Biden faces mounting pressure to exit 2024 race

Obama, Pelosi among democratic leaders question president's electability amid health concerns

WASHINGTON:

US President Joe Biden is seriously considering calls to step aside as the Democratic presidential candidate, with multiple Democratic officials believing his exit for Election 2024 race is imminent, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Sources indicate that Biden could withdraw from the presidential race as soon as this weekend, following weeks of increasing pressure for the 81-year-old Democrat to quit due to concerns about his mental acuity and fears he won’t be able to defeat Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump. "His soul searching is actually happening, I know that for a fact," said one source, who requested anonymity. "He's thinking about this very seriously."

Despite the pressure, Biden has resisted these calls, emphasizing that he has garnered millions of votes in primary races and remains the choice of Democratic voters. As recently as Wednesday, he declared, "I am all in" for the 2024 race.

A Democratic congressional aide suggested that the sentiment among lawmakers is clear, with even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly urging Biden to drop out. "It feels like it's a matter of ... when, not if," the aide said.

High-level Democrats are making a concerted push for Biden to reassess his campaign, with former President Barack Obama expressing private concerns to allies and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi warning that the party could lose control of the House if he doesn’t step aside from the 2024 race. Pelosi also presented polling data to Biden, arguing it shows he likely can’t defeat Trump, though she later countered these claims, stating that the “feeding frenzy” from anonymous sources “misrepresents any conversations” she may have had with the president.

On Thursday, The Washington Post reported that former president Barack Obama had told associates he believed Biden’s ability to win the election was “greatly diminished,” and that he should seriously contemplate whether he should continue running.

Biden is currently recovering from Covid-19 at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and had no public events on Thursday following a trip to the political swing state of Nevada on Wednesday.

Focusing on three out of seven battleground states, Biden's campaign is still pushing forward, rejecting suggestions that he is ready to step aside. "He is not wavering on anything. The president has made his decision," deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks said in Milwaukee, where the Republican convention is taking place. "Joe Biden has said he is running for president of the United States. Our campaign is moving forward."

However, a conflicting view from another Biden campaign official suggests otherwise: "Yes, it's over. Just a matter of time."