WASHINGTON (AP) — A determined President Joe Biden reassured on Wednesday that he would continue his reelection campaign, disregarding mounting pressure from Democrats to withdraw after a problematic debate performance that raised doubts about his preparedness. However, a prominent ally publicly hinted at a scenario where the party might choose an alternative.
“Let me make this clear in the simplest way possible: I am running… no one is pushing me out,” Biden declared on a call with his reelection campaign staff. “I am not giving up. I am committed to this race until the end, and we will emerge victorious.”
The president was using all available resources to try and salvage his reelection bid — engaging with top lawmakers, boosting morale among campaign staff, and holding meetings with Democratic governors before embarking on a weekend travel blitz and a network TV interview.
Nevertheless, there were signs that support for Biden was quickly diminishing among Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, a long-time friend and confidant of Biden, indicated his support for a “mini-primary” leading up to the Democratic National Convention if Biden were to exit the race. Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, suggested a proposal that seemed to lay the groundwork for potential alternatives by delegates during the Democrats’ planned virtual roll call ahead of the formal party convention starting on Aug. 19 in Chicago.
“You can shape the existing process into a mini-primary, and I would endorse that,” Clyburn told CNN.
He proposed that Vice President Kamala Harris, governors, and others could enter the race. “It would be a fair process for everyone. … Because if she were to become the nominee, we would need a running mate. We need a strong running mate.”
Clyburn, a senior lawmaker and former member of his party’s House leadership team, indicated that he had never seen the president perform like he did during the debate last week.
“I witnessed what I saw last Thursday night, and it is alarming,” Clyburn stated.
Some individuals suggested that Harris was emerging as the frontrunner to replace Biden if he were to step down, although there are viable alternatives in Governors Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. However, some insiders believe Harris is the best option to swiftly unite the party and avoid a chaotic and divisive convention battle.
Amid increasing pressure on Biden, he and Harris made a surprise appearance on a campaign call with all staff members, offering words of encouragement. They emphasized the importance of defeating former President Donald Trump in November and reiterated Biden’s prior commitment after the debate that when he falls, he rises again.
“Just like we defeated Donald Trump in 2020, we will do it again in 2024,” stated Biden, firmly asserting that he will not be forced out of the race. Harris added: “We will not back down. We will follow our president’s leadership. We will fight, and we will triumph.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned during her briefing with reporters shortly after about whether Biden would consider stepping aside. “Absolutely not,” was her response.
“I cannot outline any scenario that would change the president’s decision,” Jean-Pierre stated regarding Biden’s pursuit of a second term. She also affirmed that he “is resolute and staying in the race.”
However, Democrats are dissatisfied with the explanations given by White House staff and the president himself regarding his debate performance. Some in the party are frustrated that Biden did not address questions about his stumble sooner and feel that he has put them in a challenging position by remaining in the race.
House Democratic leadership scheduled an evening call, and the Leadership Now Project, a coalition of business leaders, academics, and intellectuals, suggested in a letter that the “threat of a second Trump term” is serious enough that Biden should “hand over the torch of this year’s presidential nomination to the next generation of highly capable Democrats.”
Trump’s campaign issued a statement pointing out that “every Democrat” currently urging the president to step down was previously a Biden supporter.
Two post-debate polls showed Trump with a slight lead over Biden. A CNN poll conducted by SSRS revealed that three-quarters of voters, including over half of Democratic voters, believed the party had a better chance of winning the presidency in November with a candidate other than Biden.
Approximately 7 in 10 voters, and 45% of Democrats, cited concerns about Biden’s physical and mental capabilities as a reason not to vote for him, according to the CNN/SSRS poll.
Moreover, about 6 in 10 voters, including around a quarter of Democrats, viewed reelecting Biden as a risky choice for the country rather than a safe one, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. The same poll showed Democrats split on whether Biden should continue as the nominee.
To boost morale, Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients urged White House staff during a meeting to ignore the “noise” and focus on the task of governance.
Biden himself began reaching out personally, speaking privately with senior Democratic lawmakers such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, and Clyburn.
Zients aimed to bolster the staff’s confidence in Biden’s reelection campaign and emphasized Biden’s track record of overcoming challenges throughout his long tenure in public service.
The chief of staff also encouraged aides to “remain united as a team” and, despite the growing political buzz, to “ignore it” and stay focused, according to an anonymous official relaying Zients’ private remarks.
All-staff meetings at the White House are not uncommon, but Wednesday’s meeting occurred as Biden and senior White House officials were working to reassure unsettled lawmakers, donors, and other allies within the party amidst mounting questions about whether the 81-year-old president was competent to run for a second term.
Biden and Harris also had one of their regular lunches, and the president planned to host an array of Democratic governors at the White House in the evening.
Among the Democratic governors scheduled to attend in person were Tim Walz of Minnesota, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Daniel McKee of Rhode Island, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, John Carney of Delaware, Wes Moore of Maryland, and Gavin Newsom of California, as per their aides. Governors Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Tina Kotek of Oregon, and Phil Murphy of New Jersey were expected to participate virtually.
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Farnoush Amiri, Josh Boak, and Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux in Washington; Adam Beam in Sacramento, California; John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois; Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Steve LeBlanc in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan; Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky; Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, North Carolina; Randall Chase in Wilmington, Del; Claire Rush in Portland, Ore.; and John D. Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.
