"Democratic U.S. House Member Officially Urges Biden to Abandon Reelection Bid"

For the first time, a sitting U.S. Democratic congressman has officially called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. This comes after the first TV debate among presidential candidates reignited concerns about Biden's cognitive decline and advanced age, with calls for him to step down voluntarily. However, the Biden campaign has drawn a line under the resignation talk, stating that "there is no voter defection, and the problem lies in excessive media coverage."

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Lloyd Doggett, a 15-term Democratic congressman from Texas, said in a statement on the 2nd (local time), "Unlike former President Donald Trump, President Biden's top priority has always been the country, not himself," adding, "I hope he makes the painful and difficult decision to withdraw as a candidate. I respectfully urge him to do so."

Although there were calls within the Democratic Party for a candidate replacement following last week's first TV debate, Doggett is the first sitting congressman to officially demand it. Doggett said, "I represent the district once represented by Lyndon Johnson (the 36th President of the United States) during his time as a congressman," and argued, "In a very different environment, former President Johnson made the painful decision to forgo a re-election bid. President Biden should do the same."

Former President Johnson, who was also from Texas, withdrew mid-campaign in 1968 ahead of his re-election bid amid growing public opposition to the Vietnam War and economic difficulties, as other strong contenders emerged. Doggett, 77 this year, emphasized that Biden's voluntary withdrawal would not only help the Democratic Party defeat former President Trump in the November election but also facilitate the emergence of a new generation of leadership.

Within the Democratic Party, more and more voices are publicly expressing skepticism about Biden's insistence on running. Congressman Mike Quigley said in an interview with CNN on the same day that regarding Biden's comment after the TV debate that he "just had a bad night," "we must honestly acknowledge that it was not just a bad night," adding, "Out of respect and understanding for President Biden, I will not say more than that."

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also acknowledged the impact of the TV debate that sparked recent calls for resignation, saying, "It is reasonable for people to ask such questions." Jim Clyburn, a key Biden ally, appeared on MSNBC and said such doubts are natural, adding, "If President Biden steps down, I will support Vice President Kamala Harris." Earlier, during the first TV debate ahead of the November election against former President Trump, Biden stammered and used inaccurate sentences, failing to maintain a proper debate. However, the Biden camp decided to continue his candidacy after a family meeting.

The Washington Post (WP) reported that Senator Joe Manchin, a prominent Democrat, recently tried to urge President Biden to resign but gave up after the Biden camp intervened. WP noted, "Not only Manchin but many Democratic lawmakers are questioning President Biden's health," and criticized that "they are angry that the debate loss is being seen as a temporary event." Politico reported that "at least six current and former lawmakers publicly expressed skepticism in the past 24 hours." CNN pointed out that "more and more Democratic lawmakers are privately expressing concerns."

Additionally, a poll showed that Biden is less competitive than Vice President Kamala Harris in a head-to-head matchup against former President Trump. According to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS immediately after the first presidential debate, Biden and Trump received 43% and 49% support, respectively, in a two-way race. In contrast, in a Harris-Trump matchup, Trump led with 47% to Harris's 45%, within the margin of error (±3.5%), indicating a close race. In this poll, 56% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning respondents believed the Democratic Party would have a better chance of winning the election if it nominated a candidate other than Biden.

Amid rising calls for Biden's withdrawal, the president is scheduled to hold an online and offline meeting with Democratic governors on the 3rd. The key question is how much support Biden can garner from the governors for his re-election bid. Currently, those within the Democratic Party who still support Biden reportedly argue that officially confirming him as the party's candidate well before next month's convention is necessary to reverse the current mood.

The Biden campaign is also working hard to dispel resignation rumors, stating that there has been no change in support since the first TV debate. According to CNN, on the 1st, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Biden's campaign manager, held a virtual meeting with about 500 high-dollar political donors, saying, "President Biden is healthier than most people here," and "Internal polling shows Biden remains strong, with no change after the debate." The campaign's polling director also emphasized, "Voters did not change their minds after watching the debate," indicating no voter defection. Quentin Foks, the campaign's deputy manager, criticized the media, saying, "The media is blowing the issue out of proportion."