Shell-shocked House Democrats question keeping Biden at the top of the ticket
A growing chorus of alarmed House Democrats say President Biden’s faltering performance in the debate the night before raises immediate questions about whether he should remain at the top of the ticket in this year’s presidential contest.
Such criticisms were unthinkable heading into the high-stakes Thursday night event, as Democrats have rallied fiercely behind their White House ally throughout the campaign.
But that changed on Thursday night. Many Democrats were left shell-shocked by Biden’s wobbly showing in Atlanta, where he stumbled over words, meandered from topic to topic and appeared, more than once, to lose his train of thought. These lawmakers are worried that the tottery performance only compounds the questions of health and competence that have emerged as Biden’s chief vulnerability.
Some are hoping he'll step out of the race altogether — even if they're not calling publicly for him to do so — for the sake of keeping former President Trump from winning a second term in the White House.
“It’s time for him to step aside,” one House Democrat, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic, told The Hill. “We all were hanging out this morning, a bunch of us together at something. There’s nobody at this point that I spoke with who doesn’t think it’s time for him to step aside.”
A second House Democrat, who also requested anonymity, reserved judgment on Biden’s next steps — “that’s a decision for another day … we’ll see what happens” — but said a number of people, both in their home state and up on Capitol Hill, think it is time for the president to relinquish his spot at the top of the ticket.
“There’s a lot of talk — talk here, talk from friends at home — saying we need someone who can articulate our message, and we didn’t see that last night,” the lawmaker said. “A lot of people are saying it … [A] majority of people I’ve spoken with today.”
Pundits and panicked Democrats began that conversation almost immediately after the debate ended, and the White House, Biden campaign and president’s top allies quickly worked to stamp out chatter about a nominee switch Friday morning.
Biden campaign spokesperson Seth Schuster told The Hill “of course he’s not dropping out”; a White House official said “that’s not happening”; and Biden surrogates ran around the Capitol throwing their support behind the incumbent.
But the debate came in an election cycle when the House, the Senate and the White House are all up for grabs, and both parties are scrambling to secure any advantage, however minute, to help their side. Biden’s debate performance sparked immediate concerns among Democrats that he’d not only damaged his own chances of keeping the presidency, but also hurt the party down the ballot.
"Couldn't be worse,” said a third Democratic lawmaker, emphasizing that the concern is widespread through the caucus.
The dynamics made for an unusual scene in the Capitol Friday morning, where scores of reporters swarmed the hallways to obtain reactions from Biden’s Democratic allies, and many of those same allies went out of their way to avoid the reporters’ questions. Some lawmakers put phones to their ears as they walked to the chamber. Others simply declined to speak. In another sign of just how sensitive the topic is, none of those questioning Biden’s position on the ballot would speak on the record.
“The hill just got a little taller,” a fourth Democratic lawmaker said. “You've got to do whatever is necessary to keep Donald Trump from being in the White House, and we're going to have a real conversation about what that entails.”
The lawmaker said there’s already talk of who might replace Biden on the ticket if he steps down to allow the party to choose an alternative contender at the August convention. The list includes several governors: Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and California’s Gavin Newsom. One name noticeably absent, according to several Democrats, is Vice President Harris.
“If there's a change, it's a whole new ticket," the fourth lawmaker said.
Age has emerged as a central issue in a presidential contest featuring the oldest candidates in the nation’s history: Biden is 81, and Trump is 78.
Both candidates were pressed on the topic during Thursday’s debate. Trump responded with claims he can hit a golf ball “a long way.” Biden retorted with his own golf stats — and pointed to the long list of legislation that’s been adopted under his White House reign.
“Look how I’ve turned around the horrible situation he left me,” he said.
In the eyes of some concerned Democrats, however, that track record isn’t enough to overcome their fears that he’s a liability for the party if he remains on the ticket.
The first House Democrat, who called for Biden to step aside, said “senior people” in the Democratic Party “are gonna have to go sit down with him and just say, listen, you did a phenomenal job, it’s time.”
Democratic lawmakers said that list of advisers should feature the president’s wife, Jill Biden, as well as party elders with a long track record of working with him: former President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. James E. Clyburn (D), a South Carolina kingmaker who helped revive Biden’s 2020 campaign at a critical juncture.
Many in that crowd, however, are backing up the presumptive nominee, admitting that while the night was a subpar showing for the incumbent, he remains the best person to lead their ticket come November.
“It was a poor performance,” Clyburn told reporters of Biden’s debate showing. But the South Carolina Democrat said he would “probably” speak to Biden later in the day, when he would deliver a succinct message: “Stay the course.”
Pelosi, similarly, said Biden “got off to a bad start” and noted that it “could be” his worst night, but she added, “On his worst night, his presentation of integrity was far better than the other guy’s dishonesty.”
Jeffries, walking into the Capitol Friday morning, told reporters “no” when asked if Biden should step aside. But pressed later about whether Biden is the most effective communicator to relay the party’s message, the top House Democrat was coy.
“Until he articulates a way forward in terms of his vision for America at this moment, I’m gonna reserve comment about anything relative to where we are at this moment other than to say I stand behind the ticket,” Jeffries said.
For now, many Democrats are urging colleagues to take a breath, let the dust settle and see how voters respond to the president’s performance.
"Obviously, it wasn't a good night,” Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) said. “But my advice to folks would be: Let's sit down, let's see how the next couple of weeks play out, and we'll see what comes up.”
Other lawmakers, however, say the party has no more time to waste.
“I think you gotta do it quick,” the first House Democrat told The Hill when asked if party leaders should wait to see polling from the debate before speaking with Biden, or have the conversation immediately.
“At the end of the day does it really matter?” the lawmaker said of postdebate surveys. “The only poll you have to see was last night’s performance. That’s the poll.”
The lawmaker argued that Democrats still have time to make a switch at the top of the ticket, with just under two months to go until the August nominating convention, and just more than four months until Election Day.
“We have time,” the lawmaker said. “You’re going into the convention, the convention can be a big sell fest of like selling the new candidate, whoever it is.”
The second House Democrat, who said “we’ll see what happens” when asked if Biden remains the nominee, was more succinct. When pressed on if the party is getting down to the wire on timing, they responded:
“We are at the wire.”
Date: | |
Tag: | Joe Biden |
Filter
-
The Hill - Politics
McCaskill says Biden stumbles raise question of Harris or Newsom at top of Democratic ticket
Former Senator Claire McCaskill criticized President Biden's lackluster debate performance, questioning why Vice President Harris or Governor Gavin Newsom are not at the top of the Democratic ticket for 2024, and suggesting that senior advisors ...Joe Biden -
The New York Times - Top stories
Could Democrats Replace Biden at the Top of the Presidential Ticket?
While it is possible, it would most likely lead to political upheaval in the party unless the president decides to step aside on his own terms.Joe Biden -
The New York Times - Top stories
The White House Brushed Off Questions About Biden’s Age. Then the Debate Happened.
President Biden’s allies can no longer wave away concerns about his capacity after his unsteady performance at Thursday’s debate as worries among Democrats grow.Joe Biden -
The Wall Street Journal - World
Top Democrats Urge Party to Stand Behind Biden
After poor debate performance, some lawmakers see no good options if president steps aside.Joe Biden -
The Wall Street Journal - World
Democrats Fret Over Impact of Biden's Debate Performance on House, Senate Races
Down-ballot candidates and aides are trying to sort through whether the performance has sapped the party’s goals of retaining the Senate and flipping the House.Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
House Democrat defends Biden: 'Governance is the biggest part of the job'
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) said Sunday he’s confident that Democrats should stick with President Biden as their candidate, pointing to the importance of governing, not just campaigning, to serving in the White House. "I do," Ivey said on NewsNation's ...Joe Biden -
Financial Times - World
Who should be on the Democratic ticket?
Stepping down would be the patriotic thing for Biden to do -
NBC News - Top stories
Top Democratic fundraisers sound the alarm after Biden’s debate performance
Many of the Democratic Party’s top fundraisers are privately sounding the alarm after President Joe Biden’s disappointing debate performance Thursday against Republican former President Donald Trump.Joe Biden -
CNBC - Business
Top Democratic fundraisers sound the alarm after Biden's debate performance
President Joe Biden's top fundraisers are sounding the alarm on his disappointing debate performance.Joe Biden
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
John Dean says Nixon 'would have survived' Watergate under immunity ruling
John Dean, former White House counsel for the Nixon administration, said he believes former President Nixon “would have survived” the Watergate scandal if the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling issued MOnday, which largely shields former presidents ... -
The Hill - Politics
Evening Report — Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity in landmark case
🔷 Plus: Democrats' Biden dilemma grows as polls trickle in after debate {beacon} Evening Report Monday, July 1 © Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity in landmark case The Supreme Court on Monday ...Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
7 Democrats being floated as potential Biden replacements
President Biden’s campaign is intensely trying to quell speculation that he may drop out of the 2024 race following his lackluster debate performance last week. Most top Democrats have voiced support for Biden continuing in the race, while ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
Trump edges out Biden in New Hampshire in post-debate poll
Former President Trump has a 2-point lead over President Biden in New Hampshire, according to a poll published Monday, showing significant gains for Trump after Biden’s poor debate performance last week. The Saint Anselm College poll found that 44 ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
Rubio, Tim Scott would give Trump biggest boost as vice president: Poll
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are the two vice-presidential contenders who would offer the biggest boost to former President Trump if they were selected as his running mate, according to a new poll. A Harvard CAPS-Harris poll ...Donald Trump