President Joe Biden, in a letter to congressional Democrats, stood firm against calls for him to drop his candidacy and urged an end to the internal party conflict that has divided Democrats since his poor performance in public debates.
Biden’s attempts to reassure a deeply anxious Democratic Party came on Monday as lawmakers returned to Washington, facing a decision either revive his campaign efforts or consider replacing the party leader, a critical moment for both his re-election and their own political futures.
In a two-page letter distributed by his re-election campaign, Biden emphasised that the debate on how to proceed has been extensively discussed for over a week and needs to be resolved now. He emphasised that the party’s singular goal is to defeat Donald Trump in November.
“We have 42 days until the Democratic Convention and 119 days until the general election,” Biden stated. “Any uncertainty or lack of clarity about our mission only serves to benefit Trump and harm us. It’s time to unite, move forward as a cohesive party, and defeat Donald Trump.”
“They may be prominent figures, but I am indifferent to the opinions of those prominent figures,” Biden remarked.
He directly challenged his critics, suggesting that if they are serious, they should either declare their candidacy for president or challenge him at the convention, or alternatively rally behind him against Trump.
Anxiety is running high as leading Democratic lawmakers join calls for Biden to step aside despite his defiance.
Simultaneously, some of the president’s staunchest supporters are intensifying efforts to support Biden’s candidacy, asserting that he remains the best candidate to defeat Trump in what many perceive as one of the most crucial elections in a generation.
As lawmakers weigh whether Biden should continue, there are no easy solutions apparent.
It’s a delicate and highly volatile moment for the president’s party. Democrats who have collaborated with Biden for many years, valuing his policy contributions, now face uncomfortable questions about his political future. This situation unfolds as Biden hosts world leaders for the NATO summit in Washington this week.
Time is running short, with the Democratic National Convention just under a month away and the Republican convention in Milwaukee set to renominate Trump in a week. Many Democrats argue that attention should be focused on Trump’s recent felony conviction related to hush money and his ongoing federal charges concerning the 2020 election.
It’s a critical juncture for Biden himself. While he adamantly states that he will only step aside if directly instructed by a divine intervention, Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate are deliberating how aggressively they should challenge the president’s course or whether they should do so at all.
In an effort to achieve consensus, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is holding private meetings with lawmakers before indicating his own preference, according to a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity. He plans to gather Democrats on Monday whose re-election bids are most vulnerable.
However, a private call on Sunday among approximately 15 senior House committee members highlighted the deepening division, with at least four more Democrats Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, and Rep. Mark Takano of California privately suggesting that Biden should step aside.
Nadler, as the most senior member on the call, was the first to express the opinion that Biden should step down, according to a source familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity. He did so recognising his seniority and the potential for others to join his stance.
Several others on the call raised concerns about Biden’s capability and his chances of winning re-election, though they did not explicitly advocate for him to exit the race.
However, other members, including Rep.
Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, both influential leaders in the Congressional Black Caucus, strongly voiced their support for Biden, as did Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee.
Some lawmakers also expressed frustration that leadership has not provided clear direction or a path forward, according to sources familiar with the call. One Democratic lawmaker emphasised that regardless of the decision, the situation must be resolved immediately, as stated by one of the sources.
Neal commented afterward that the bottom line is that Biden defeated Trump in 2020 and “will do so again in November.”
The upheaval is also testing a new generation of leaders, led by Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York, who have refrained from publicly guiding lawmakers on a path forward while balancing diverse opinions within their ranks.
Behind the scenes, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi continues to field calls from lawmakers seeking guidance on the situation and is widely seen as the key figure to watch for any ultimate decision on Biden’s future due to her proximity to the president and her adept vote-counting skills in party politics.
Last week, Pelosi publicly acknowledged that Biden’s debate performance raised legitimate questions he needed to address, but she has continued to support him. Biden contacted her last week when reaching out to other party leaders.
Following Biden’s prime-time ABC interview on Friday, which appeared to do little to assuage concerned Democrats and some said worsened the situation, Pelosi stepped forward to publicly praise Biden on social media as a “great President who continues to deliver for America’s kitchen table.” She added, “and we’re not done yet!”
Schumer has maintained a lower profile throughout the ordeal but will convene Democratic senators on Tuesday for their weekly lunch, where senators are likely to voice a variety of views.
One Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, initially planned to gather senators on Monday for private discussions about Biden, but according to a source familiar with his plans, these conversations will now take place during Tuesday’s regular caucus luncheon with all Democratic senators.
Another Democrat, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, stated that it’s time to stop worrying and return to grassroots campaigning.
Padilla spoke with Biden over the weekend and urged his campaign to allow Biden to be himself.
“Considering the debate, I believe the campaign has no other option,” Padilla said on Sunday, explaining that Biden needs to engage in town halls and unscripted events to show voters “the Joe Biden I know, and that most Americans have come to respect and appreciate.”
While some major donors may be showing hesitation, strategists working on House and Senate races have reported record fundraising, as donors view congressional Democrats as a crucial barrier and final line of defense against Trump.
House Democrats have experienced some of their best fundraising days yet, including a $3 million event last Friday night after the debate in New York City with former President Barack Obama and Jeffries. This is in addition to the $1.3 million that flowed into the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during and immediately after the debate.
Senate Democrats are also reportedly receiving a surge of support, according to a national Democrat with knowledge of Senate races.
As Democratic candidates campaign alongside Biden, the advice has been to focus on building their own profiles and highlighting how their work in Congress impacts their local districts.
Nancy Mbamalu
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