Presidential election - Is Biden dropping out of the US election campaign? Democrats nervous
In the US election campaign, the air is thinning for President Joe Biden: Following his disastrous performance at the TV debate against challenger Donald Trump, the poll numbers for the Democrat have worsened. In addition, voices within his own party are growing louder, calling for the 81-year-old to withdraw from the race for the Presidency. Biden aims to secure another term in office and prevent Trump's return to the White House. However, it remains uncertain how long he can withstand the pressure.
Poll numbers in the cellar
In the past few weeks, Trump and Biden have been neck and neck in the polls. The Republican always led by one to two percentage points - despite his scandals and conviction in a New York criminal trial. Since the television debate, Trump has significantly expanded his lead in voter favorability, according to recent polls by the "New York Times," CNN, and "Wall Street Journal." Biden now trails Trump by six to eight percentage points. Among Democrats, this is causing unease - and apparently also a willingness to consider other candidates.
In the US, polls - despite various factors that make them relatively inaccurate - play a significant role. Worsening poll numbers for a politician can have a crucial signaling effect for their supporters, as well as for the crucial campaign donors in the US election campaign.
Pressure on Biden mounts
Top politicians from Biden's party have kept a low profile with public criticism in recent days. On Tuesday, the first Democratic representative in the US House of Representatives, Lloyd Doggett from Texas, publicly called on Biden to drop out and make way for another candidate. Another Democratic representative, Raúl Grijalva from Arizona, joined the calls on Wednesday.
But behind the scenes, tensions are boiling: Biden held crisis talks himself, as the White House announced. He reportedly spoke with high-ranking Democrats such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other parliamentarians on Wednesday.
In the evening, Biden met with more than 20 Democratic governors - likely with the goal of securing their support. The governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, described the conversation as "sincere." They stand behind Biden, but are concerned about the Democrats' performance in the race for the Presidency.
The White House is working to contain the damage. Biden's Chief of Staff Jeff Zients reportedly called more than 500 government officials in a phone conference to downplay the "noise" about Biden and focus on government work. The past few days have been a challenge. The focus of all employees on government work will be even more important in the heated campaign phase, Zients reportedly said.
White House: Biden stays in the race
The government headquarters continues to vigorously dismiss any doubts about Biden's fitness for office. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who usually only speaks about government matters and not explicitly about the campaign, emphasized several times that Biden would remain in the race.
Previously, the White House had rejected media reports suggesting that Biden was contemplating a withdrawal. In a report by the "New York Times," it is stated that the President had spoken with a "key ally" about this matter. According to this source, during the conversation, Biden reportedly said that he might not be able to save his candidacy if he couldn't convince people of his fitness for the presidency in the coming days. "This claim is absolutely false," a spokesperson from the White House Press Office responded.
In the coming days, Biden is scheduled to attend several engagements: On Friday, there is a television interview planned, and in the coming days, campaign events in the states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, as well as a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., are scheduled to take place.
Meanwhile, the focus is shifting to Biden's Vice President Kamala Harris. She could replace Biden in the presidential race. While there have been numerous speculations about a possible switch in the social media, a supporter team from former President Donald Trump went on the offensive against the Democrat regarding this. "The Democrats are rallying behind Kamala Harris as it is no longer deniable that Joe Biden is unfit for office," a statement from the campaign read.
- The US election campaign has seen a significant shift in favor of Donald Trump, following his perceived victory in the TV debate against President Joe Biden.
- Recent polls conducted by reputable sources such as CNN, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, indicate that Biden trails Trump by six to eight percentage points.
- Biden, who aims to secure another term in office, is currently facing pressure from within his own party, with some voices calling for him to withdraw from the #USElection2024 race.
- Despite the growing calls for Biden to step down, he held crisis talks with high-ranking Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
- The White House is working to contain the damage, with Biden's Chief of Staff Jeff Zients downplaying the "noise" and encouraging all employees to focus on government work.
- The US election campaign is intense, with Biden scheduled to attend several engagements, including a TV interview, campaign events in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and a press conference during the NATO summit.
- Speculations about Vice President Kamala Harris potentially replacing Biden in the presidential race have emerged, with some citing Biden's perceived unfitness for office.
- The Republicans, led by Trump, are actively campaigning against a potential switch, with a supporter team releasing a statement criticizing the Democrats' move.
- Regardless of the developments in the US election campaign, the focus remains on securing the presidency and ensuring stability for the USA.
