Biden's Interview Fails to Soothe Democratic Concerns About His Campaign
President Joe Biden’s primetime TV interview on Friday night has not managed to calm the growing unrest within his party regarding his campaign. Following a stumbling debate performance against Donald Trump, a fifth House Democrat, Angie Craig of Minnesota, has joined her peers in urging the president to withdraw from the race. Reports suggest that more may soon follow.
During his rare primetime appearance on ABC News, Biden dismissed his debate performance as a mere “bad episode” and stated that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to end his re-election bid. At 81 years old, Biden is spending Saturday at his family home in Delaware and has scheduled two public events for Sunday.
Although no senior party members have openly called for Biden to step down, the unease among Democrats is evident. Some polls indicate Trump is pulling ahead of Biden, raising concerns about the potential loss of the presidency, House seats, and the Senate majority if Biden remains the nominee.
Congresswoman Craig, facing a tough re-election campaign in Minnesota, expressed doubts about Biden’s ability to effectively campaign and win against Trump. While respecting Biden’s long service, she urged him to step aside for the good of the party. “This is not a decision I’ve come to lightly, but there is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency,” she stated.
Shortly after Biden’s ABC interview, Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett, the first House Democrat to call for Biden’s withdrawal, reiterated on CNN the urgency of Biden stepping down. He warned that the longer Biden delays, the harder it will be for a new candidate to mount a successful campaign against Trump.
On Friday, other House Democrats, including Mike Quigley of Illinois and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, joined the chorus calling for Biden to exit the race. They followed Arizona lawmaker Raúl Grijalva, who made his plea on Wednesday.
In the interview, Biden refused to take a cognitive test and release the results, asserting, “I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test – everything I do [is a test],” he told George Stephanopoulos. This response did not sit well with Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu of California, who told Politico that Biden’s answer was “unsettling and not particularly convincing.”
Throughout the 22-minute interview, Biden dismissed the idea that his allies might ask him to step aside, stating firmly, “it’s not going to happen.” Stephanopoulos questioned Biden about his capacity to serve another term, to which Biden responded, “I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me.”
Biden, who is scheduled to speak at a rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday, expressed gratitude to Vice President Kamala Harris for her support during the interview. Harris has emerged as a potential contender should Biden step down.
While Biden was on air, Harris was aboard Air Force Two en route to New Orleans for the Essence Festival, an annual celebration of black culture. Despite her recent visible support for Biden, including attending the White House Fourth of July celebration and sitting in on key meetings, Harris’s aides maintain that her actions are business as usual.
On Saturday, Harris was slated to participate in a moderated discussion at the Essence Festival, the first in a series of July events targeting black female voters, a crucial demographic for Democrats. Although the festival focuses on black culture and diversity, questions about Biden’s candidacy and Harris’s potential rise will likely surface.
As she continues her public engagements, Harris must balance showing unwavering support for Biden while subtly proving her readiness should she need to step in. This delicate balancing act has been her role for the past three years, ensuring she supports Biden without overshadowing him or appearing overly eager to take his place.
