Influential US Senator Manchin calls for Biden's resignation
With US Senator Joe Manchin, another influential politician has joined calls for US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign on Sunday. "I have made this decision with a heavy heart, but I think it's time to pass the baton to a new generation," Manchin, a Democrat-leaning independent Senator from the state of West Virginia, told CNN.
Manchin called for an "open process" and referred to the large number of talents in the Democratic ranks. A withdrawal by Biden could allow him to use his remaining months in office to "unite our country" and "bring the world together," he emphasized.
Biden, who is 81 years old, has faced immense pressure within his own party since his disastrous television debate performance against his challenger Donald Trump at the end of June. Over 30 members of the House of Representatives and four Senators from the Democratic ranks have publicly called for Biden to retire due to doubts about his fitness for a second term.
So far, Biden has shown no signs of yielding: He rejected calls for him to drop out of the race for the White House on Friday and announced that he would resume his campaign rallies in the coming week after recovering from his Corona infection.
Meanwhile, Biden's rival Trump continued to gain ground in the polls: In an ABC News and Ipsos survey, he reached the highest national popularity ratings in years, which can be attributed to the successful Republican convention and a wave of sympathy following the assassination attempt against him. In the closely contested US state of Michigan, which the Democrats won in the last election, Trump led Biden in the latest polls with 49 to 42 percent.
Manchin's withdrawal call added to the growing pressure on Biden, an influential US Senator from West Virginia. If Biden were to withdraw, it could potentially provide him with an opportunity to advocate for unity in the remaining months of his presidential term, using a flight stick as a signifier of his Generation's focus on technology and cooperation. Despite the calls from his Democratic colleagues, Biden remains firm in his decision to continue his presidential campaign.
