Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) has become the first Democratic lawmaker to openly urge President Biden to step aside. But according to a Reuters report, over two dozen congressional Democrats are preparing to do the same.
This potential wave of calls comes in response to a post-debate survey by Reuters/Ipsos, which found that one in three Democrats believes the president should end his re-election campaign. Biden is also facing pressure from donors, analysts, and editorial boards who fear that his continued candidacy could lead to a Trump victory in November.
Some close to the president, including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, have argued that Biden’s debate performance was just a bad night and not reflective of his overall mental fitness. However, the editorial board of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has dismissed such explanations as “insulting to the American people.”
“This wasn’t a bad night; it was confirmation of the worst fears of some of Biden’s most ardent supporters — that after 36 years in the U.S. Senate, eight more as vice president and a term in the White House, age has finally caught up to him,” the board said, calling on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.
