President Joe Biden arrives at the Biden-Harris campaign office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to speak with supporters and volunteers during the campaign on July 7, 2024.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
President Joe Biden defended his lead among Democratic candidates in a surprise TV appearance on Monday interview Over the weekend, more lawmakers and donors came forward to express concerns about his re-election bid.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Biden said in a phone interview. “I absolutely believe I am the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump in 2024.”
The president angrily called on him to step down, saying “I am very frustrated by the party elite”. “I don’t care what millionaires think.”
Biden’s comments come as his political wounds deepened over the weekend, despite his efforts to stem the bleeding.
According to NBC News, during a closed virtual meeting of House Democrats on Sunday, four more Democratic representatives said they believe Biden should withdraw from the 2024 race. Those House Democrats are: Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.). and Joe Morrell, DN.Y.
The names join five other House Democrats who publicly called for Biden to step down last week, including Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., who announced her stance on Saturday.
As the president and his team try to bandage his political wounds, a growing number of lawmakers, donors and strategists are publicly voicing their concerns about Biden’s candidacy.
On Monday, Biden sent a letter to congressional Democrats doubling down on his commitment to the 2024 campaign as they all return to Washington after the holiday recess.
“The question of how to move forward has been discussed for more than a week. Now is the time to end it,” Biden wrote in the letter. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity on the mission ahead will only help Trump and hurt us.” ”
Last week, Biden held several meetings and calls with Democratic lawmakers and allies, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jim Clyburn, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York State Democrat. and Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Biden also gave a 22-minute interview to ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Friday, although that didn’t appear to address Democrats’ anxieties.
Biden will be busy attending a NATO summit in Washington over the coming week, where he will have a dual mission: rally support among foreign allies around Ukraine and calm Democratic concerns about his re-election bid.
Biden is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday, and all eyes will be on whether the president can redeem himself in an impromptu setting and take on some challenging questions. The president is also expected to make more calls to lawmakers in the coming days to reassure them.
Some lawmakers see the coming week as a decisive moment in determining the fate of Biden’s campaign.
“The clock is ticking,” Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, a close ally of the president, said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “This is going to be a very important and critical week for the country and the president.”
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