Opposition to US President Joe Biden’s reelection bid is escalating within his own political party. On Wednesday, a Democrat senator became the latest to openly call for his replacement. Peter Welch, hailing from Vermont, is the first active senator to openly suggest that the 81-year-old president should be superseded, owing to his disappointing debate performance which has triggered worries about his mental sharpness and thrown his reelection campaign into chaos.
Asserting his concern for the nation, Mr Welch urged President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race in a Washington Post op-ed. He cautioned about the potential risks of another term under Donald Trump. “We cannot overlook President Biden’s regrettable debate performance or negate the legitimate concerns that have been directed at him since that night,” stated Mr Welch in Wednesday’s op-ed, reiterating his call for the president to step down from the race.
While other notable Democratic senators such as Mark Warner of Virginia have allegedly been working behind-the-scenes to convince Mr Biden to step down, Mr Welch is the first to make a public declaration.
Over the preceding fortnight, questions surrounding Mr Biden’s health and suggestions that leadership should pass to a younger Democratic candidate have been refuted by him and his administration. Last Friday, the president insisted that there was no one more capable of winning the race and leading the country than himself.
According to aides on Wednesday, Mr Biden maintains his initial stance and intends to steer the party into the election. Despite sidestepping calls from commanding party members to withdraw, which could jeopardise his continued candidacy, the increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers and notable Hollywood donors illustrates the precarious nature of Mr Biden’s political standing.
Prominent Hollywood figures such as Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings, mogul Ari Emanuel, heiress Abigail Disney, scriptwriter Damon Lindelof and author Stephen King are among those urging Joe Biden to withdraw his bid for re-election. Actor and director George Clooney, on Wednesday, shared his perspective on the subject in the New York Times.
Despite the public support, insiders express deep anxiety about the candidate’s chances and the potential implications for other Democrats in power.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not ruled out the possibility of substituting Mr. Biden as the Democratic nomination, according to US news portal, Axios. Schumer, though public in his support for Biden, is privately conveying his apprehensions to financial backers, as stated by three anonymous sources.
In an official statement released shortly after by his team, Schumer re-emphasised his support for Biden, asserting that he has consistently voiced it “publicly and privately.”
On Thursday, Schumer requested top Biden campaign counsellors to meet senators at the Capitol to address their prevailing worries.
Earlier on the same day on MSNBC, ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that Biden should swiftly ascertain his participation in the race, despite the letter he dispatched to congress members on Monday announcing his decision to continue.
In a Tuesday evening conversation with CNN, Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado admitted that he expressed his doubt about Biden’s ability to beat Donald Trump to fellow senators during an earlier meeting.
On Wednesday, Bennet announced he is “looking forward” to an interaction with Biden’s campaign officials, remarking that it should have occurred 10 days prior.