: the first lady, Jill Biden.
Jill Biden has previously reacted strongly against calls for her to persuade her husband to step down, even facing accusations of “elder abuse.” In Atlanta, she was heard encouraging her husband, saying, “Joe, you did such a great job! You answered every question, you knew all the facts!” Other key figures in Biden’s inner circle include his younger sister, Valerie Biden Owens, campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez, campaign chairwoman Jen O’Malley Dillon, senior adviser Anita Dunn, and adviser Ron Klain.
Senior Democrats are increasingly concerned that Biden’s weak re-election chances could jeopardize their hopes of retaining control of the Senate and retaking Congress. Party heavyweights like Bill and Hillary Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, and Delaware Senator Chris Coons are among those who have Biden’s ear. However, it may ultimately be the pressure from big Democratic donors that makes the biggest difference.
One Democratic fundraiser described Biden’s debate performance as “a disaster” and “worse than I thought was possible,” according to CNBC. Another simply said, “Game over.” Sheinkopf believes Democrats are in uncharted waters, facing a difficult position with Biden on one side and Donald Trump on the other. “The only way Biden can leave is to leave himself, and he can’t leave unless there’s a replacement Democrats can agree on,” Sheinkopf said. However, any agreement on a replacement is far off, with many Democrats reluctant to support Vice President Kamala Harris due to her poor polling numbers and lack of trust as a potential commander-in-chief.
The unenviable job of breaking the news to Biden may fall to Jill Biden. Sheinkopf suggests, “The most logical person to suggest to Biden he not do this for his health and for the good of the country is Jill Biden.”
Biden himself blamed his poor debate performance on a busy travel schedule, admitting at a fundraiser in McLean, VA, that he “wasn’t very smart” for “traveling around the world a couple of times” before the debate. He confessed, “I didn’t listen to my staff” and “I almost fell asleep on stage.” During the debate, Biden struggled to finish sentences and lost his train of thought, fueling concerns about his cognitive abilities at 81.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) became the first Democratic member of Congress to call for Biden to step aside, expressing hope that Biden would make the “painful and difficult decision to withdraw.” Biden is planning an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos and a press conference next week to address these concerns.
Biden’s recent travel schedule included trips to Normandy, France, for D-Day anniversary celebrations, the G7 summit in Italy, and a fundraiser in Los Angeles. He also spent a week at Camp David for debate preparation. Despite these efforts, his debate performance has heightened fears about his age and stamina, with voters in multiple polls expressing concerns about his ability to be effective.
Biden remains the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, vowing to stay in the race despite the debate performance. Rep. Doggett, 77, said the debate solidified his decision to urge Biden to step aside, emphasizing the need for a new generation of leaders. “While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional,” Doggett said. “He has the opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process.”
Other prominent Democrats have voiced concerns about Biden’s age and stamina but have emphasized that the choice to leave the race is Biden’s alone. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina have expressed support for Biden, with Clyburn stating, “I want this ticket to continue to be Biden-Harris.”
Congressman Jamie Raskin acknowledged the “difficult situation” created by the debate but emphasized that the Democratic Party would remain unified regardless of Biden’s decision. “Regardless of what President Biden decides, our party is going to be unified and our party also needs him at the very center of our deliberations in our campaign,” Raskin said.
As the Democratic Party grapples with these challenges, the pressure mounts on Biden to make a decision that could shape the future of the party and the country.
Source: BBC News, The Guardian, CNBC
