According to Washington Post and AP, which both cite closed sources, Obama believes that Biden’s chances of winning the election have weakened.
He supposedly said this in phone calls with other Democrats, the newspapers report.
Obama has emphasized that he wants to protect the president and the achievements he has made over the past four years – and that these are at risk if the Republicans occupy the White House again.
In that case, Obama is the latest in a long line of Democrats putting increasing pressure on their leader. Obama’s spokesperson has not commented on the issue.
More blunders
Biden’s age has long been a target for the Republicans and four years younger Donald Trump. Even before the last presidential election, Trump began referring to Biden as “Sleepy Joe”.
But now it is Biden’s own ranks that are making headlines. Despite the fact that the assassination attempt against Trump has taken much of the focus off Biden over the past week, he has not succeeded in silencing the internal unrest in the party.
During the first presidential debate in June, Biden did what experts consider to be a very poor performance. That he shortly afterward mixed up the names of Zelenskyy and Putin, as well as Kamala Harris and Trump, only added fuel to the fire.
In recent video meetings, Biden has also seemed to be relying on notes, according to Wall Street Journal. During a speech in Las Vegas on Tuesday, he struggled to read from a teleprompter, the newspaper reports.
Growing list
The outcome of the presidential election will likely depend on poll shows that Trump is currently leading in all six states.
The Democrats are set to formally name their presidential candidate at the convention in August. An overview from the New York Times shows that a majority of Democrats still support Biden. However, in recent weeks, more and more have spoken out in favor of him stepping down.
So far, 26 representatives in Congress, as well as one governor, are on the list.
Reuters
Joe Manchin, senator from West Virginia
– It is with a heavy heart that I have come to believe that it is time to pass the baton to a new generation.
On July 20, Manchin became the fifth senator to ask Biden to withdraw his candidacy.
AP
Mark Takano, representative from California
– President Biden’s greatest achievement was and is saving democracy in 2020. He can and must do that again in 2024 – by passing the baton to Vice President Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
Mark Takano joined the House of Representatives in 2023.
On July 20, he joined those asking Biden to step down in favor of Kamala Harris.
At the same time, Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, has warned Biden that he cannot beat Trump.
Pelosi is reported to have told some of the Democrats’ representatives in the House that she is convinced Biden will realize that he should withdraw from the presidential campaign soon, writes The Washington Post.
Current leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer have also warned that Biden’s candidacy could lead to losing control in both chambers of Congress.
On Thursday evening, NBC reported that Biden’s political world is “collapsing.” They point out that the Biden campaign is supposedly struggling to raise enough donations for the election.
81-year-old Biden has made it clear that he has no intention of stepping down. He has insisted that he has beaten Trump before and that he can do it again.
Quentin Fulks, deputy of the Biden campaign, said Thursday that the president stands firm in the election.
– He is not wavering at all. I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t know how many times we can answer that.
Nevertheless, the president has acknowledged that he is willing to reconsider his candidacy if his health indicates it. On Wednesday evening, he had to cancel a speech in Las Vegas due to COVID. He is currently in quarantine at his vacation home in Delaware.
And according to New York Times, Biden has “begun to accept” that he may have to yield to the pressure. But they, like WP, AP, and NBC, cite unnamed sources.
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