WASHINGTON: At least five Democratic lawmakers said on Sunday they believe President Joe Biden should step down from the US presidential election scheduled for November 5, according to multiple reports.
Sens. Jerry Nadler, Mark Takano, Joe Morrell, Ted Lieu and Adam Smith expressed their views on this point during a Democratic conference call designed to discuss Biden’s dismal performance in the June 27 debate in Atlanta against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Biden himself has described his performance as a “bad night.” His approval ratings are falling and colleagues in his own party are beginning to question his health and ability to run the country for the next four years. But he has vowed to keep campaigning and exuded confidence that he will beat Trump in November’s election.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries convened a virtual meeting of his party’s House members to discuss political developments following the June 27 presidential debate between Biden and Trump.
The virtual meeting was billed as a “listening session” to hear from members about the feasibility of Biden’s candidacy, The New York Times reported, adding that before the call it was clear many Democratic leaders felt strongly that Biden should step down.
Smith, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said it was time for Biden to step down, according to two people familiar with the call, The Post reported, adding that four other House members echoed that sentiment and said they believe it’s time for Biden to drop out of the race.
“Lieu was the highest-ranking member of House Democratic leadership to back pressure on Biden not to seek reelection,” The Washington Post reported.
“The developments have opened a wide rift in Biden’s support, with about a dozen House Democrats now publicly or privately saying Biden should step down, including the top Democrats on the Judiciary, Armed Services and Intelligence committees. Biden’s landslide victory in the Democratic primary gave him little, if any, control over his own destiny, but the defectors’ actions cast further doubt on his future course,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
Biden and his team have defied such calls, insisting they are in the race, and Biden himself has exuded confidence he can beat Trump in November.
Biden traveled to Pennsylvania on Sunday, holding rallies and meeting with people in the key battleground state.
Published July 8, 2024 02:42 IST
