Democrats discuss Biden’s fitness as 7th lawmaker calls on him to quit race
Democratic Party lawmakers have met privately to discuss United States President Joe Biden’s crisis-stricken re-election bid as questions continue to swirl around the president’s physical and mental fitness.
The closed-door talks on Tuesday highlighted ongoing divisions within the party over Biden’s electability following his disastrous debate performance last month against Republican challenger Donald Trump.
Addressing reporters before and after the meeting, prominent Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, reiterated their support for Biden.
“I’m with Joe,” Schumer said repeatedly in response to questions about Biden’s fitness for office.
“We’re riding with Biden,” Jim Clyburn of South Carolina told reporters.
While the talks appeared to put paid to the possibility of a mass revolt against Biden’s candidacy, at least for now, they failed to present a united front.
Dick Durbin of Illinois said it “still remains to be seen” whether Biden would stay on the ticket.
Asked whether Democrats were all on the same page, Steve Cohen of Tennessee said: “We’re not even in the same book.”
Hours after the talks, Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic representative from New Jersey, became the seventh elected Democrat to publicly call on Biden to drop out of the race.
“I know that President Biden and his team have been true public servants and have put the country and the best interests of democracy first and foremost in their considerations,” Sherrill said in a statement.
“And because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won’t run for re-election and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee.”
While stopping short of calling on Biden to step aside, Lori Trahan, a House representative for Massachusetts, also added her voice to those expressing concerns about his ability to beat Trump.
“While President Biden has made clear he feels he is the best candidate to win this election, nothing that has happened over the past 12 days suggests that voters see things the same way,” Trahan said in a statement.
