Several top-ranking House Democrats have reportedly urged President Biden to suspend his presidential campaign following a lackluster debate performance against former President Donald Trump. The call for Biden’s suspension was made during a leadership meeting hosted by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and attended by senior Democrat lawmakers and ranking members of U.S. House committees.
The Leadership Meeting
A zoom meeting led by Jeffries took place on Sunday, in which the Democratic leadership aimed to formulate a strategy in response to Biden’s disappointing debate performance. Despite the continued support from Democrat governors who met with Biden at the White House earlier this week, it appears that the outcome of this leadership call has been less than favorable for Biden’s re-election campaign.
Call for Campaign Suspension
According to Axios, three senior House Democrats disclosed that five Democrat committee leaders called on President Biden to halt his campaign during the Sunday meeting.
Critics Within The Party
The critics calling for Biden’s withdrawal include U.S. Reps Jerry Nadler of New York, Adam Smith of Washington, Mark Takano of California, and Joe Morelle of New York, as per individuals familiar with the call. Additionally, concerns over Biden’s ability were also voiced by Reps Jim Himes of Connecticut, Zoe Lofgren of California, Don Beyer of Virginia, and Rick Larsen of Washington – information confirmed by a report from Politico.
Supporters Among The Critics
Despite the growing criticism, there are still some supporters of Biden within his party. Aaron Fritschner, a spokesman for Rep. Beyer, clarified that despite the reports, the congressman remains committed to supporting President Biden.
The Down-ballot Impact
Other House Democrats, while not explicitly asking for Biden’s resignation, have expressed their concerns about his potential impact on down-ballot effects if he is included on the Democratic ticket. For instance, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who is running for Senate against former baseball star Steve Garvey, has voiced such concerns during his appearance on “Meet The Press”.
Growing Resistance from Senate Democrats
Biden is reportedly facing growing opposition from Senate Democrats as well. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) had planned a meeting to persuade his fellow Senate Democrats to oppose Biden on Sunday, although the meeting did not materialize. The entire group of Senate Democrats will convene on Tuesday for a regularly scheduled caucus meeting.
The Pressure Builds
One Democratic Party insider has predicted that the pressure to remove President Biden is likely to intensify when Congress reconvenes in Washington on Monday. “The sh*t is going to hit the fan on Monday, when Congress returns,” one Democrat lawmaker told Axios under the condition of anonymity.
Leave a Comment