President Biden is facing increasing pressure from within his own party to step aside from the 2024 White House race. Rep. Adam Smith, a senior House Democrat, has publicly urged Biden to consider not running for re-election, citing concerns about the president’s ability to effectively deliver the Democratic message and beat former President Trump in November.
During an interview with CNN, Smith criticized the Biden campaign’s approach of dismissing concerns about the president’s fitness for office. He emphasized that the issue is not going away, as constituents and the country continue to raise questions about Biden’s performance. Smith’s call for Biden to step aside follows a series of similar statements from other Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Lloyd Doggett, Raul Grijalva, Angie Craig, Mike Quigley, and Seth Moulton.
The growing concerns about Biden’s candidacy stem from his poor performance in the CNN Presidential Debate last month. Many viewers noted Biden’s hoarse voice, stumbling answers, and overall lack of sharpness compared to his previous debates with Trump. Despite calls for him to consider stepping aside, Biden has made it clear that he is not backing down and remains committed to defeating Trump in the upcoming election.
While Smith and other Democrats are urging Biden to reassess his candidacy, they are not calling for him to resign from the presidency early. Instead, Smith mentioned that he could support Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential successor to Biden. The Democratic Party is facing internal divisions over how to address the concerns about Biden’s candidacy, with some urging unity and others calling for a more open discussion about the path forward.
As House Democrats prepare to gather for their regular caucus meeting, the issue of Biden’s candidacy is likely to be a topic of discussion. The party is grappling with how to navigate the situation and ensure that they present a strong and united front against Trump in the upcoming election. Despite the internal challenges, Democrats are unified in their goal of defeating Trump and reclaiming the White House in 2024.
