Amid calls for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, several Democrats rushed to Biden’s defense.
Following the president’s lackluster performance in the June 27 presidential debate, Democrats including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York), Sen. Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), and Sen. Mark Warner (Va.) have come out in support of the president.
Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio said: report Asked whether Biden was eligible to serve another term as president, Casey said he “did not directly answer” the reporter’s question.
Casey reportedly told reporters that Democrats already have “two candidates” in the running: the current president and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I have a race to run,” Casey reportedly added. “I’ll leave the analysis to the political scientists. I’m not going to be an analyst.”
Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, a Democrat who is currently in power, did not directly answer several questions from reporters about Biden, including whether he is fit to be president or whether he is the best candidate to beat Trump, but he did add: “We are…
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) July 8, 2024
Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News reported that Jeffries stated “The day after” the presidential debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump, he said he “made it clear that I support Joe Biden and the Democratic nominee,” adding that his “position has not changed.”
🚨 NEW — Hakeem Jeffries speaks out: “Yes, I made it publicly clear the day after the debate that I support Joe Biden for President and the Democratic nominee. My position has not changed.”
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 8, 2024
Warner had previously been reported as forming a Senate Democratic caucus to urge Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. issued The statement emphasized that “it would be dangerous to re-elect Trump.”
“Another term for Trump as president would be dangerous to the rule of law and our democracy,” Warner wrote. “President Biden has strengthened America and led the way through some of our most difficult times, and I am proud to have worked for his policies. With much at stake in the upcoming election, now is the time to discuss the strongest path forward.”
Warner added that “Biden has a duty to make his case more vigorously to the American people and to listen directly to a broader range of voices about how to best prevent President Trump’s lawlessness from returning to the White House.”
Another term for Trump would be dangerous to the rule of law and our democracy. President Biden has strengthened America and led the country through some of its most difficult times. I am proud to have worked on his policies.
With so much at stake in the upcoming elections, now is the time…
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) July 8, 2024
Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, also released a statement Monday endorsing Biden and urging Democrats to “focus on the work ahead.”
After Biden appeared frozen, his voice croaked and he was unable to complete his prepared closing statements without making any mistakes during the debate with Trump, several donors, Democrats and voters have floated the idea of replacing Biden and called for him to “step down.”
What was that? After a week of rest and preparation, Biden coughs, stumbles and rambles his way through debate
Biden and his campaign maintain they are still planning to run.
At a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday, Biden told the crowd that he was “running the show” and would win the presidential election.
