President Biden Resolute Amid Mounting Pressure from Fellow Democrats

Amid increasing calls from fellow Democrats to end his campaign for re-election, U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday displayed no indication that he was considering stepping aside after a series of resolute public appearances a day earlier.

President Biden Under Pressure from Democrats

President Biden, aged 81, faces growing dissent from congressional Democrats and influential donors who doubt his capability to defeat Republican Donald Trump, aged 78, in the November 5 election. A much-anticipated interview with ABC News, aired Friday evening, did little to alleviate these concerns.

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In the interview, President Biden asserted that only the "Lord Almighty" could persuade him to abandon his campaign, dismissing the notion that Democratic leaders could unite to convince him to step down. On Saturday, he conducted a routine call with the national co-chairs of his campaign, according to the White House.

Increasing Congressional Pressure on President Biden

The pressure from Congress is expected to intensify in the coming days as lawmakers return to Washington from a holiday recess, potentially making this one of the most pivotal weeks of Biden's presidency.

As his future will be debated on Capitol Hill, President Biden is set to host numerous world leaders at a crucial NATO summit in Washington and is scheduled to hold a closely watched press conference.

On Saturday, U.S. Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota became the first Democratic House member from a battleground district to call for Biden to withdraw.

“Given what I saw and heard from the President during last week’s debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the President himself following that debate, I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump,” Representative Craig stated on X.

Some Democratic House lawmakers are circulating two separate letters urging Biden to step aside, according to House Democratic sources. Many of these lawmakers were awaiting the ABC News interview before proceeding.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has scheduled a virtual meeting on Sunday with senior House Democrats to discuss Biden’s candidacy and the way forward.

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U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, who previously called on Biden to step aside, told CNN following the ABC interview, "Every day [Biden] delays makes it more difficult for a new person to come on board to defeat Donald Trump."

On the Senate side, U.S. Senator Mark Warner has been contacting fellow Democratic senators to invite them to a potential meeting on Monday to discuss Biden's campaign.

President Biden spent Saturday at his home in Delaware without any public events on his schedule, though he attended an evening church service. Sunday will be a busy day for him, with two campaign events in Pennsylvania, specifically in Philadelphia and Harrisburg.

President Biden's Campaign Resilience

At a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday, President Biden reaffirmed his determination to remain in the race.

"I am running and going to win again," President Biden declared to his supporters.

Some polls indicate Trump's lead over Biden is widening, causing Democrats to worry that concerns about the president could affect down-ballot races.

However, Biden achieved his best performance yet in a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult tracking poll of battleground states, with Trump leading Biden by only 2 percentage points, 47% to 45%, in the crucial states needed to win the November election.

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A positive development for Biden occurred early Saturday when the Palestinian militant group Hamas accepted a U.S. proposal to begin talks on releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers and men, a move that could pave the way for a ceasefire to end the nine-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the top choice to replace Biden should he step aside as the Democratic Party's nominee, spoke in New Orleans at the Essence Festival of Culture, an annual event sponsored by Essence magazine, which targets Black women.

Vice President Harris criticized former President Donald Trump and the U.S. Supreme Court for revoking abortion rights. Her appearance was part of an effort by the Biden campaign to strengthen support among Black voters.

On Friday, Harris posted a supportive message on X following Biden's rally in Madison, asserting that the president had devoted his life to advocating for Americans. "In this moment, I know all of us are ready to fight for him," she stated.

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Margaret Washa, a 75-year-old retired physical therapist from Middleton, Wisconsin, attended the Madison rally and observed that Biden appeared more vigorous but grew concerned after watching the interview.

"It is becoming more about him and whether he can fulfill the role, rather than what is best for our nation and transitioning leadership to the next generation," she said. "It is time to pass the baton. There are many competent, strong, younger, and more charismatic Democrats available."

News Source:- reuters.com