BTN News: This week is crucial for President Joe Biden as he faces a significant challenge that could determine the future of his re-election bid. While only a few Democratic representatives have publicly urged him to end his campaign, there is a growing unease within the party about Biden’s ability to secure a second term. Concerns are mounting that Biden, who ousted Donald Trump from the White House four years ago, might tarnish his legacy and lead the nation into political uncertainty if he fails to deter voters from re-electing his rival.
Rising Democratic Anxiety
The anxiety among Democrats was evident in a call organized by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday afternoon. During this call, several members expressed that Biden should step aside, and there is a consensus among dozens of party legislators that he needs to make way for a new candidate, sources told CNN. However, a meeting planned by Senator Mark Warner to discuss Biden’s future was canceled, and Warner has not yet decided whether he believes Biden should withdraw, according to a source.
Pressure on Biden to Prove Himself
Key Democratic figures voiced on Sunday morning news shows that Biden must do more to alleviate voter skepticism. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” that this week will be pivotal for Biden to address the lingering questions about his candidacy. Despite this, Biden reiterated his readiness for the job during a campaign tour in Pennsylvania, stating, “I’m ready for the job!”
In an interview with ABC News, Biden reinforced his refusal to step down, asserting that only the “Almighty Lord” could compel him to end his campaign. This interview, however, intensified Democratic panic, especially after Biden’s performance in a recent debate sparked doubts about his ability to defeat the potential Republican nominee, Trump. Concerns about Biden’s health and his understanding of his precarious political situation have also emerged, given that he would be 86 at the end of a second term and is currently trailing Trump in the polls.
Inner Turmoil at the White House
The uncertainty surrounding Biden’s future has created a somber mood within the White House, according to CNN’s MJ Lee. West Wing staff are uneasy about Biden’s debate performance and the subsequent coverage of his difficulties, although support for his re-election remains strong within the building.
A Defining Moment for Democrats
The key question now is whether a critical mass of legislators will come together to persuade Biden to step aside. Should this happen, would top party leaders approach the president and argue that his position is untenable? And even if they did, would Biden, who has secured millions of Democratic votes to claim the nomination and insists he is fit for another term, agree to step down? If Biden remains steadfast, Democrats would face the decision of publicly voicing their opinions, with many in crucial states and districts potentially distancing themselves from their own party’s presidential candidate to try to save themselves in November.
An Unprecedented Political Landscape
The political debate surrounding Biden is almost surreal. It would be an extraordinary twist in an already extraordinary year if Democrats decided not to nominate an incumbent president, whom most believe has had a successful term, for fear he cannot win. Removing Biden would also mark a humiliating end to a five-decade political career, likely making Biden feel betrayed.
If Democrats push Biden aside, they would face a high-risk, unprecedented scenario. They would need to decide whether to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris, which some circles are already considering, or to quickly choose a new, untested candidate. There is no guarantee that a new candidate would perform better than Biden, who has already beaten Trump once. Yet, the fact that many are willing to try underscores the party’s alarm and the powerful image of an aging and sometimes incoherent president, an image cemented in the minds of 50 million debate viewers.
Calls for Biden to Reassure Voters
High-profile party figures, even those who usually support and praise Biden’s achievements, argue that he must do more to reassure voters of his capability. Senator Chris Murphy highlighted that Biden’s debate performance raised questions not about his character or who he cares for, but whether he is still the same old Joe Biden. Murphy urged Biden to participate in more unscripted events, such as forums and press conferences, to demonstrate his competence.
Representative Adam Schiff echoed similar concerns, praising Biden’s accomplishments but noting that the debate performance raised doubts among voters about Biden’s ability to win an “existential race.” Schiff suggested that Biden should seek advice from impartial pollsters and make a well-informed decision about continuing his campaign.
A Party in Disarray
The comments from Murphy and Schiff highlight a disconnect within the party. While many on Capitol Hill are alarmed and wish for Biden to do more in unscripted situations to prove his fitness, Biden himself has ruled out ending his re-election bid. He refused to answer a question in the ABC News interview about what he would do if leaders like Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told him that continuing his campaign could harm Democrats in Congress. “I’m not going to answer that question. It’s not going to happen,” Biden said.
Support Within the Congressional Black Caucus
Despite the internal discord, Biden receives strong backing from his allies in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty, a former CBC chair, stated that Democrats “should not go rogue against our own president.” Voters at the Essence Festival in New Orleans also expressed confidence in Biden, resisting calls for him to end his campaign.
Biden’s Efforts to Project Vigor
Aside from the ABC News interview, Biden has not engaged in the intense scrutiny of repeated, spontaneous political events that even many of his supporters want to see. On Sunday, he delivered a speech at a Black church in Philadelphia and gave an impromptu address to campaign workers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Biden spent considerable time engaging with people in sweltering heat and is expected to hold a press conference at this week’s NATO summit in Washington, which will be another critical test of his abilities.
Democrats Urge Biden to Do More
Many Democrats want Biden to do more, fearing his position is so precarious that he could lose the White House and also jeopardize the party’s hold on the House and Senate. With the Supreme Court cementing an era of ultraconservative jurisprudence, many Democrats are openly worried about the consequences of a second Trump presidency without constraints.
House Democrats vented their frustration over Biden’s issues on Sunday, concerned about the impact on their chances of regaining the House, a possibility many members had been optimistic about until the debate. “It was pretty brutal,” a senior Democratic aide told CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, speaking anonymously to discuss the private conversation among House leaders.
Decisive Meeting This Week
No decisions are expected regarding demands for a White House meeting or the possibility of sending a letter to Biden before the full Democratic caucus meets on Tuesday, advisors said. A source who participated in Sunday’s call told CNN’s MJ Lee that Jeffries has not taken a position on what should happen. However, Tuesday’s meeting is shaping up to be a defining moment for the president.
Biden’s Legislative Achievements and Concerns
Despite concerns about Biden’s ability to campaign and the long-term implications of the debate, his first-term legislative record matches or surpasses any Democratic president since Lyndon Johnson. For instance, Representative Gerry Connolly told CNN’s Pamela Brown on Saturday that what happened was more than just “a bad night,” which is why the image is so indelible in many minds. Connolly noted that while Biden’s performance in the ABC News interview was largely good, some aspects were worrying. “Invoking God Almighty as the only intervention that will deter him from proceeding, I hope Joe Biden didn’t mean that seriously,” Connolly said.
Biden’s Campaign Trail Activities
Biden tried to quell speculation about his future by projecting an image of vigor during his campaign tour in Pennsylvania, a state crucial for his November victory hopes. At Mount Airy Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia, he reflected on faith and the trials it can help overcome. “We are all imperfect beings. We do not know where or what faith will take us, nor when,” he said, appearing to read from prepared notes. Black Democratic voters helped rescue Biden’s primary campaign in 2020 and place him in the White House. This cycle, however, he has been troubled by polls suggesting Trump is making inroads into a community that usually overwhelmingly supports Democratic presidential candidates.
Later, Biden traveled to the state capital, Harrisburg, accompanied by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a rising Democratic star mentioned as a potential alternative candidate. Biden was also joined by Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, one of his staunchest supporters for re-election, and his old friend Senator Bob Casey, who faces a tough re-election race. Their presence reinforced the impression that top Democrats in the Commonwealth have Biden’s back. “This election is going to be about blocking and tackling, simple, basic politics. It’s going to be about how many signs we put up, how many doors we knock on, how many calls we make, and how many petitions we answer,” Biden told his supporters.
Upcoming Campaign Plans
Biden’s campaign has already announced plans to campaign in Michigan, another critical swing state, following this week’s NATO summit in Washington. Hosting world leaders will allow Biden to highlight his credentials as a statesman and one of the most significant aspects of his tenure: revitalizing and expanding the Western alliance and preparing U.S. allies to face the threat posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
If Biden successfully navigates this test without further controversies, attention might shift away from his perceived limitations and back to Trump, who is expected to announce his vice-presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week or earlier. By the time Biden returns to the spotlight, there will be even less time before the Democratic National Convention in August for his critics to push for.
