The White House has firmly denied a New York Times report suggesting that President Joe Biden is considering dropping out of the US presidential race. The article claimed that Biden had confided in a key ally about the need to reassure the public of his capability to continue his campaign after a poorly received debate with Donald Trump.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates labeled the assertion as 'absolutely false' on X (formerly Twitter). Similarly, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre expressed a desire to 'turn the page' on doubts about Biden's physical and mental capacity, attributing the debate performance to fatigue from recent international travel.
CNN also reported a conversation with a source close to Biden, who acknowledged the importance of upcoming events in determining the future of his re-election bid. The source noted that continued lapses like those seen in the debate could jeopardize Biden's campaign. Despite these concerns, Biden remains determined to stay in the race.
Biden attributed his debate performance to the exhaustion from his travels to France and Italy, explaining that it was 'not very smart' to have such a grueling schedule before the debate. He acknowledged feeling fatigued during the debate, which he discussed with Democratic donors.
The New York Times article has fueled speculation and internal debate among Democrats, with some expressing doubts about Biden's ability to continue his campaign. However, there is no clear alternative to Biden within the party. Polls indicate that while many voters believe Biden should withdraw, a majority of Democratic voters still support him.
Potential alternatives like Vice President Kamala Harris and other prominent Democrats do not fare significantly better against Trump in hypothetical matchups. Michelle Obama, who has repeatedly stated she has no intention of running, is the only Democrat who leads Trump by a significant margin in polls.
- The upcoming interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC and a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington will be crucial in assessing Biden's ability to continue his campaign. These events will test whether he can deliver coherent speeches without relying heavily on teleprompters.
- Democrats are facing an internal crisis, with increasing pressure on Biden to reconsider his candidacy. Despite private doubts, there are few public dissenting voices within the party. Biden is scheduled to meet with Democratic governors to address these concerns.
- Prominent Democratic election consultant Dmitri Mehlhorn highlighted the lack of viable alternatives to Biden, noting that Kamala Harris might be less effective in winning over undecided voters. Former aide to Bill Clinton, James Carville, echoed the sentiment, suggesting that voters are seeking a different option.
