Democrats Divided Over Biden Continuing 2024 Presidential Run
- Elizabeth Delaney Headlines Contributor
- Updated Jul 10, 2024
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Biden’s poor performance in the 2024 Presidential debate has caused a great deal of angst among many in the Democratic Party. There is a growing list of Democrats who are in a panic and feel he should drop out. Some of them decided to give President Biden a call on Sunday and insisted that he withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
A Call to Step Aside from the 2024 Presidential Run
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) stepped up Sunday afternoon and called the president. Four House Democrats who were adamant with President Biden that he should step aside were Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), according to Politico.
Others who were on the call and told the president they were concerned about his run included Reps. Jim Himes (Conn.), Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), Don Beyer (Va.) and Rick Larsen (Wash.).
Senate Democrats are also concerned about President Biden’s 2024 presidential run. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is in the process of organizing a discussion among senators.
The sensitive issue of Biden’s 2024 run and the growing number of Democrats expressing concern about November’s outcome has garnered considerable attention for Jeffries, the House Democratic Caucus, and the White House.
“Hakeem is very thoughtful and very deliberate,” Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) told The Hill. “He takes his time, and that has served him well throughout this term in that he’s been able to get with others a deal to avoid default, a budget agreement, and the national security and global aid package.”
Landsman noted that such items aren’t “small things,” and Jeffries is approaching the major issue of Biden’s 2024 run with the same attention and willingness to listen to people as he has other major issues.
“Our mission is to win the White House and to prevent Donald Trump from getting there,” said one lawmaker who preferred to speak anonymously to The Hill. “We have to have a family conversation, basically.”
Rob Reiner, a Hollywood director, actor, and major Democratic Party donor, was rather emphatic about his thoughts that Biden needed to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Reiner’s post on his X account insisted, “If the Convicted Felon wins, we lose our Democracy. Joe Biden has effectively served US with honor, decency, and dignity. It’s time for Joe Biden to step down.”
Democrats Ponder Harris as Biden’s Replacement
If the Democrats convince Biden to step aside, Vice President Harris would be a quick solution, but many aren’t convinced that would be the best solution for being a stronger candidate.
Harris is also one of the Democrats who has expressed support for Biden’s run, but she has not indicated that she’s preparing to be his replacement.
Democrats are watching the polls closely, which may impact additional members of Congress and the Senate calling for Biden to step aside. On Monday, a Real Clear Politics poll showed that Trump was ahead of Biden by 3.3 percent.
Biden Reaffirms His Determination to Continue 2024 Presidential Race
Biden made a point on Monday of letting the Democrats in Congress know that he won’t be backing down from the race. He wrote a letter addressed to them and posted the letter on his X account, insisting that he is “firmly committed to staying in this race, in running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.”
His X post read, “It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”
This morning, I sent a letter to my fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill. In it, I shared my thoughts about this moment in our campaign.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2024
It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/ABtAaJrr0n
Trump Keeps Quiet Regarding Democrat Turmoil
Trump’s campaign has been unusually quiet regarding the turmoil in which Biden and the Democratic Party have found themselves.
“When your opponent is blowing himself up, don’t interrupt … There’s no reason to insert yourself in that conversation,” former Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), a former chair of the House GOP campaign arm, told The Hill regarding Trump keeping quiet. “The discipline is smart on this topic, and he’s done a good job at that.”
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