President Biden is reportedly contemplating whether he can continue as the Democratic presidential nominee, according to a recent report by The New York Times. The report suggests that Biden has confided in a close ally about his concerns following a poor debate performance, acknowledging that his re-election bid might be in jeopardy if he cannot convince the American public of his fitness to serve.
The Times article indicates that Biden is aware of the critical nature of his upcoming appearances, including an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News and campaign stops in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. “He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place,” the unnamed source told the Times.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates quickly disputed the report, calling it “absolutely false” and criticizing the Times for not giving the White House sufficient time to comment. Similarly, Quentin Fulks, the principal deputy Biden campaign manager, dismissed the report as “false” during an appearance on CNN, emphasizing that Biden is committed to winning the race.
Biden, who is 81 years old, is facing significant challenges in his bid for a second term. His performance at the CNN Presidential Debate last Thursday has led to widespread concern within the Democratic Party, with some political pundits, editorial writers, and party donors calling for him to step aside. A growing number of elected Democrats have also urged Biden to reconsider his re-election bid.
A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll released this week found that more than 40% of Democrats believe the party should intervene and replace Biden as the nominee. Overall, 54% of voters polled were in favor of Biden dropping out.
Biden is scheduled to meet with Democratic governors at the White House, just days after Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Chair Gov. Tim Walz led a conference call to discuss the fallout from the debate. Some governors, who have been speculated as potential replacements, have acknowledged Biden’s shaky debate performance but remain committed to supporting him.
Despite the White House’s denial of the Times’ report, CNN reported similar concerns, quoting an ally who said Biden is “clear-eyed” about the situation. The Biden campaign has been working to reassure lawmakers, donors, and staff that the president remains fit for office. A campaign memo obtained by Politico emphasized that polling is a “snapshot in time” and that it will take weeks to get a full picture of the race.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly joined a call with campaign staff to reassure them of their commitment to the re-election bid. “I am running … no one’s pushing me out,” Biden said, according to Politico. “I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
The campaign is projecting optimism, but surveys and polls indicate that most voters see Biden as too old to serve another term. According to a report from the Times, Biden’s debate prep team described a man whose cognitive issues are becoming more pronounced and concerning.
The Biden campaign’s strategy has been to insist that the debate performance was a fluke for an otherwise healthy president. Democratic National Committee finance chair Chris Korge told donors to “breathe through the nose for a minute,” suggesting that the concerns are overblown.
However, deep breaths and memos won’t make the concerns about Biden’s age and fitness disappear, especially for voters already disillusioned with their choices for November’s ballot.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked directly if Biden was considering stepping down. “Absolutely not,” she responded, reiterating that the president is committed to his re-election bid.
Biden will meet with Democratic lawmakers and governors at the White House, including potential replacements like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Pritzker told CNN that Biden “needs to communicate more” to rectify his poor debate performance.
The White House announced a series of new events and interviews to take Biden’s message directly to the American people. Jean-Pierre acknowledged Biden had a “bad night” but emphasized that the focus is now on turning the page with campaign stops and interviews.
A New York Times/Siena College poll published after the debate found Trump with a growing lead over Biden, with 49% to 41% among registered voters. The poll also revealed that 60% of voters believe there should be a new Democratic candidate, while 51% said the same for Trump.
Biden’s campaign is working to tamp down internal party concerns, citing internal polling that shows a tight race between Biden and Trump. Biden and Harris also joined an all-staff campaign call to reassure their team, with Biden stating, “I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
As Biden prepares to meet with lawmakers, the Democratic Party remains in a state of uncertainty, with some members questioning whether he is the best candidate to lead the party in the 2024 election.
Source: The New York Times, CNN, USA TODAY, Politico, ABC News, Fox News Digital
