U.S. President Joe Biden waves to his supporters during a campaign stop in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., July 12, 2024. REUTERS/Rebecca cook/File Photo
President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to his reelection campaign on Friday, despite increasing calls from fellow Democrats to withdraw. This plea from eight additional Democratic Congress members reflects growing concerns that his faltering campaign could jeopardize the party’s prospects in the November 5 election. Currently isolating at his Delaware home due to COVID-19, the 81-year-old incumbent faced scrutiny after a challenging June debate against Republican Donald Trump, which cast doubts on his electability and capability to serve another term.
In his statement, Biden expressed his determination to continue his campaign efforts. “I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week to continue exposing the threat of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda while making the case for my own record and the vision that I have for America,” he said, referencing a policy plan developed by Trump’s conservative supporters.
The internal discord among Democrats contrasts sharply with the unity displayed at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where former rivals rallied behind Trump. In his acceptance speech, Trump reiterated his familiar themes of grievance and assertiveness.
To date, 31 of the 264 Democratic members of Congress have publicly urged Biden to end his campaign. Additional senior Democratic leaders have reportedly pressed him privately to step aside, fearing a Republican sweep in the upcoming election that could result in GOP control of both the White House and Congress. Representative Zoe Lofgren, a close ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was among those who called for Biden’s withdrawal, citing concerns about the impact on down-ballot races.
Pelosi has not publicly called for Biden to drop out but has privately conveyed her belief that he cannot win, according to a White House source. Although Biden has consistently asserted his intention to remain in the race, sources indicate that he is now seriously considering the calls to step aside, with multiple Democratic officials predicting his eventual withdrawal.
The Democratic group Pass the Torch plans to run television ads urging Biden to withdraw, specifically targeting MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” a show Biden reportedly favors.
Biden campaign chairwoman Jen O’Malley Dillon acknowledged the challenges facing the campaign but maintained that Biden’s support has not significantly diminished. “We have a lot of work to do to make sure that we are reassuring the American people that, yes, he’s old, but he can do the job and he can win,” she said on MSNBC.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this week showed Biden and Trump tied nationally, but strategists from both parties suggest that Biden’s path to victory is narrowing, as he trails in key battleground states. Should Biden step aside, Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, is seen as a potential candidate, performing slightly better than Biden against Trump in hypothetical matchups according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. Harris is set to address a group of donors on Friday afternoon at the request of senior Biden advisers.
If Biden were to withdraw, campaign finance experts suggest there could be limitations on how the $91 million his campaign had on hand at the end of last month could be utilized.
In the Republican camp, Trump continues to solidify his position, delivering a dramatic account of an alleged attempt on his life and appealing to undecided voters. His acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention featured familiar attacks on the Biden administration and migrants, alongside unsubstantiated claims of a Democratic conspiracy against him. Trump and his running mate, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, are scheduled to campaign in Michigan, a crucial battleground state for Biden.
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