"No one can push me out." After a crushing defeat in the first TV debate and facing pressure to withdraw from the presidential race, U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his intention to run. However, public calls for his withdrawal continue not only from incumbent Democratic lawmakers but also from major donors considered Biden's last stronghold, making it crucial whether he can quell the withdrawal talks. According to poll results showing the gap in support between former President Trump and Biden widening after the first TV debate, this is also a negative factor for President Biden.
According to The New York Times (NYT) and others, on the 3rd (local time), President Biden sent a fundraising request message via email to his supporters, stating, "I will speak as clearly, simply, and directly as possible," and said, "I am running. I am the Democratic candidate. No one can push me out." Seeming to be aware of local media reports suggesting he might consider dropping out, he said, "I know the past few days have been tough. You must be getting a lot of questions," and emphasized repeatedly, "I will not leave (the presidential race). We will win." He made the same statement during a call with campaign officials, saying, "I will not leave."
However, the situation surrounding President Biden is not positive. After the first TV debate among presidential candidates, which reignited concerns about his cognitive decline and advanced age, voices calling for Biden to step down are growing louder both inside and outside the Democratic Party. Following Representative Lloyd Doggett the previous day, Raul Grijalva, an 11-term Democratic representative, publicly urged President Biden to withdraw from the race. He argued, "What he (Biden) must do is take responsibility for holding that position (the presidency)," adding, "Part of that responsibility is to quit the election."
Grijalva's public call for withdrawal drew attention especially after a joint poll conducted by NYT and Siena College confirmed that the support gap between President Biden (41%) and former President Trump (49%) widened by 3 percentage points compared to a week earlier. Even the polls seem to be turning their backs on President Biden. NYT noted that Grijalva and Doggett, who called for Biden's public withdrawal just a day apart, are aged 76 and 77 respectively, similar to Biden, who is 81 this year. The outlet reported, "The Biden campaign is making every effort to quell withdrawal talks and boost party morale, but so far, it seems ineffective."
Currently, within the House Democratic caucus, there are reports that if President Biden withdraws, the idea of selecting a candidate through a mini-primary is being considered. The Democratic Party plans to hold a convention in Chicago from the 19th to the 22nd of next month to confirm the presidential candidate.
The calls for withdrawal have intensified not only within the Democratic Party. Since immediately after the first TV debate, major Democratic donors have reportedly been contemplating a 'Plan B,' and the first to publicly join the call for Biden's withdrawal was Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix. Hastings argued in an email sent to NYT that "President Biden should step down (from the candidacy) so that a strong Democratic leader can defeat former President Donald Trump."
NYT reported, "Hastings is one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party in recent years," adding, "He has become the figure who publicly voiced what many major donors have been saying privately about candidate withdrawal." Earlier, the outlet also reported that at a meeting of 50 Democratic donors on the 28th of last month, the day after the TV debate, when asked about Biden's decision not to seek re-election, most raised their hands in agreement.
Earlier, in the first TV debate with former President Trump ahead of the November election, President Biden stammered and used inaccurate sentences, failing to properly continue the debate. This reignited concerns about Biden's advanced age, and even Democratic-leaning media editorials urged Biden to make a decision, increasing pressure for his withdrawal. A poll conducted after the debate showed that seven out of ten Americans believe he should step down.
On the evening of the same day, President Biden reportedly attended an on- and offline meeting with Democratic governors to reaffirm his intention to run and appeal for their support. The meeting included Vice President Kamala Harris and potential presidential candidates such as Gavin Newsom, Governor of California; Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan; and Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky.
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