Democratic congressman fuels debate about possible Biden withdrawal
Biden, at 81 years old, the oldest president in US history, spoke with a hoarse voice and became tangled in his phrases during the TV debate with his prospective challenger Donald Trump on CNN on Thursday evening.
So far, the heavyweights in the Democratic Party have publicly expressed their support for Biden, but since the TV debate, the anxiety and concerns of his supporters and donors have increased. Some accuse Biden's inner circle of a lack of transparency regarding his capabilities.
Representative Doggett of Biden's party is now the first to publicly call on the president to step down from his campaign in favor of another candidate. In a statement, Doggett expressed the hope that Biden would make the "painful and difficult decision" to withdraw.
Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House and a Democrat, told MSNBC on Tuesday that it was "legitimate" to express concerns about Biden's fitness for the presidency after the debate. She held it "legitimate" to question the mental acuity "of both candidates," the 84-year-old Pelosi said.
Pelosi praised Biden's vision and strategic thinking, but acknowledged that he had a "bad night." It was fair to question the mental sharpness "of both candidates," she added.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, a Democrat, demanded assurances. Voters needed to know that there would be no repetition of Biden's performance in the TV duel, Whitehouse said. Whitehouse told WPRI-TV that he was "quite disturbed" by Biden's performance.
The White House press team said a cognitive test for Biden was "unjustified and unnecessary," but the White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, told reporters on Tuesday that Biden knew how to bounce back.
Since the TV debate, Biden has given no live interviews or press conferences, so he has not had to answer any questions spontaneously and under pressure. However, this is set to change on Friday: ABC News announced an interview with Biden for Friday. Previews are expected to be released the same day, but the full interview will not be aired until Sunday.
A change in the Democratic presidential candidate would be politically complicated. Biden himself would have to decide to withdraw to make way for another candidate before the party convention this month. Biden won the Democratic primaries with an overwhelming majority, with a total of 3,900 delegates bound to him. If Biden steps down, they would have to choose a replacement.
- Despite the support from heavyweights in the Democratic Party for President Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election, the debate with former President Donald Trump on CNN raised concerns among his supporters and donors.
- After the debate, Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Member of Parliament from Biden's party, called on the president to step down from his campaign and support another candidate.
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats have reportedly urged Biden to avoid debates with Trump due to concerns about his performance and health.
- Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, defended Biden, stating that he knows how to bounce back after a tough debate and that a cognitive test is unnecessary.
- Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democratic senator from Rhode Island, expressed his concerns about Biden's performance during the debate, demanding assurances that there would be no repetition.
- CNN's Jake Tapper criticized the White House for not allowing Biden to participate in further debates, accusing them of trying to shield him from scrutiny.
