U.S. President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn to board Marine One for travel to Nevada from the White House in Washington, U.S., July 15, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis/FilePhoto
Several fundraisers planned for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign have been put on hold, according to multiple Democratic sources involved in the events, despite the Democratic Party’s efforts to expedite his nomination and Biden’s pledge to continue his 2024 campaign. Scheduled fundraising events in Austin, Denver, and California have been postponed, at least temporarily, following Biden’s positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday. Nonetheless, Biden announced on Friday that he intends to resume campaigning next week.
Amid growing concerns about Biden’s viability as a candidate, some major donors are withholding contributions. “There are a lot of donors who have said they won’t put another dime in this race. The question is if Biden stays in the race, will they come back?” commented a prominent East Coast financier. Despite this, Biden’s campaign maintained that its fundraising plans remain unchanged, with campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz asserting, “Reuters’ sourcing is incorrect, and we look forward to a robust fundraising schedule.”
Over one in ten congressional Democrats have publicly called for Biden to step down following a challenging June debate against Republican Donald Trump, which intensified doubts about Biden’s ability to win and serve effectively for another term. Despite this, the official party process to nominate Biden is moving forward. The Democratic National Convention Rules Committee convened on Friday to establish a virtual voting procedure, aiming to advance Biden’s nomination before the in-person convention starting on August 19 in Chicago. This early nomination is deemed necessary to comply with state election laws and avoid exclusion from the November ballot. Dana Remus, Biden’s former White House counsel, emphasized the importance of this early nomination to avoid risks the party cannot afford to take.
However, the decision to expedite Biden’s nomination has sparked controversy within the party, already divided over his candidacy. Critics argue that this move is an attempt to push Biden through as the official nominee prematurely. DNC Chair Jaime Harrison defended the decision, citing the necessity to comply with an Ohio law requiring Biden’s nomination by August 7 to secure his place on the ballot.
When a committee member inquired about the possibility of another candidate challenging Biden in the virtual vote, co-chair Leah Daughtry explained that any challenger would need the verified support of hundreds of delegates. She noted that such a challenge has not occurred in the past fifty years of competitive primaries.
The path forward remains uncertain if Biden were to withdraw amid growing questions about his mental acuity. The committee is expected to reconvene next week to finalize the nomination plan. Biden, isolating due to COVID-19, is reportedly reconsidering his stance on remaining in the race, with several Democratic officials anticipating his potential exit.
Biden’s reconsideration marks a shift from his previous insistence on staying in the race despite increasing pressure from party heavyweights to step aside. Meanwhile, Trump, 78, accepted the Republican Party’s nomination this week in Milwaukee, delivering a speech to an enthusiastic audience.
Some Democrats have begun openly campaigning against Biden. The group Pass the Torch has launched a television advertisement in Washington and Rehoboth, Delaware, where Biden frequently vacations, featuring Democratic voters from Pennsylvania urging Biden to “pass the torch.”
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