US campaign - Biden with his back against the wall - Mood at Republicans' party
During the Republican party convention in Milwaukee, the Republicans showed a united front with good spirits. However, the situation for US President Joe Biden is becoming increasingly difficult. After a brief pause, he is facing new demands to withdraw from the campaign for a second term. At the same time, his health is causing him issues - he tested positive for Coronavirus. In Milwaukee, on the other hand, Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate, J.D. Vance, gave his first major speech as a running mate.
Biden cancels campaign tour due to Corona
Coincidentally, US President Biden arrived at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on a Wednesday evening (local time). The 81-year-old is withdrawing there with mild symptoms after having to cancel a campaign trip in Nevada due to a positive Coronavirus test. Biden's illness comes at a time when the debate about his candidacy has heated up again. Following the attack on Trump during a campaign appearance over the weekend, Biden could only briefly speak.
While Biden was on the campaign trail in Nevada, prominent Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff called on him to withdraw from the presidential race. Shortly thereafter, media reported that the two top Democrats in the US Congress, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, had warned Biden about his presidential campaign in the previous week.
Report: Pelosi speaks to Biden's conscience
CNN reported, citing unnamed sources, that Democratic party leader Nancy Pelosi recently told Biden in a conversation that he could not beat Republican President Trump in the race for the White House. Biden reportedly responded dismissively. The "New York Times" wrote that Biden had shown openness to such warnings in recent days and was at least considering the arguments. The Times named Democrats who had been informed about the conversations.
Biden has so far rejected all withdrawal demands and made it clear that he has no intention of dropping out. In a TV interview broadcast on Wednesday, Biden said on a related question that a medical problem could make him consider a withdrawal.
The Democrat is under heavy pressure from his own ranks due to his advanced age and doubts about his mental fitness. Since a disastrous performance in a TV debate against his opponent Trump, various Democratic congressmen have called on him to withdraw from the presidential race in the past few weeks. Many others expressed serious concerns about his chances publicly.
Prominent withdrawal calls
Congressman Schiff, who is running for a Senate seat, declared that he had serious concerns about whether Biden could defeat Republican presidential candidate Trump in November. Biden had achieved great successes, but it was time to clear the way for someone else. Schiff is a confidant of Pelosi. The 84-year-old still has significant influence in the party and had signaled in a recent TV interview that the debate about Biden's candidacy was not yet over. Her explicit refusal to endorse Biden made headlines.
At the highest echelons of the Democratic Party, Biden's stubbornness appears to be causing concerns. Both Schumer, the Majority Leader in the Senate, and Jeffries, the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, held separate talks with Biden last week and warned him that his continued presidential campaigning could lead to the Democrats losing control of both congressional chambers.
According to the "Washington Post" and ABC News, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, Schumer's office responded to the reports on Wednesday by stating that the Senator had conveyed the views of his caucus to Biden. Until the source is identified as Schumer or Biden, reporting remains in the realm of speculation.
Besides the presidency, many seats in the parliament will be up for grabs in the November election. The entire House of Representatives is being re-elected, and one-third of the seats in the Senate are up for grabs. The Democrats fear that the Republicans could control both houses of Congress and the White House after the election. Many legislators are concerned that the lack of support for Biden could also cost them their re-election.
Running Nose and Cough
Biden, who intends to be confirmed in office after the November election, was in Las Vegas on Wednesday to court Hispanic votes. A positive coronavirus test put him in a good position. His doctor reported that Biden had respiratory symptoms, a runny nose, and a cough. He had received his first dose of the Covid-19 medication Paxlovid. Biden falls into the high-risk category due to his advanced age. He was last tested positive for the virus two summers ago.
Celebratory Mood in Milwaukee
The mood among the Republicans, on the other hand, is quite different. At the Republican convention in Milwaukee on Monday, Trump was officially named the party's presidential candidate. His major speech is expected in the German night on Friday. Trump has been receiving a standing ovation from his party colleagues every evening since the event began in the massive convention hall. Publicly, Trump himself has not expressed anything. Instead, he sits in a special section of the audience with a bandaged ear.
Trump's Vice Presidential Candidate Courts Workers
Trump's vice presidential candidate, Vance, had his big test on Wednesday evening (local time). In his speech, he portrayed Trump as a man of moderation who called for unity after the attempted attack on his ear. At the same time, he presented himself as a man of the people. The 39-year-old tried to appeal particularly to white workers in the so-called Swing States in his speech. These are decisive states that cannot be clearly attributed to either the Republicans or the Democrats.
Before Vance's speech, Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. or the Governor of the state of Texas, Greg Abbott, addressed the crowd. The party members broke out in cheers, held signs that read "Mass Deportations Now," or chanted about Trump's unfinished border wall along the US-Mexico border. The Republicans have presented a united front in Milwaukee in recent days and appear overly optimistic about the November election.
- The Republicans displayed a united front during their campaign in Milwaukee, despite the challenging situation for President Joe Biden.
- Biden's health issues further complicated his campaign for a second term, following a positive Coronavirus test.
- In response to the situation, Biden canceled his campaign tour and retreated to his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
- The attack on Donald Trump during his campaign appearance over the weekend added to the existing debates about Biden's candidacy.
- Prominent Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff called for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, followed by warnings from Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.
- CNN reported that Nancy Pelosi had privately expressed her concern to Biden about his ability to beat Trump in the US Election 2024.
- Biden, however, has remained firm in his decision to continue his campaign, despite the withdrawal demands and health concerns.
- Biden's stubbornness has reportedly raised concerns at the highest echelons of the Democratic Party.
- Schumer and Jeffries held separate talks with Biden last week, expressing their concerns about the impact of his campaign on the Democratic Party's chances in the upcoming election.
- The Democrats fear that a loss in the US Election 2024 could lead to the Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House.
- Biden's health issues, including a runny nose and cough, have added to the concerns about his ability to continue his campaign.
- Trump's vice presidential candidate, J.D. Vance, gave his first major speech in Milwaukee, presenting Trump as a man of moderation and unity.
- The Republicans, despite the controversies, have maintained a celebratory mood during their convention in Milwaukee, expressing optimism for the November election.
