Biden ‘weighing’ whether to drop out of election race
As Biden staff “freak out”, the President is holding a series of make or break meetings, but he reportedly knows it may not be enough.
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US President Joe Biden is reportedly “weighing” up whether or not to drop out of his country’s presidential election race.
The New York Times on Wednesday said that Mr Biden had told a key ally that he concedes he may not be able to salvage his candidacy and he has just days to prove he has the ability to lead.
It’s possible he may no longer be the Democratic candidate by the end of the weekend.
But the White House has vigorously denied the report. “He is staying in the race,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday (US time) in Washington DC.
He certainly isn’t going down without a fight. In the coming days, Mr Biden will hold a series of make or break meetings with senior Democrats including Vice President Kamala Harris, will do a major TV interview, and hold campaign rallies in critical states.
It’s all to try and turn the tide following his shambolic performance during his debate with Donald Trump last week.
But turmoil appears to have engulfed the White House. One news source has reported that, “everyone is freaking the f*** out”.
Media reports in the US have suggested as many as 25 Democratic members of Congress are ready to call on President Biden, 81, to drop out of the race against Mr Trump, 77.
“He has to be honest with himself,” Democratic Representative Mike Quigley from Illinois, told CNN on Tuesday.
“It’s his decision. I just want him to appreciate at this time just how much it impacts, not just his race, but all the other races coming in November.”
Biden’s gamble to stay in race
On Tuesday, Mr Biden said part of the reason he seemed confused and vacant during the debate was because he was jet lagged. Yet he hadn’t travelled overseas for almost two weeks.
The White House is now desperate to turn the narrative away from Mr Biden’s mental fitness.
Over the last few days, Mr Biden has signalled that his has no intention of pulling out of the race – and it would be difficult to force him too.
He will give an interview to renowned ABC TV journalist George Stephanopoulos, due to air on Sunday, and campaign in the vital states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania this week in an effort to prove to voters that his debate performance, where he mumbled and stumbled, was indeed just a bad day at the office.
Biden considers dropping out
The New York Times on Wednesday reported that Mr Biden believes he is still the right person to lead the US, but has now conceded he has work to do to persuade Americans of that.
It quotes an ally saying that Mr Biden knows his upcoming ABC interview and two campaign rallies “must go well”.
But if the Biden that turned up at last week’s debate remerges, it could be curtains.
“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place,” the source was quoted as saying.
On Wednesdday, White House spokeswomen Ms Jean-Pierre said the Times’ claims were “absolutely false”.
She batted away question from reporters about whether Mr Biden would exit the race.
“The president is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race,” she said.
Mr Biden was “absolutely not” going to step down.
A CBS News opinion poll on Tuesday had Mr Trump pulling – ever so slightly – ahead of Mr Biden.
Mr Trump is now on 50 per cent to 48 per cent against Mr Biden on a national vote and on 51 per cent in critical states that could choose the election.
But it’s not a huge fall in support for Biden either.
‘Freaking the f*** out’
Mr Biden’s dance card was full on Wednesday, seemingly to try and refocus the minds of those closest to him.
A lunchtime meeting (early Thursday, Australia time) was held with staff to “check in,” wrote Biden campaign chief Jen O’Malley Dillon in an email.
Website Axios has reported that not only are White House staff nervous they’re also angry at what they have seen as a lack of honesty about the President and “zero leadership” from his team.
“The uncertainty after Thursday is palpable and anxiety is only increasing,” said one staffer to the website.
“Everyone is freaking the f*** out,” said another bluntly.
A spokesman for the campaign said “we all immensely believe in President Biden,” but that “campaigns are hard”.
Following the staff “check in,” Mr Biden had lunch with VP Harris.
Ms Harris is being touted as the most obvious person to take Mr Biden’s place on the ticket should he step down.
She has backed Mr Biden to the hilt so far. But if he dropped out she would be free to take a shot for the presidency herself.
Ms Harris’ approval ratings are, like Mr Biden’s, low. Nevertheless, polling suggests of all the possible Democratic candidates she would poll the highest against Mr Trump.
Although right now, her numbers are about the same as Mr Biden’s.
Then on Wednesday evening, Mr Biden will meet with a group of Democratic governors, including California’s Gavin Newsom who is also a name that has been mentioned as another possible candidate.
There are concerns that if the governors, which are some of the most influential and powerful voices in the party, call for Mr Biden to drop out it will be hard to defy their wishes.
On Tuesday, Texas congressman Lloyd Doggett became the first sitting Democrat politician to call for Mr Biden to fall of his campaign for re-election.
“We are deeply concerned about his trajectory and his ability to win,” he said.
“We want to give him space to make a decision, but we will be increasingly vocal about our concerns if he doesn’t (step aside).”
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