First appeared on FOX: President Biden continues to enjoy support from Democratic delegates even as a growing number of Democrats call for him to step down ahead of the 2024 elections, citing concerns about his age and mental health.
Two weeks after President Trump’s disastrous debate defeat against former President Donald Trump and his news conference at NATO on Thursday, Fox News Digital spoke with a small number of Democratic delegates who still largely support Biden and intend to vote in support of him at next month’s party convention.
Some representatives also Vice President Kamala Harris He is running to succeed him in the next election, claiming that he and the president are an unbreakable team.
“I thought he did a fantastic job last night, I really do,” said Joan Chesley, a pledged delegate from North Carolina who has endorsed Biden. “The clarity and spontaneity and informed responses he gave me were very impressive.”
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President Biden during a press conference at the NATO Summit in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2024. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
On a bigger picture, Chesley said the situation surrounding Biden and the ongoing questions about his fitness to be president have left her feeling “concerned” and “emotional.”
“The whole time this was going on I was really worried and really emotional,” she said. “It’s a bit of a somersault, and I think a lot of us have experienced it. I think that’s the beauty of living in this country and being a Democrat. We encourage people to think, to rethink, to share perspectives, to ask questions, to get angry with each other, and to act, just as we would in our families and organizations, until we arrive at a workable solution.”
Chesley, who supports Biden, pointed to his “track record.” Democratic National Convention In August, she said she wished Biden had realized sooner that age could be an issue in this election, adding, “I always[s] I came to my senses.”
“I couldn’t help but feel that I wish he had made the decision to say no. [to] “We have someone here who really, really cares about this country,” she said. “Despite the rumors at times that he was going to step down, I’m going to, as I said, refocus my attention on what’s best for this country right now. We’re in a very difficult time in history.”
As for talk of Harris replacing Biden as the party’s nominee, Chesley said he believes “they’re a team.”
“That means we will cooperate fully with the president until or even if he indicates that he will make a different decision.”
“We have the best of both worlds,” she said. “You have a warm, caring grandfather who recounts stories of his father. And you have an incredible person who was attorney general of the largest state in the country, served in the Senate for four years, and had four years in the White House. We want vibrancy and youth, and that’s what we want in a vice president.”
Maribel Balvin, a Biden delegate from Miami, Florida, said she understood the “concerns being expressed” and insisted it was “nothing new.”
“He typically makes mistakes with people and places, just as the former president has done with his rallies,” she said. “I’m not personally concerned, and my views of the president and his beliefs have not changed.”
Balvin said the upcoming election was “a choice, absolutely a choice between democracy and dictatorship.”
“As someone who grew up under a dictatorship, I have no intention of supporting anything resembling the place I left,” she said. “So, as a woman, as a Hispanic, as a current Democrat, as a former Republican, I support the Democratic Party. I understand that this election is up to the president to make a choice. If he decides he’s not the candidate and withdraws, we will support him. Until then. I am Joe Biden’s delegate.”
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A total of 1,976 delegates are needed to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden has won roughly 3,900 this year. Those delegates are “pledged” to support Biden’s candidacy, according to DNC rules. (Getty Images)
Karl Gentles, Biden’s designated delegate from Arizona, echoed Balvin, saying his “position hasn’t changed” on Biden and that it would be a “catastrophe” for Democrats to replace him at this point.
“I believe the nominee is a well-vetted individual,” he said. “He’s had a very successful three-and-a-half years in the administration and has led it to this point, and frankly, I think it would be disastrous to change the nominee at this time.”
Gentles said he supports it. “He spoke of a “Biden-Harris pairing” and argued that talk of a Biden successor or “imaginary games” would do Democrats no good.
“In my opinion, Democrats should really be focused on how to win over the next four months.” [instead of] “We’re looking at multiple scenarios. I believe the best scenario for the Democratic Party is a Biden-Harris combination.”
Samantha Hope Herring, a certified Biden delegate from Florida and a member of the Democratic National Committee, said she was “running with Biden,” like many others.
“Until or even if the president indicates a different decision, we will cooperate fully with him,” Herring said. “I think most of us have always recognized, frankly, that no matter what you do when you have someone over 50 years old, you have to have a good backup plan in place. That’s a fair statement for both parties.”
“What I saw was a president with deep knowledge of foreign policy and foreign affairs.”
“One of the great things about having someone with wisdom and experience, especially an older candidate, is that they’re someone who’s prepared and ready to take on the job. [on] “It’s day one, so we definitely have that,” she added.
Herring argued that there is currently a strong “voice in support of President Biden” and said Harris would be a “natural” fit if Biden is unable to perform the duties of the presidency while in office.
Herring echoed Chesley in saying he believes many Democrats see Biden and Harris as a “team.”
“We feel really strongly about the record that they left behind and we stand together on that record,” she said.
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President Biden reacts as supporters greet him during a debate viewing party at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia on June 27, 2024. (Derek White/Getty Images for DNC)
“I’m still listening,” said Eileen Bonham, another Colorado Democrat. [Biden] What can be done to change the narrative in terms of concerns about his ability?”
“I think Biden would be a good president,” she said. “What I’m really concerned about is whether he’s up to the task as a nominee. I think that’s a legitimate question and, morally, it’s a question that we have to ask now as Democrats.”
Bonham said he believes Biden’s press conference last night “was a good step forward.”
“What I saw was a president with deep knowledge of foreign policy and foreign affairs. Compare that to Trump, a convicted felon who seems to have a penchant for dictators, and the choice is clear,” she said.
Asked before the press conference if he would consider supporting another candidate, Bonham said: “There are certainly some names that have been mentioned in the media that I would like to know more about.”
“I think we need to remember that this isn’t just about Biden, it’s about Biden and Harris. So my guess is that if Biden steps down, Kamala Harris will become involved in this election,” she added.
Biden has repeatedly said since his unfavorable debate performance last month that he will not withdraw from the race, but things would not be much more complicated for Democrats if the president opted to step aside before the party’s convention in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.
Democrats will formally choose their nominee at their convention, but are reportedly planning to nominate Biden and Harris ahead of next month’s convention.
At a party convention, candidates must receive the support of a majority of the party’s roughly 4,000 delegates (party officials who formally select the candidates). Delegates are allocated to candidates based on the results of each state’s primary elections.
As for talk of Vice President Kamala Harris (right) replacing President Biden as the party’s nominee, several Democratic delegates who spoke to Fox News Digital considered them a “team.” (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Democratic Party has “pledged” and “non-pledged” delegates. Pledged delegates must vote for the party’s candidate who wins the primary or caucus in their state, while non-pledged delegates can vote for any candidate. In the Democratic Party, non-pledged delegates are called “superdelegates” and are sitting officeholders and party leaders who can support any candidate.
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The total number of delegates needed to win is 1,976 Democratic presidential nominationBiden won roughly 3,900 delegates this year, and according to Democratic National Convention rules, those delegates are “pledged” to support his candidacy.
Biden has not indicated he plans to drop out of the race, but if he did, the delegates would no longer be loyal to him. If Biden dropped out, there would be an open convention, allowing Democrats to propose candidates and vote until one wins a majority of the delegate votes.
Get the latest 2024 campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
