Joe Biden’s disastrous performance at the June 27 debate with Donald Trump sparked an explosion of concerns among Democrats – leading to a growing number of Congress members calling for the president to put an end to his 2024 run.
While concerns for the 81-year-old’s capacity existed throughout the last several months, the debate put Biden’s usual slip ups in a different kind of limelight. His slow reactions and obvious moments of confusion were impossible to hide when there were no pre-recorded questions or teleprompter for the president to lean on.
Joe Biden’s disastrous performance at the June 27 debate with Donald Trump sparked an explosion of concerns among Democrats – leading to a growing number of Congress members calling for the president to put an end to his 2024 run.
The president will next be tested in the highly anticipated interview set to air with Lester Holt on Monday night. Going into the interview, 21 Democratic politicians have publicly called for the president to exit the race. Nonetheless, more than 80 politicians have stayed supportive of the president, stating that he should remain the Democratic nominee.
Despite the support of those allies, Biden has lost major public support – including from critical celebrity endorsements. Just last week, actor George Clooney published an op-ed in the New York Times urging Biden to surrender his nomination after helping bring in a record $30 million at a fundraiser in June. Barack Obama allegedly knew about the op-ed ahead of its publication, but did not try to stop Clooney.
The Democratic National Convention is approaching, where Biden is still expected to be named as the party’s presidential candidate within weeks, unless he decides to step aside.
Here’s where Democrats, donors, celebrities and other notable figures stand on whether Biden should drop out, stay in, or expressed concern about his candidacy without committing to either side.
Several top Democratic players’ names have appeared as possible candidates for the presidency, including Vice President Kamala Harris; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan; Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania; Gov. Gavin Newsom of California; Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois; and Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky. However, Whitmer and several other of the top contenders have made clear that they are not planning to run in 2024.
If Biden did decide to exit the race before the DNC, these candidates could be written in and voted upon by delegates to become the Democratic nominee in August. If Biden does not step down, the convention’s protocol calls for delegates to maintain their support of Biden for the nomination.
Voters and Democrats will be paying close attention to Biden’s return to his campaign in the interview with Holt tonight, particularly as Trump has now successfully claimed the Republican nomination in Milwaukee.
