As the 2024 presidential election cycle heats up, the Democratic Party finds itself in a state of turmoil. President Joe Biden, facing calls from within his own ranks to step aside, has defiantly declared that he “declines” to do so.
“We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election,” Biden said in the letter, distributed by his reelection campaign. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”
Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, on which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was “frustrated” by the calls from party officials for him to step aside.
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The growing divide within the Democratic Party has been exposed, with a private call among top House committee members revealing a deepening rift. Some senior Democrats, including Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Jim Himes, Adam Smith, and Mark Takano, have privately expressed the view that Biden should step aside, while others, such as Reps. Maxine Waters, Bobby Scott, and Richard Neal, have staunchly supported the president.
In his letter to congressional Democrats, Biden has made it clear that he has no intention of stepping aside. He has stressed that the party has “one job” – to defeat Donald Trump in November.
Biden emphasized the urgency of the situation, with only 42 days until the Democratic Convention and 119 days until the general election. He has warned that any “weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead” would only benefit Trump and hurt the Democratic Party.
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The upheaval within the Democratic Party has also tested the leadership of figures such as House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Both have refrained from publicly directing lawmakers on a path forward as they balance the diverse opinions within their ranks.
Behind the scenes, the influence of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has been felt. Pelosi has remained supportive of Biden, even as she acknowledged that his debate performance had raised “legitimate” questions that he needed to address.
Her public praise of Biden as a “great President who continues to deliver for America’s kitchen table” has been seen as a signal of her continued backing.
The concerns about Biden’s electability have been a central focus of the ongoing discussions within the Democratic Party.
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Some lawmakers have expressed doubts about his ability to defeat Trump in the general election, particularly in the wake of his “dismal public debate performance.” However, others, such as Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, have argued that it is time to “quit the hand-wringing and get back to door knocking.”
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