(Washington Comprehensive News) US President Biden is facing mounting pressure to withdraw from the election, with much of it coming from within his own Democratic Party. While Biden insists he won’t withdraw, Democratic members of the Senate and House of Representatives will be discussing his candidacy in the coming days, potentially increasing the risk of him being forced out.
At least five House Democrats have called for Biden to end his campaign. The most recent is Minnesota Congresswoman Anne Craig, the first swing state lawmaker to call for Biden’s withdrawal.
“I do not believe the president can effectively campaign and defeat (Republican opponent) Trump,” Craig stated on Saturday.
Members of the House and Senate returned to Capitol Hill on Monday (August 8). This marks the first time House members have gathered in person since the first televised debate between Biden and Trump on September 27, which may spark a new wave of calls for Biden to step down.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is scheduled to hold a video conference with top House Democrats on Sunday to discuss Biden’s candidacy and the way forward.
Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner is also reportedly reaching out to certain Democratic senators for a possible meeting on Monday to discuss whether to request Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
House Democratic sources revealed that some House Democrats are circulating two separate letters calling for Biden’s resignation, as many lawmakers awaited Biden’s interview with ABC News last Friday to determine their next course of action.
Biden insisted in the interview that only the “Almighty” might force him to withdraw, but the interview did little to alleviate concerns. Critics point out that while Biden can speak coherently when reading from a script, he can stutter, speak incoherently and even slur his words without one.
Biden’s team was also accused of sending a list of questions to two radio stations ahead of his Friday interviews, despite Democrats encouraging them to let Biden speak impromptu to build confidence in his quick thinking abilities.
NATO summit press conference becomes a major test for Biden
Biden’s next major test will be at a news conference on Thursday before the end of a NATO summit, where his ability to answer questions clearly will be closely monitored. The summit begins in Washington on Tuesday, during which Biden is also expected to reassure allies regarding his ability to win the election, as many European countries are worried regarding a Trump victory in November.
Trump, who has long criticized NATO for placing an unfair burden on the United States, has also expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and insisted he might quickly end the war in Ukraine.
Biden continued his campaign on Sunday, holding two campaign rallies in the swing state of Pennsylvania. First Lady Jill, who is reportedly encouraging Biden to continue his campaign, will travel to Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina on Monday to help canvass for votes.
AFP reported that in response to calls for Biden’s withdrawal, Biden and his campaign team’s strategy seems to be focused on surviving this period. The campaign team announced an intensive campaign plan this month, including heavy television advertising and visits to all key states.
Biden Faces Growing Pressure to Withdraw from Election, Democrats Debate Next Steps
US President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure to withdraw from the upcoming election, with much of the pressure coming from within his own Democratic Party. While Biden insists he will not step down, high-ranking Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives are set to discuss his candidacy in the coming days, raising the possibility of a formal push for his departure from the race.
Pressure Mounts from Within the Democratic Party
At least five House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to end his campaign, with Minnesota Congresswoman Anne Craig becoming the first lawmaker from a swing state to voice her support for his withdrawal. Craig stated on Saturday that she does not believe Biden is capable of effectively campaigning and defeating Republican challenger Donald Trump.
The House and Senate are scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on Monday, marking the first face-to-face gathering of House members since the first televised debate between Biden and Trump last month. This event might potentially trigger another wave of calls for Biden to step aside.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is set to hold a video conference with top House Democrats on Sunday to discuss Biden’s candidacy and potential strategies moving forward. Additionally, Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner is reportedly reaching out to other Democratic senators to schedule a meeting on Monday to discuss the possibility of formally requesting Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
Sources within the House Democratic caucus reveal that several lawmakers are circulating two separate letters calling for Biden’s resignation. Many Democrats have been awaiting Biden’s interview with ABC News last Friday to determine their next course of action, but the interview did little to quell concerns regarding his ability to effectively campaign.
Biden Insists on Continuing Campaign, Critics Raise Concerns
While Biden maintained in the interview that only “the Almighty” might force him to withdraw, critics remain unconvinced. They point out that while Biden can speak coherently when reading from a script, his performances without prepared text often result in stuttering, incoherence, and even slurred speech.
Further fueling these concerns, Biden’s team was accused of sending a list of questions to two radio stations ahead of his Friday interviews, a move that contradicts the Democratic Party’s encouragement for Biden to speak spontaneously to build confidence in his quick thinking.
NATO Summit Press Conference Presents a Major Test for Biden
A pivotal upcoming test for Biden will be a press conference scheduled for Thursday before the conclusion of the NATO summit. His ability to answer questions clearly and confidently will be closely scrutinized. The summit begins in Washington on Tuesday, and Biden is expected to reassure allies regarding his ability to win the election, as many European countries are worried regarding the possibility of Donald Trump’s victory in November.
Trump has long criticized NATO, arguing that the alliance places an unfair burden on the United States. He has also expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested he might quickly resolve the ongoing war in Ukraine. These positions have raised concerns among NATO allies regarding the implications of a potential Trump victory.
Biden and His Team Push Forward with Campaign Strategy
Despite the growing pressure to withdraw, Biden and his campaign team are determined to weather the current storm and continue their campaign. They announced an intensified campaign strategy for this month, including heavy television advertising and visits to key states.
First Lady Jill Biden, a vocal supporter of her husband’s continued campaign, will travel to Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina on Monday to support his efforts.
For now, the Biden campaign’s strategy appears to be centered on riding out the current wave of criticism and pushing forward with their campaign plan. However, the upcoming days and weeks will be crucial for Biden, who faces a significant challenge in maintaining his standing within the Democratic Party and the public at large.
Keywords:
- Joe Biden
- US election
- Democratic Party
- withdraw
- campaign
- Donald Trump
- NATO summit
- pressure
- concerns
- strategy
