The Democratic president has signaled he has no intention of dropping out of the race against Donald Trump despite the halting and uneven debate delivery that threw a spotlight on questions about Biden's age and capacity to be president. But as Democrats make the case that the stakes of the election are momentous — challenging no less than the foundations of American democracy itself — they are wrestling with how to approach the 81-year-old who is supposed to be leading the charge for their party.
Here's how Democrats are handling the aftermath of the debate:
Raising alarm
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat from Texas, on Tuesday became the first sitting Democrat in Congress to call for Biden to withdraw from the race. In a statement, he praised Biden but said he “has the opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process.”
“Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so,” Doggett said.
A number of other congressional Democrats have tip-toed in recent days toward outspoken concern not just over Biden’s performance during the debate, but also the level of transparency that Biden’s team has offered about his mental fitness.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., told a local CBS-affiliated television station this week that he was “horrified” by Biden's performance.
“People want to make sure that this is a campaign that’s ready to go and win,” Whitehouse said. “That the president and his team are being candid with us about his condition — that this was a real anomaly.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a prominent Democrat from Maryland, said on MSNBC, “There are very honest and serious and rigorous conversations taking place at every level of our party."
Raskin said Democrats needed Biden at the “very center” of their campaign to make the argument that the Republican Party is slipping towards authoritarianism under Trump, but also raised the possibility that Biden would not continue as the presidential candidate.
Some are concerned that Biden’s weaknesses could tamp down potential voters’ enthusiasm, creating a ripple effect that hurts Democrats as they try to hold on to a narrow Senate majority and take back control of the House. Down-ballot Democrats are already confident they can outperform Biden in swing races, but if large numbers of voters reject Biden, it could also impact them.
Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., told CNN on Tuesday that he wanted Biden to recognize “how much this impacts not just his race but all the other races coming in November.”
Backing Biden
With Biden's family urging him to stay in the race, attention has turned to senior Democratic lawmakers who could potentially convince the president to withdraw his nomination. So far, top Democratic leaders have mostly stood behind Biden in public statements.
“There have not been discussions among senior leadership about anything other than making sure we continue to articulate a compelling vision for the future to the American people related to the issues of importance around the economy,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters at a Monday event at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after the debate last week that it showed voters there was a choice between “four more years of progress, or four more years of attacks on our fundamental rights and our democracy.”
Biden planned to speak with congressional leaders this week, the White House said Tuesday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday they respected the opinions and thoughts of concerned party members, adding, “that’s what makes this party different than the other side.”
