Rep. Andy Kim (D-Jersey), who is running for Senate, said he has “concerns” about President Biden’s ability to be the Democratic nominee in this presidential election.
“There are certainly concerns,” Kim said. New Jersey Globe. “if [Biden’s team] If people want to refute some of the concerns that they have, that’s up to them. But it’s not right to ignore them.”
“People are concerned, this is the presidency of the United States,” he continued, “so I think it’s really important that I’m open and honest about where things are.”
Kim’s comments came following a meeting of Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday morning where Biden’s political future was discussed.
Nearly two weeks after his lackluster debate performance, questions remain about whether Biden can beat former President Trump in the election and, if re-elected, serve another four years.
In a statement to The Hill, Kim said she could not accept her children growing up under President Trump again.
“As a Democrat who won in a district that Trump won twice, I truly believe we can stop this from happening,” he said.
Kim told the Globe that he was still “considering” the matter and had not made any definitive statement about whether Biden should step down.
“I don’t think it’s an issue for us to think this through and think it through thoroughly as to what the final stretch of the campaign looks like. If changes need to be made, I think they can be made,” he said.
Democratic lawmakers emerged from a meeting on Tuesday saying Biden should remain the top candidate.
Still, some of the president’s loudest supporters of leaving office worry that not only would he lose the election, but it would also damage the elections of other Democrats running.
Kim echoed similar sentiments to The Hill.
“While I continue to listen to the concerns of my constituents and colleagues about how best to win the White House, I know we must do everything in our power to restore faith in government so Democrats can keep New Jersey’s Senate seat, retake the House seat and stop the Republican Party’s radical agenda,” he said.
Kim’s Republican opponent in the Senate race, Curtis Bashaw, said he thought the incumbent congressman should have taken a clearer stance on Biden’s candidacy.
“That’s a simple question,” Basho said. Post online“New Jerseyans deserve answers,” he said.
According to The Hill/Decision Desk headquarters, Kim has a 96 percent chance of winning the Senate election this fall.
According to the outlet, four of Kim’s New Jersey Democratic colleagues – Reps. Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Bill Pascrill and Donald Norcross – have publicly supported Biden.
The Senate candidate acknowledged that the decision to step down is ultimately up to Biden, but he insists he has no plans to back down.
“I know that no one here has complete control over what’s going to happen, but I hope that myself and my colleagues can really think this through and figure out how we can prevail,” Kim told the Globe.
—Yash Roy contributed. Updated 5:51 p.m.
