Before they adopt a united front on whether Joe Biden should withdraw from the race, Democratic leaders are tensely awaiting the results of new polling that indicates his support has collapsed and that he is now a liability in congressional elections, according to legislators, strategists, and funders.
Through a planned attempt to reassure party officials that he still has a chance to win reelection, Biden’s campaign team has so far mainly prevented widespread defections.
However, a lot of elected officials and Democratic fundraisers are still uneasy about Biden’s lackluster performance in last week’s debate with Donald Trump, and they are waiting for more clear indications from voters before they officially endorse his campaign. Democrats believe that Biden still needs to show he is mentally and physically capable of being in government in order to lessen the consequences.
According to an individual with knowledge of internal conversations, Biden’s campaign is currently in a wait-and-see phase. Within Biden’s circle, the belief is that, in the absence of alarming new polling data, no Democratic leader will come up and demand that he resign down.
Political campaigns frequently end due to money, or more precisely, a lack of it. According to the source, Biden might not have many choices except to step down if donors desert him.
“Donors are completely terrified. And the inner circle around Biden has got to have gotten that message,” a Democratic source with knowledge of party financing stated, speaking candidly under the condition of anonymity. “The only way that donors know how to send a strong message is by refusing to cut that check.”
Several well-known Democrats are distancing themselves from Biden and demanding that he step down so that a fresher, more motivating candidate may take the lead in the campaign against Trump.
The first Democratic congressman currently serving, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, said that Biden ought to resign. Doggett noted in a statement on Tuesday that Biden “has remained well behind Donald Trump in the majority of polls and has fallen short of Democratic senators in important states.” It was my hope that the debate would give that some much-needed impetus. It didn’t.
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, stated in a newspaper op-ed on Tuesday that he was not surprised by Joe Biden’s “poor” debate performance and that he believes Trump will prevail in November.
Golden traveled with Biden on Air Force One and Marine One during a visit to the Maine district just a year ago. Golden claimed at the time that Biden “believes in the virtues of average Americans” in an interview with NBC News. Golden is one of just five Democrats in the House who represent Trump-won districts.
Another Democratic congressman claimed that funders are pressuring him and other lawmakers to openly criticize Biden. “Text messages are flooding our phones, and people are asking when you’re going to call for him to step aside,” the politician stated.
While he inclined toward wanting Biden to halt his campaign, another Democratic member of the House stated that he wanted to “see the polling” beforehand.
Deep cracks inside the party might be revealed by the vacancy on top of the ticket. While some Democratic leaders might support Kamala Harris, the first Black vice president of the United States, others would support a representative from a battleground state like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, who would also be a trailblazer in her own right.
In an interview with Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC on Tuesday, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina—a significant Democratic figure whose support in 2020 gave life to Biden’s flagging primary campaign—made it apparent where he stands.
“This party should not attempt to circumvent Ms. Harris in any manner.,” Clyburn stated. “Whether she’s in second place or at the top of the ticket, we should do everything in our power to support her.”
Biden’s party is already in uncharted political territory following the first of two scheduled presidential debates. No president has dropped out of a contest this late in the electoral calendar in the modern history of the position.
The closest was President Lyndon Johnson, who said in March 1968, eight months before the election, that he would not seek reelection due to strong opposition to his war in Vietnam. If Biden left his position right now, the next in line would have just four months to launch a campaign.
The campaign’s top funders were on a conference call with Biden campaign aides on Monday, and their queries seemed to indicate that donors are definitely nervous. Someone on the phone inquired as to what the campaign would do in the event that fresh polls revealed a sharp decline in Biden’s support.
Deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks retorted, saying, “This has been exaggerated by the media for a long time.”
Both sides utilize the approach of blaming the media. However, a lot of Democrats claim they are tired of hearing from the White House that Biden is qualified and that the race can be won.
Some Democrats claim that for years, Biden’s public appearances have been stage-managed by an exclusive White House senior staff and campaign operation, who have surrounded him with teleprompters and note cards that have created a false image of his general health.
Speaking under oath, the Democratic House member stated that he didn’t want to “hear the BS” and that’s why he didn’t want to address the White House following the discussion.
Democratic senators suggested that one change to Biden’s routine should be to present him to voters without the protective bubble wrap that exacerbates the unsettling effects of a slow debate performance.
Representative Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, a crucial swing state, stated: “He needs to be seen after last Thursday’s debate.” Both he and others need to see him in order for him to be considered for the position.
“In order to reach as many voters as possible, he must conduct town halls and small roundtables in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia,” stated California Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat.
Only one such appearance has been arranged as of yet. This week, Biden has consented to an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, where he may anticipate being questioned about his state of mind.
Former Senate staffer Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., stated that Biden needs to put up a strong effort to demonstrate that the debate was actually just one “bad night” and not a sign of something more serious.
Connolly recommended that Biden attend rallies and town hall meetings. More interviews would be beneficial as well, he suggested.
According to information compiled by Martha Kumar, an emeritus professor of political science at Towson State University, Biden has granted 128 interviews thus far in his term, fewer than any other president since Ronald Reagan.
He has turned down an opportunity to speak to the millions of fans watching the game during the Super Bowl for the past two years. As an explanation, Aides stated that fans would rather watch football because they were tired of politics.
You now need to put in a lot more effort to dispel those doubts. This is deadly if not done so,” Connolly stated in an interview. “You have to go out there and reassure people that it was just a bad night, and that’s all it was like you’ve never done it before in a comprehensive way.”