Joe Biden Faces Unrelenting Challenges

Joe Biden Faces Unrelenting Challenges

Joe Biden faces unrelenting challenges. It seemed like things couldn’t deteriorate further for the president after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Wednesday, thwarting his plans to counter-program the Republican National Convention by forcing him to cancel an appearance before a key Latino advocacy group.

Senior Democrats Express Concerns

Then, the dam burst. A torrent of leaks revealed senior Democratic Party leaders warning Biden personally that he was unlikely to defeat Donald Trump and was jeopardizing his congressional allies.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer bluntly suggested Biden withdraw from the race, per ABC News. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned Biden that his candidacy jeopardized Democrats’ congressional control, per the Washington Post. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi privately told Biden he couldn’t defeat Trump, CNN reported.

Democratic leaders’ private warnings to Biden underscored concerns about his candidacy and congressional control risks, according to WSJ Subscription Offers.

Public and Private Pleas

These private pleas were accompanied by public signals that Democrats were unconvinced Biden’s campaign was viable. Earlier Wednesday, Adam Schiff – the California congressman and Democratic candidate for the US Senate – revived calls from allies urging Biden to “pass the torch.”

Separately, Schumer and Jeffries worked to thwart an attempt by some Biden allies to hold an early virtual roll call. If successful, Biden could have formalized his nomination in the coming days, helping to quell the dissent.

Campaign in Turmoil

Instead, the president retreated to isolate at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, searching for ways to salvage his campaign, which was once again in turmoil.

At the White House, spokesman Andrew Bates insisted that Biden was pressing ahead.

Biden told the congressional leaders “he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win, and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100 days agenda to help working families,” Bates said in a statement.

The president’s Covid episode removes him from the campaign trail. It thrusts his health back into the spotlight. This comes at a critical moment for dispelling concerns over his age and mental acuity.

Consideration of Withdrawal

In a BET interview taped Tuesday, Biden hinted at potentially withdrawing from the race due to health concerns. He also expressed openness to handing over the reins to Vice President Kamala Harris if health issues surfaced during a second term.

Even Biden’s allies were struggling to defend the president. Senator Bernie Sanders, among a group of progressives who have rallied to Biden’s defense in recent days, conceded in an interview with the New Yorker that Biden had trouble completing sentences.


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GOP Convention Contrast

Biden’s struggles were highlighted as scenes from the GOP convention unfolded. The Republican nominee, Trump, appeared on stage, sporting a bandaged ear. It was from the assassination attempt he survived last weekend.

Trump’s defiant, fist-pumping response to the shooting proved instantly iconic, galvanizing supporters against voices of doubt within the Republican Party. On Tuesday night, former primary foes Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis took to the stage in Milwaukee to lay out their argument for supporting Trump’s candidacy.

Polls Indicate Trouble

Public opinion polls underscore reason for Democrats to be worried.

Nearly two-thirds of Biden’s own party say he should withdraw from the race, according to an Associated Press-NORC poll released hours before Biden’s Covid diagnosis. Just three in 10 Democrats are extremely or very confident in his ability to serve effectively as president.

Early Wednesday, Emerson College released a poll showing Trump ahead of Biden by 2 points in Virginia. Virginia hasn’t supported a Republican presidential candidate in 20 years. The margin of error allows for uncertainty, but it suggests Democrats may need to defend and invest in more states.

Cancelled Events and Health Concerns

The president planned to travel to Austin, Texas, on Monday. He aimed to mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library. The White House viewed this as a chance for Biden to align with past Democratic efforts on minority protections. Additionally, Biden sought to contrast Trump’s policies on abortion and voting rights.

After Saturday’s shooting at the Trump rally, organizers canceled the event, moving NBC News’ planned interview to the White House. Without the event backdrop, the interview turned tense, focusing on Biden’s rhetoric and questions about his age.

“Sometime come and talk to me about what we should be talking about,” Biden told NBC anchor Lester Holt at the conclusion. “OK? The issues.”

Missteps and Covid Diagnosis

Biden resumed campaign events Tuesday at the NAACP’s convention but stumbled on a key proposal. He aimed to cap rent increases by corporate landlords at 5% annually. However, he seemed to struggle with the teleprompter and mistakenly suggested a $55 limit.

After the event, BET News released excerpts from an interview with Biden where he appeared to open the door to reconsidering his reelection bid if doctors advised it.

“If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,” Biden said.

On Wednesday, things worsened for Biden. Jeffrey Katzenberg, the Hollywood executive leading his fundraising, informed him donations were dwindling due to concerns about his age. Katzenberg later stated the meeting was misunderstood in a statement to Semafor.

The president then went to tape a radio interview with Univision but left it feeling unwell. A Covid test confirmed his infection, and the president quickly returned to the Las Vegas airport to fly back to his Delaware home.


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