The number of Democrats in the US Congress voicing concerns over President Joe Biden’s chances for re-election has risen to at least 35, according to NBC News. This development follows a disastrous performance by the 81-year-old president in a debate against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in June. The concerns raised by influential Democrats such as former US President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have added to the growing pressure on Biden to step down from the race for the 2024 presidential election nomination.
Senator Sherrod Brown and several other House Democrats have joined the chorus of Capitol Hill lawmakers and party donors urging their presumptive nominee to step down in light of his dwindling chances of winning, according to NBC News. Almost two-thirds of Democrats nationwide want Biden to withdraw from the race and let another candidate run, as per an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published on Wednesday.
Members of the Biden family have begun discussions on what his exit from the presidential race might look like should he choose to step down. This development has been attributed to some of his closest allies increasingly believing that he will, according to NBC News sources familiar with the matter. White House spokesman Andrew Bates denied any such exit discussions were taking place and emphasized that supporters should “keep the faith.
Despite these concerns, Biden has maintained his commitment to running for re-election and has promised to return to the campaign trail next week, according to a statement released by his campaign on Friday. Following Trump’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Biden criticized it as a “dark vision for the future,” insisting that he will lead the Democratic party to victory in the upcoming election.
Trump made his first public appearance since surviving an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania last weekend. He promised an “incredible victory” in November and vowed to make America great again, adding that he would achieve this within a very short period of time.
Earlier in July, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow will work with any US president who is chosen by the American people.