Biden vows to continue campaign amid rising calls to drop out

Democrats fear incumbent's struggles may impact November election

WASHINGTON:

President Joe Biden vowed on Friday to continue his reelection campaign despite increasing pressure from fellow Democrats to withdraw. Concerns are mounting that his struggling campaign could severely impact the party in the upcoming November 5 election.

More than one in ten congressional Democrats have publicly urged the 81-year-old incumbent to step aside. Biden, who is isolating at his Delaware home with Covid, faced backlash after a poor performance in the June debate against Republican Donald Trump. This debate raised questions about Biden's ability to win and govern effectively for another four years.

Biden remains defiant, expressing his intention to resume campaigning soon. "I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week to continue exposing the threat of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda while making the case for my own record and the vision that I have for America," he said in a statement, referring to a policy plan developed by Trump's conservative allies.

The divide among Democrats stands in sharp contrast to the unity displayed at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where former party rivals rallied around Trump. Trump accepted the Republican nomination with a speech that featured his familiar mix of grievance and bombast.

So far, 32 of the 264 Democrats in Congress have openly called for Biden to end his campaign. Additionally, senior Democratic leaders have privately urged him to withdraw, according to sources and media reports. Democrats are increasingly worried about a Republican sweep in the November election, which could give Trump and his allies control of both the White House and majorities in Congress.

Representative Zoe Lofgren, a close ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is among the Democratic lawmakers calling for Biden to drop out. "Your candidacy is on a trajectory to lose the White House and potentially impact crucial House and Senate races down ballot. It is for these reasons that I urge you to step aside," she wrote. While Pelosi has not publicly called on Biden to drop out, she has privately told him he cannot win, according to a White House source speaking anonymously.

After weeks of insisting he will remain in the race, sources indicate Biden is now seriously considering stepping aside. Multiple Democratic officials believe his exit is a matter of time. A Democratic group called Pass the Torch plans to run TV ads on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," one of Biden's favorite shows, urging him to drop out.

Biden campaign chairwoman Jen O'Malley Dillon acknowledged the challenging path to reelection but noted that Biden's support has not significantly declined in recent weeks. "We have a lot of work to do to make sure that we are reassuring the American people that, yes, he's old, but he can do the job and he can win," she said on MSNBC.

Democrats could face some limitations on the $91 million Biden's campaign had on hand at the end of last month if he were to drop out, according to campaign finance experts.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this week showed Biden and Trump effectively tied nationally, but strategists from both parties believe Biden's path to victory is narrowing as he trails in most battleground states. If Biden were to step aside, Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, could potentially fill the role. Reuters/Ipsos polling shows her performing marginally better against Trump in a theoretical head-to-head matchup.

Harris will address a group of donors on short notice on Friday afternoon at the request of Biden's senior advisers, according to a source familiar with the situation.