President Biden is set to meet with Democratic governors today amidst increasing calls for him to drop out of the presidential race. The meeting will include virtual and in-person discussions with governors and congressional leaders at the White House. Governors Gavin Newsom of California and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois will attend in person. Newsom’s spokesperson stated that the governor will be there to “stand with the president.”
The Biden campaign is working to alleviate concerns about the president’s ability to serve, following a shaky debate performance against former President Trump last week. The campaign has been actively reaching out to top donors to reassure them of Biden’s capability to defeat Trump in the upcoming election.
Recent reports from The New York Times and CNN suggest that President Biden might consider dropping out of the race if public perception about his fitness for office does not improve. These reports indicate that Biden has discussed his concerns with key allies. However, the White House has dismissed The New York Times report as “absolutely false” and has not commented on the CNN report.
The recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has significant political implications. The Justices ruled 6-3 that Trump has some immunity from prosecution, shielding him from certain criminal charges for actions taken while in office. Trump advisor Alina Habba claims this ruling creates a roadblock in the election interference case against the former president.
A new Yahoo News-YouGov poll shows that more than half of Americans believe President Biden is “not fit” for a second term. The survey found that 60% of respondents think Biden is unfit for another term, while only 24% believe he is fit, and 16% are unsure. In contrast, 46% of respondents feel Donald Trump is not fit for a second term.
The White House is actively defending Biden’s capability following his debate performance. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that Biden “did not have a great night” during the debate but emphasized his accomplishments over the past three years. She announced that Biden will have an interview with ABC News on Friday to address these concerns directly.
In response to growing concerns, the Biden campaign held a Zoom call with top donors, urging them to remain calm. DNC Finance Director Kris Korge acknowledged Biden’s poor debate performance but insisted that replacing Biden on the ticket is not a feasible option. He highlighted that Biden won the nomination through a democratic primary process.
Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett is the first Democratic lawmaker to publicly call for President Biden to withdraw from the race. In his statement, Doggett expressed hope that Biden would make the “painful and difficult decision to withdraw,” citing Biden’s inability to effectively defend his record and expose Trump’s “many lies.”
As President Biden meets with Democratic governors today, his campaign is working diligently to manage the fallout from his recent debate performance and the subsequent calls for him to step aside. With key governors like Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker showing support, the Biden administration aims to reassure both the public and its donors of Biden’s ability to lead and win the upcoming election.
