President Joe Biden, during his first televised interview since a troubled debate performance in June, did little to alleviate Democratic concerns about his 2024 reelection bid against former President Donald Trump. In the ABC News interview on Friday, Biden insisted he is committed to the race, despite mounting calls for his withdrawal.
On Saturday, Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., joined a growing group of House Democrats urging Biden to step aside. Craig emphasized the high stakes of a potential second Trump presidency as her reason for seeking fresh Democratic leadership. She is the fifth House Democrat to publicly request Biden’s exit, following similar remarks by Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., on Friday.
These calls reflect wider unease within the party. Reps. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., and Seth Moulton, D-Mass., have also suggested Biden withdraw. David Axelrod, former advisor to President Barack Obama, noted Biden’s pride in his record but cautioned that he appeared out of touch with voter concerns.
This week, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., aligned partially with these concerns, though reaffirming their support for Biden. They indicated his debate performance raised legitimate questions about his fitness.
Efforts to address these concerns include discussions convened by Biden with key Democratic figures, including Pelosi and Clyburn, and scheduled meetings orchestrated by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., to address Biden’s impact on 2024 campaigns.
Concurrently, leading Democratic donors, including Galaxy CEO Michael Novogratz, are expressing frustration with Biden’s candidacy. Novogratz criticized the current leadership’s longevity, advocating for new blood. Prominent donors like Abigail Disney are withholding future contributions unless Biden exits the race.
Polls from sources like the New York Times/Siena College and the Wall Street Journal show Biden’s standing against Trump eroding since June, highlighting lingering concerns over his debate performance.
Despite this, Biden remains resolute, telling ABC News that only a divine intervention would compel him to leave the race.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/06/biden-abc-interview-fails-to-quell-2024-reelection-concerns.html
Category :
Tags:
