Marrakech – President Joe Biden is battling for his political future as an increasing number of Democrats express doubts about his ability to defeat current Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump in the November election.
The rising dissent comes in the wake of Biden’s poor performance in last week’s presidential debate, which has caused his poll numbers to slide and fueled discussions about whether the Democratic Party should scramble to find a replacement candidate.
Calls for Biden to step aside
Representative Lloyd Doggett (Democrat-Texas) became the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to publicly urge Biden to abandon his reelection bid. “Biden saved our democracy by delivering us from Trump in 2020. He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024,” Doggett said, as reported by The Hill.
Former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) also penned an op-ed for Newsweek arguing that Democrats should replace Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket.
Other prominent Democrats have expressed reservations about Biden’s candidacy. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) questioned whether Biden’s debate performance was “an episode or a condition.”
The “episode” in question refers to Biden’s appearance and behavior at the first presidential debate against Trump. Alarmed watchers described him often looking as if his mind was not present, looking far off into the distance with a slightly dropping jaw.
Representative James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), a key Biden ally, said “the American people want an explanation, they need to be reassured” about the president’s vigor, as reported by The Hill.
Polling shows Trump gaining ground
Recent opinion polls have shown Trump gaining an advantage over Biden both nationally and in key battleground states.
A CBS News poll found that Trump now has a 3-point edge over Biden across the battleground states collectively as well as a 2-point edge nationally.
The poll also revealed that Democrats are less likely than Republicans to say they will “definitely” vote in the upcoming election.
A CNN/SSRS poll put Trump up 6 points over Biden nationwide, with 75 percent of registered voters believing Democrats would fare better with a different nominee.
Similarly, a Suffolk University poll posted in USA Today pegged Trump’s national lead at 3 points, with 41 percent of Democrats wanting Biden replaced as the nominee.
White House pushes back
Despite the growing concerns, the White House has been adamant that Biden will not withdraw from the race.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that Biden had “a bad night” at the debate but rejected reports that he had suffered any kind of “episode.” In response to the concerns about his age (81), Jean-Pierre dismissed suggestions that Biden might be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
In a post-debate rally in North Carolina, Biden himself also addressed the critics. “I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious,” he said, while his supporters chanted an enthusiastic round of “Joe! Joe! Joe!” He continued, “I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong.”
The current president admitted to making mistakes during the debate but remains committed to his reelection bid. “I’m in this race to the end, and we’re going to win because when Democrats unite, we will always win,” he told campaign and party staffers, according to AFP.
Looking ahead
As the Biden campaign attempts to reassure supporters and move past the debate debacle, the president is scheduled to meet with Democratic governors, travel to key swing states, and sit for a major TV interview with ABC News.
While some Democrats have publicly expressed support for Biden, including former Presidents Obama and Clinton, as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, others remain skeptical about his ability to defeat Trump in November.
To add to the uncertainty, Biden’s original base that was stronger than ever last time he ran against Trump is now disjointed, morally conflicted by the president’s unwavering support for Israel while they commit war crimes in Gaza.
As of April, more than 500,000 Americans in states across the country cast their Democratic primary votes as “uncommitted,” in efforts to send Biden of their priorities to stand in solidarity with Palestine.
With all of this on the line, the coming weeks will be crucial for Biden as he seeks to regain his footing and convince Democrats that he remains the party’s best hope for victory.
However, with Trump’s poll numbers on the rise and an increasing number of Democrats voicing doubts about Biden’s candidacy, the president faces an uphill battle to secure his political future.
Read also: US Media Urges Biden to Drop Out of Presidential Race After Debate Performance
