President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign faces increasing pressure from within his own party as calls for him to step aside intensify. Following a news conference aimed at dispelling doubts about his cognitive abilities, Biden faced criticism from three more House Democrats who urged him to withdraw from the race.
This brings the total to at least 18 Democratic members of Congress questioning his candidacy, despite there being a significant Democratic majority in both the House and Senate.
During the conference, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to run for a second term, dismissing suggestions that he should reconsider unless polls indicate he has no chance of winning. Despite his campaign’s attempt to portray the event as a success, Biden’s hesitant speech and occasional misstatements, like referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump,” did little to reassure his detractors within the party.
Joe Biden
Acknowledging his declining approval ratings, Biden argued that he remains the most qualified candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump, whom he defeated once before. He emphasized his determination to continue campaigning, citing unfinished work and the long road ahead in the election cycle.
Despite Biden’s insistence on staying in the race, few Democratic voices unequivocally support him remaining as the nominee. Key figures in the party, such as Rep. James Clyburn, suggest Biden should continue to evaluate his future, hinting at the possibility of a change in his decision to run. Clyburn emphasized that there is still ample time before the party’s nominating convention in August to reconsider the candidate.
The campaign’s focus, according to Biden’s allies, should shift away from internal discussions and towards contrasting Biden’s platform with that of Trump’s potential second-term agenda, codified in “Project 2025.” This 900-page document outlines conservative policy proposals that could shape Trump’s next presidency, despite Trump distancing himself from its creation while acknowledging involvement from his former associates.
Calls for Biden to withdraw gained traction after a lackluster debate performance against Trump, where concerns over his mental sharpness surfaced prominently. These concerns have continued to fuel speculation about Biden’s ability to effectively lead the party’s charge against Trump in the upcoming election.
