In an unprecedented turn of events, President Joe Biden now faces official demands from within his own party to step down from the 2024 presidential race in the fallout from his disastrous performance in last week’s debate against former President Donald Trump.
The criticism of Biden’s mental well-being, once confined to hushed conversations among Democrats, has now spilled into the public arena, marking a crisis point for the Biden campaign.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-T.X., became the first Democratic lawmaker to publicly call for Biden’s withdrawal — or removal –on Tuesday.
In a statement that balanced respect for Bidenwith concern for the party’s electoral prospects, Doggett argued that “too much is at stake to risk a Trump victory.”
The congressman’s unprecedented call for Biden to step aside and allow “a new generation of leaders” to emerge echoes growing panic within the Democratic Party about the president’s inability to effectively campaign — let alone govern for another four years.
Doggett’s public stance, which would have been unthinkable but 6 months ago, is far from isolated.
Other prominent Democrats have now publicly admitted they’ve hidden similar concerns. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said it was “a legitimate question” if Biden’s halting debate performance was “an episode or is this a condition” during an MSNBC interview this week.
“When people ask that question, it’s legitimate — of both candidates,” Pelosi added.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-M.S., also accepted the possibility of Biden stepping aside before the Democratic National Convention in August.
“So whether he’s the candidate or someone else is the candidate, he is going to be the keynote speaker at our convention,” Raskin said about Biden. “He will be the figure that we rally around to move forward.”
The debate performance seems to have been a tipping point for many Democrats.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, a close friend of Biden for years, said he had “never seen that happen before,” referring to the president’s struggles during the debate.
Long a subject of criticism by Republicans, there is now open worry among top Democrats that Biden, at 81, is suffering from cognition issues and isn’t up for the job of president.
Democrat concerns extend beyond Biden’s performance to the potential impact on down-ballot races. With control of both chambers of Congress at stake, some Democrats fear that Biden’s weaknesses could jeopardize their chances in key Senate and House races.
The Biden campaign has yet to directly address these criticisms. Instead, they’ve relied on surrogates to defend the 81-year-old’s fitness for office.
This strategy has not been enough to quell the rising public of anxiety within the Democratic Party.
The situation is further complicated by the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which Democrats fear will stop various legal prosecutions of Trump.
This development has added urgency to Biden’s faltering candidacy.
The Democratic Party now faces a difficult balancing act: maintaining unity behind Biden while addressing reality about his ability to win in November… or govern now.
With the election less than four months away, the pressure on Biden’s camp is growing daily.