Bernie Sanders describes President Joe Biden’s recent debate performance as “painful.” In an interview, he says he’s not confident that Biden can win this fall. But the progressive senator from Vermont does not want Biden to step aside. Instead, Sanders, who served as Biden’s chief rival in the Democratic Party’s 2020 nomination fight, is calling on voters to adopt “a maturity” as they view their options this fall. That’s putting the best face on it. Nearly a week after Biden’s disastrous debate performance, there is a growing sense among concerned Democrats that the party has trapped itself in a bad situation with no clear solution, caught in a primary process set up to protect Biden with elected officials unwilling to say out loud what some say quietly. Some allies, like Sanders, are acknowledging Biden’s problems but contrasting his policies and record with those of Republican Donald Trump. But many donors, strategists and party insiders want Biden to suspend his reelection campaign to avoid what they see as certain defeat come November.
Quick Read
- Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett calls for Biden to step down: Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett publicly urges President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following his poor debate performance, stating that “too much is at stake” for Biden to continue and risk losing to Donald Trump.
- Frustration among Democrats grows: Nearly a week after Biden’s disastrous debate performance, there is a growing sense among Democrats that the party is trapped in a bad situation with no clear solution, with many feeling powerless to replace Biden.
- Biden’s potential replacements prepare: Conversations are happening among those close to potential Biden replacements, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Vice President Kamala Harris, about next steps if Biden steps aside.
- Biden’s allies defend his candidacy: Allies like Sen. Bernie Sanders acknowledge Biden’s problems but emphasize his policies and record over Trump’s. Sanders calls for voters to adopt “a maturity” in viewing their options.
- Sanders on Biden’s challenges: Sanders describes Biden’s debate performance as “painful” and expresses doubt about Biden’s ability to win but does not want him to step aside, urging voters to focus on policies rather than performance.
- Pelosi questions Biden’s debate performance: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says it is legitimate to question whether Biden’s halting performance is just “an episode or is this a condition,” while emphasizing his knowledge of the issues.
- Biden’s team downplays concerns: Biden’s campaign downplays political problems in memos and meetings with donors and strategists, insisting that Biden can recover from one bad debate performance.
- Internal Democratic Party tension: Key groups in Biden’s coalition show signs of fraying, with frustration and attacks among pro-Biden activists and elected Democrats sharing private concerns about Biden’s general election prospects.
- Fundraising numbers remain strong: Despite concerns, Biden’s campaign announced a $127 million fundraising haul for June, including $33 million raised on the day of the debate and in its aftermath.
- Democratic leaders reaffirm support: Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison states that the primary is over and Biden secured almost every delegate, reinforcing that Biden will be the nominee for president.
- Local Democratic leaders reassure voters: State party chairs, like Florida’s Nikki Fried and Michigan’s Levona Barnes, work to calm voter concerns and emphasize Biden’s achievements and the contrast with Trump.
- Biden’s debate performance sparks questions: Vermont Sen. Peter Welch admits that Biden’s debate performance intensified age-related questions among voters and supporters, but emphasizes the campaign’s awareness of these concerns.
The Associated Press has the story:
Many Democrats feel powerless to replace Biden as party leaders fight to contain debate fallout
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
Bernie Sanders describes President Joe Biden’s recent debate performance as “painful.” In an interview, he says he’s not confident that Biden can win this fall. But the progressive senator from Vermont does not want Biden to step aside. Instead, Sanders, who served as Biden’s chief rival in the Democratic Party’s 2020 nomination fight, is calling on voters to adopt “a maturity” as they view their options this fall.
“A presidential election is not a Grammy Award contest for the best singer or entertainer. It’s about who has the best policies that impact our lives,” Sanders said. “I’m going to do everything I can to see that Biden gets reelected.”
That’s putting the best face on it. Nearly a week after Biden’s disastrous debate performance, there is a growing sense among concerned Democrats that the party has trapped itself in a bad situation with no clear solution, caught in a primary process set up to protect Biden with elected officials unwilling to say out loud what some say quietly.
Some allies, like Sanders, are acknowledging Biden’s problems but contrasting his policies and record with those of Republican Donald Trump. But many donors, strategists and party insiders want Biden to suspend his reelection campaign to avoid what they see as certain defeat come November.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas on Tuesday became the first House Democrat to call for the president to withdraw, saying “too much is at stake” for Biden to stay in the race and lose to Trump. “He has the opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process,” Doggett said in a written statement. “My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved.”
In private, people close to would-be Biden replacements — including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Vice President Kamala Harris — are having informal conversations about potential next steps should Biden abruptly change course and step aside.
FILE – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, May 4, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md. Nearly three years after authorities foiled a bizarre plot to kidnap Whitmer, the last defendants accused of taking part, Eric Molitor and brothers William Null and Michael Null, go on trial Monday, Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)Such conversations include talk of potential running mates, according to donors involved in the discussions. Names of potential vice presidential nominees that have surfaced include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and California Rep. Ro Khanna.
Every one of the officials on such lists has publicly pledged support for Biden in recent days. And ever defiant, Biden’s team has downplayed the president’s political problems in a series of memos and private meetings with donors, strategists and party insiders.
“The voters are powerless,” said Nina Turner, a national co-chair of Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, who now fears the Democratic Party cannot win again with Biden as the nominee. “The decision rests solely with him.”
Amid such frustration, key groups in Biden’s political coalition — who had shown signs of fraying even before the debate — have begun to turn against each other.
Tim Miller, a prominent Biden supporter who once worked for Republican political campaigns, has come under attack in recent days from pro-Biden activists. They posted pictures of his family on social media after he raised concerns about Biden’s general election prospects.
In an interview, however, Miller said that elected Democrats privately tell him that they share his concerns.
“For me, the only risk right now is everyone shutting up and getting in line,” Miller said. “It’s the right time to have an open conversation about what the path forward is. Otherwise, we’re on a trajectory for another Donald Trump presidency.”
A handful of leading Republicans from the “Never Trump” camp met privately with Biden campaign officials on Monday to encourage the president to leave the race.
The Biden campaign issued a memo over the weekend claiming he had lost little support after the debate. A separate internal memo also argued that he would retain the support of many voters who had a negative reaction to his primetime performance.
A CNN poll conducted by SSRS after the debate found that Biden’s favorability rating hasn’t shifted meaningfully, nor has the share of Americans who say they will vote for him in November. However, three-quarters of U.S. voters — and more than half of Democratic voters — say the Democratic Party would have a better chance of winning the presidency with someone else at the top of the ticket.
At the same time, the president’s campaign announced on Tuesday a massive fundraising haul for the month of June. Overall, the campaign raised $127 million last month, including $33 million on the day of the debate and in its aftermath, according to the campaign. The numbers cannot be verified until federal filings are posted later in the month.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison also made clear on Tuesday that the party’s rules leave no room for a Plan B.
Biden secured almost every delegate in the state-by-state primary process this spring. They are pledged by party rules to “in all good conscience” reflect the desires of voters who chose Biden. A virtual roll call vote to formalize Biden’s status as the nominee is expected weeks before the party’s national convention.
“The primary is over, and in every state, the will of Democratic voters was clear: Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president,” Harrison told The Associated Press. “Delegates are pledged to reflect voters’ sentiment, and over 99% of delegates are already pledged to Joe Biden headed into our convention.”
But Biden’s allies in key states across the country acknowledge the fear spreading through their party ranks.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said she’s worked to calm concerns about Biden’s mental acuity by sharing her personal experiences.
“I have been in close-quarter meetings and conversations and interactions with the president where we’re able to talk high policy initiatives but also been able to just have a general conversation, like you’re talking to your neighbor,” Fried said. “There’s never been a time that I have questioned his abilities to run this country and to put forth the type of energy and coalition that will be necessary to win in November.”
Michigan Democratic Party chairwoman Levona Barnes said she spoke with volunteers Monday night and “yes they asked questions” about Biden’s debate performance. But “we need to focus our talks with our voters on the work that the president’s done in contrast with Donald Trump,” she said.
Vermont Democratic Sen. Peter Welch conceded that Biden’s debate performance intensified questions about the president’s age, which are on the minds of “everyday voters” and even “extremely energetic Biden supporters.”
“Within the Biden campaign they’re acutely aware of it,” Welch said in an interview. “I thought it was a mistake for the Biden campaign to be critical of people who started asking questions the campaign itself is asking.”
Meanwhile, Vermont’s other senator, Sanders, conceded that Biden’s path to reelection will not be easy. “I wasn’t confident he could win before the debate,” Sanders told The AP. “What we need on the part of the American people is a maturity right now — and that is to understand that what is important are the issues. And the difference between Trump and Biden: day and night.”
