President Biden’s re-election bid has become a source of intense speculation, with mounting calls from Democratic allies urging him to step aside. Despite these calls and rumors of a potential withdrawal as early as this weekend, Biden has remained defiant in his commitment to the race. The Biden campaign has repeatedly dismissed anonymous sources and reports suggesting a withdrawal, characterizing them as a pressure campaign aimed at forcing Biden’s hand.
Kevin Muonoz, a Biden campaign spokesman, issued a press release last week, stating, “There are a lot of anonymous sources out there this week telling y’all what is and isn’t happening on Team Biden-Harris. I’m here – on the record (!) – to give you an overview of what actually happened, what’s to come, and a few thoughts on the very bad things coming out of the Republican National Convention.” This statement came shortly after Newsmax’s Mark Halperin reported that unnamed Democratic sources had informed him of Biden’s intention to drop out this weekend, with no endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris and a call for an open convention in Chicago.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a prominent Democrat, publicly joined the chorus of calls for Biden to step aside, advocating for a new generation to take the lead. The debate surrounding Biden’s health and mental fitness intensified following his recent debate performance, prompting concerns among Democrats.
While the Biden campaign has maintained a steadfast stance, denying rumors of a withdrawal, the speculation continues to escalate. Axios reported that unnamed Biden aides indicated the president was considering giving in to the calls to step down.
In a bid to quell the growing speculation, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, forcefully refuted the rumors on MSNBC, asserting, “It is false. And I think that it is false to continue to try to gin up this narrative. Joe Biden has said he is in this race. He is in this race to win it. He is instructing us to continue to carry out a plan to make sure that we are communicating [to as] many voters as possible.”
Meanwhile, Biden is currently self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. This diagnosis prompted the cancellation of campaign events in Las Vegas.
The pressure on Biden to withdraw has intensified following his recent debate performance, which raised concerns about his mental acuity. Despite his efforts to regain momentum by engaging in a more active campaign schedule, Democrats remain unconvinced.
“While the choice to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden’s alone, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch. And in doing so, secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election,” California Rep. Adam Schiff stated last week.
Despite reports of an imminent withdrawal, the New York Times reported that Biden would not step down before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit this week.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, former President Trump was officially nominated as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump announced Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate.
The RNC was overshadowed by a recent assassination attempt on Trump, which left him injured. Trump addressed the shooting in his RNC speech, highlighting the incident and expressing gratitude for the support he received.
The speculation surrounding Biden’s re-election bid continues to intensify, leaving Democrats with a challenging decision: to rally behind Biden as their nominee or to push for a new candidate to emerge. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the future of the Democratic Party’s presidential race.
