Biden Reaffirms Campaign Amid Increasing Democratic Calls for Withdrawal
Despite increasing calls from within his party to step aside, US President Joe Biden has reiterated his commitment to remain in the presidential race. Biden, eager to return to campaigning, declared, “The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win.”
This statement followed reports suggesting internal discussions about Biden’s future candidacy. Over recent weeks, Biden has faced mounting pressure from party leaders to withdraw, loss of key donors, and concerns that his decision might impact Democrats’ control of Congress.
On Friday alone, at least a dozen Democratic lawmakers urged him to step down, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who reassured anxious donors in a call, expressing confidence in Biden’s re-election prospects. Harris emphasized, “We know which candidate in this election puts the American people first: Our president, Joe Biden.”
Biden’s re-election campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, also dismissed speculation about his withdrawal, asserting on MSNBC that Biden is fully committed to the race and is best positioned to challenge former President Donald Trump.
In his statement, Biden criticized Trump’s vision for the future and underscored his intent to highlight the former president’s perceived threats while advocating for his own record. “Donald Trump’s dark vision for the future is not who we are as Americans. Together, we can and will defeat him at the ballot box,” Biden stated.
Currently, Biden is quarantined at his Delaware home after testing positive for COVID-19, experiencing mild symptoms. His determination to continue the race remains unchanged, though his stance on stepping down has evolved, now indicating he would reconsider only if advised by a doctor due to a serious medical condition.
A campaign memo released Friday reinforced Biden’s resolve, stating, “Joe Biden has made it more than clear: He’s in this race and he’s in it to win it.” The memo emphasized there is no alternative nominee plan and urged unity to defeat Trump.
Time is crucial as the Democratic National Convention, set to begin on August 19, approaches. The Democratic National Committee plans a virtual roll-call vote in early August to officially nominate Biden.
Leah Daughtry, co-chair of the DNC rules committee, noted the challenge for any potential Biden challenger due to delegate support requirements, which Biden largely secured during the primaries. Historically, such a challenge is unprecedented.
However, pressure continues. Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the third senator to call for Biden’s withdrawal, praised Biden’s leadership but suggested passing the torch to secure a stronger candidate against Trump. His sentiment was echoed by other lawmakers, including Senator Jon Tester and various House members, who cited respect for Biden’s service but urged new leadership.
Despite the growing chorus for his exit, some supporters remain loyal. Notably, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned of risks if Biden is not the presumptive nominee, and both the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus have expressed support for Biden’s re-election bid.
As Biden prepares to resume campaigning, the Democratic Party faces a pivotal moment, balancing calls for change with the determination to present a united front against Donald Trump.
