Biden Stands Firm in 2024 Presidential Race Amid Pressure
In a letter to Democratic Party lawmakers on Monday, Biden addressed recent speculation about his candidacy. “I am firmly committed to staying in this race, running this race to the end, and beating Donald Trump,” he wrote.
Biden is set for a challenging election battle against Trump, with recent opinion polls indicating the former Republican president holds a lead in key swing states. Despite dismissing concerns about his debate performance as a “bad episode,” Biden’s pledge to remain the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate has highlighted divisions within the party.
While many Democrats continue to support Biden’s re-election bid, a few have publicly urged him to withdraw. “I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump,” said Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig in a statement on Saturday. “There is too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency. That’s why I respectfully call on President Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee for a second term and allow for a new generation of leaders to step forward.”
US media reports indicate that additional Democrats have privately expressed similar concerns. According to The Associated Press, at least four more Democratic House members suggested in a private call on Sunday that Biden should step aside. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is reportedly planning private meetings with lawmakers before publicly sharing his stance.
The Democratic Party is set to formally announce its 2024 presidential candidate at the party’s national convention in Chicago in August. The Republican Party, meanwhile, is expected to confirm Trump as their candidate at their convention next week, despite his historic conviction in May as the first ex-president ever found guilty of a crime in U.S. history.
