President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign has faced challenges for two weeks after his shaky debate performance against Donald Trump raised more questions about his age and mental sharpness, concerns that have long been highlighted in public polls.
Over the past week, several elected Democrats have urged Biden to end his campaign, worried that he might not only lose the presidency but also cost the party control of Congress.
On Wednesday evening, Peter Welch became the first Democratic U.S. senator to ask Biden to step aside, joining at least nine Democratic House members who have also made this appeal. Welch, a first-term senator from Vermont, said Biden should end his candidacy “for the good of the country.”
Some prominent lawmakers support Biden staying in the race, while others, like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have avoided giving a clear stance.
Biden’s press conference at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time will be closely watched. This will be his first solo news conference since November 2023, where he will have to answer questions on various topics, including his mental health.
A White House official said the format will be similar to Biden’s last solo press conference, where he called on four reporters who asked about topics like defending Taiwan and deaths in Gaza. This time, he might take questions from more reporters.
Biden’s offhand comment calling Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator” during a past press conference had caused tensions with China.
This appearance will be Biden’s most unscripted since the June 27 debate, where he struggled to keep his thoughts organized and stumbled over answers. An interview with ABC News last week caused more concerns when Biden said he would be satisfied if he lost the election as long as he tried his best.
Biden has had previous difficulties with impromptu press interactions. In February, he mixed up the presidents of Egypt and Mexico during an unscheduled news conference.
Before the press conference, Biden’s top aides, including campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, will meet with Democratic senators to strengthen support in the Senate, where Biden served from 1973 to 2009.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll last week showed Biden and Trump tied at 40% each, with some other polls showing Trump pulling ahead. Biden’s fundraising edge over Trump has also disappeared recently, with some prominent Democratic donors, including actor George Clooney, calling for him to step aside.
Biden has insisted he will not drop out, and party rules make it nearly impossible for anyone else to win the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August unless he steps aside.
If Biden were to drop out, Democrats would have to decide whether to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris or give other candidates like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a chance to run.
Some Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to end his re-election campaign due to concerns about his age and mental sharpness, which were highlighted after his shaky debate performance against Donald Trump. They worry that he might not only lose the presidency but also cause the party to lose control of Congress.
President Biden’s upcoming press conference, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, will be closely watched as it is his first solo news conference since November 2023. He will have to answer questions on various topics, including his mental health, in a largely unscripted format. This press conference comes at a critical time when some Democrats are calling for him to end his re-election campaign.
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