Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, said Wednesday that Democrats should consider “all viable options” as they consider their next steps amid concerns about President Biden’s status as the party’s presumptive nominee.
“Doubling down when the current strategy isn’t working is not the right decision. President Biden is not getting any younger,” the moderate Democrat said. wrote in the statement Wednesday.
Moulton said he and his colleagues have “been engaged in hard, honest conversations nonstop” since Biden’s shaky debate performance last Thursday raised concerns, and that they are “taking the time to seriously consider the best strategy for Democrats to win this election.”
“I have always said, and I respect my colleagues who have already spoken out, that America needs to develop a new generation of leaders. We should explore all viable options,” Moulton said.
The statement makes Moulton the latest Democrat to express concern about whether Biden should remain the top candidate.
Two House Democrats had already called for Biden to resign by Wednesday night.
House Democratic leaders and veteran lawmakers have largely supported Biden, as he and his team have insisted the president can serve another term and dismissed concerns that the debate would be a bad night for him.
“The president knows how to get the job done, not because he says so, but because his track record proves it. And over the last three and a half years, almost four years, the president’s track record has been unprecedented, serving the American people,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.
Moulton praised Biden’s administration for its performance and did not address concerns about his mental capacity, instead saying he had “serious concerns” about whether Biden could win the presidential election in November.
“Now that the Supreme Court has given Trump a blank check to act like king, defeating him is essential to the future of our democracy,” Moulton said, referring to the court’s ruling this week that a core power of the president is immunity from criminal prosecution.
Moulton said that for Biden to win, he needs to “make this case in the media, in town halls and on campaign trails across the country.”
“President Biden needs to show he can do that. Unfortunately, the status quo looks like we’re going to get a Trump presidency,” Moulton said.
