Republican presidential candidate former US President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate US President Joe Biden pose for a combined photo during the presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, US, June 27, 2024.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
President Joe Biden is entering a decisive week in which he must reassure voters that he can defeat President Donald Trump in the November election, Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said Sunday.
“The clock is ticking” Murphya close ally of the president said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “This is going to be a very important and critical week for the country and the president.”
Since Biden’s poor performance in the debate on June 27, calls from Democratic lawmakers, strategists and donors for him to drop out of the presidential race have grown louder. While voter polls have produced mixed results, several polls show the president falling further behind Trump.
The week ahead is crucial as the House and Senate reconvene after the holiday recess to give Democrats a chance to discuss their concerns in person. Five House Democrats have so far publicly called on Biden to drop out of the race, but more lawmakers have expressed concerns behind closed doors.
As pressure to exit mounts, Biden has been in damage control mode, steadfast in his commitment to stay in the race.
On Wednesday, five days after the debate disaster, the president held multiple calls and meetings with Capitol Hill allies, Democratic governors and campaign staff to reassure them of his commitment to the campaign and his ability to win.
Biden conducted an unedited 22-minute sit-down on ABC News on Friday, his first television interview, in an effort to reverse some of the damage caused by his failed debate. But Murphy said the interview did little to ease voters’ concerns.
“Friday night’s interview doesn’t answer all the questions people in my state have,” he added. “They need to see more from the president and I hope we see that this week.”
Also on Friday, Biden campaigned in the key battleground state of Wisconsin. Biden held several other meetings in Pennsylvania on Sunday. Activity incident in hopes of quelling fears among Democrats.
In the coming week, Biden will host a series of foreign leaders for a NATO summit. On Thursday, he plans to hold a news conference, another opportunity to redeem himself in an impromptu event.
Some parliamentary session A meeting is also scheduled to take place this week, with discussions expected to focus on concerns about Biden’s candidacy and the potential impact on the next round of voting.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., plans to convene a meeting of Democratic committee chairmen on Sunday. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., is trying to convene a similar meeting of Senate Democrats in the coming days.
Murphy said the coming week cannot be “business as usual” for Biden. Instead, the senator said, Biden needs to show up heavily in public settings such as town halls and press conferences to show voters that he can handle the rest of the campaign and re-election.
“The president needs to engage with voters and prove to those who are skeptical that he can do the job,” Murphy said. “If he can’t, then he has to make a decision.”
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