Washington, DC [US], In the wake of President Joe Biden's disappointing debate performance, panic has gripped the Democratic Party, sparking intense discussions about the viability of his candidacy. Politico's reporting reveals a flurry of activity behind the scenes, with strategists and donors alike expressing concerns and exploring alternatives.
According to sources close to the potential Democratic candidates, the debate sparked a wave of urgent messages. Advisers reported receiving pleas for their candidates to run as potential Biden replacements, reflecting a growing sense of dissatisfaction within the party.
"There have been no less than a half-dozen key donors texting 'disaster' and insisting that 'the party needs to do something,'" admitted one strategist, who acknowledged the challenges of making significant changes without Biden stepping down. side voluntarily, Politico reported. Among the concerned voices was a major Democratic donor and Biden supporter, who stated bluntly: "Biden needs to step down. There's no doubt about it." This sentiment was echoed by suggestions for alternative formulas spearheaded by figures such as the governors of Maryland and Michigan.
Despite mounting pressure, some prominent Democrats rallied behind Biden. Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois and Gavin Newsom of California reaffirmed their support, dismissing calls for Biden to withdraw as "futile" and emphasizing the importance of party unity.
Biden's struggles during the debate, billed as a critical moment in reshaping the campaign's narrative, only exacerbated existing concerns about his age and performance. A former senior Biden White House official lamented, "No Labels and Dean Phillips won this debate," referring to outside efforts advocating for alternatives outside the Biden-Trump dichotomy. While calls for Biden to While they underscore a significant shift in Democratic circles, the viability of such a move remains uncertain. Historically, sitting presidents face challenges in early debates, often due to the demands of their office and limited preparation time. However, Biden's perceived lackluster performance reinforced doubts about his ability to effectively lead the party in the 2024 elections, according to Politico.
A Democratic Party donor adviser described a scene of dismay at a meeting in Atlanta, where reactions ranged from frustration to disbelief. "Our only hope is that he withdraws, we have a negotiated convention, or he dies," the adviser lamented, reflecting deep concerns within Democratic ranks about Biden's electability.
Despite the internal turmoil, many insiders acknowledged the unlikelihood of a negotiated convention taking place or Biden voluntarily resigning. "Only one person can decide, and it's him," commented one Democratic strategist, highlighting the critical role Biden plays in any decision about his candidacy. In the face of criticism, Biden's campaign remained firm in its support for the president. . One adviser highlighted Biden's record as "the only person to beat Donald Trump," and expressed confidence in his ability to repeat that feat in 2024.
Addressing speculation about Biden dropping out, a campaign aide dismissed such notions out of hand, citing strong grassroots fundraising immediately after the debate as evidence of continued support, as Politico reported.
In a statement, Biden's campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon, defended the president's performance, saying Biden "presented a positive, winning vision for America's future," while contrasting Trump's rhetoric as regressive and divisive. Democratic consultant Stephanie Cutter sought to allay concerns by declaring: "President Biden is the Democratic nominee and that's not going to change because of a debate performance." She urged party members to stay focused and warned that Trump should not be allowed to gain political ground as a result of internal divisions.
Despite efforts to support Biden, skepticism persisted among Democrats about his ability to effectively lead the party into the election. One state Democrat who lost the vote commented candidly: "I mean, it's not good overall. Our president has a speech impediment, a cold, and he's 81 years old."
Reflecting on the debate, a senior aide to top Democratic officials offered a scathing assessment, saying: "It was bad on the message, bad on the substance, bad on the counterpunch, bad on the presentation, bad on the nonverbal. There was no positive point in this debate for him."Looking ahead, the Democratic Party faces a critical juncture as it grapples with the consequences of Biden's performance in the debate. The debate has laid bare deep-seated concerns about Biden's candidacy and raised questions about the party's strategy heading into the 2024 election cycle, Politico reported.
According to sources close to the potential Democratic candidates, the debate sparked a wave of urgent messages. Advisers reported receiving pleas for their candidates to run as potential Biden replacements, reflecting a growing sense of dissatisfaction within the party.
"There have been no less than a half-dozen key donors texting 'disaster' and insisting that 'the party needs to do something,'" admitted one strategist, who acknowledged the challenges of making significant changes without Biden stepping down. side voluntarily, Politico reported. Among the concerned voices was a major Democratic donor and Biden supporter, who stated bluntly: "Biden needs to step down. There's no doubt about it." This sentiment was echoed by suggestions for alternative formulas spearheaded by figures such as the governors of Maryland and Michigan.
Despite mounting pressure, some prominent Democrats rallied behind Biden. Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois and Gavin Newsom of California reaffirmed their support, dismissing calls for Biden to withdraw as "futile" and emphasizing the importance of party unity.
Biden's struggles during the debate, billed as a critical moment in reshaping the campaign's narrative, only exacerbated existing concerns about his age and performance. A former senior Biden White House official lamented, "No Labels and Dean Phillips won this debate," referring to outside efforts advocating for alternatives outside the Biden-Trump dichotomy. While calls for Biden to While they underscore a significant shift in Democratic circles, the viability of such a move remains uncertain. Historically, sitting presidents face challenges in early debates, often due to the demands of their office and limited preparation time. However, Biden's perceived lackluster performance reinforced doubts about his ability to effectively lead the party in the 2024 elections, according to Politico.
A Democratic Party donor adviser described a scene of dismay at a meeting in Atlanta, where reactions ranged from frustration to disbelief. "Our only hope is that he withdraws, we have a negotiated convention, or he dies," the adviser lamented, reflecting deep concerns within Democratic ranks about Biden's electability.
Despite the internal turmoil, many insiders acknowledged the unlikelihood of a negotiated convention taking place or Biden voluntarily resigning. "Only one person can decide, and it's him," commented one Democratic strategist, highlighting the critical role Biden plays in any decision about his candidacy. In the face of criticism, Biden's campaign remained firm in its support for the president. . One adviser highlighted Biden's record as "the only person to beat Donald Trump," and expressed confidence in his ability to repeat that feat in 2024.
Addressing speculation about Biden dropping out, a campaign aide dismissed such notions out of hand, citing strong grassroots fundraising immediately after the debate as evidence of continued support, as Politico reported.
In a statement, Biden's campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon, defended the president's performance, saying Biden "presented a positive, winning vision for America's future," while contrasting Trump's rhetoric as regressive and divisive. Democratic consultant Stephanie Cutter sought to allay concerns by declaring: "President Biden is the Democratic nominee and that's not going to change because of a debate performance." She urged party members to stay focused and warned that Trump should not be allowed to gain political ground as a result of internal divisions.
Despite efforts to support Biden, skepticism persisted among Democrats about his ability to effectively lead the party into the election. One state Democrat who lost the vote commented candidly: "I mean, it's not good overall. Our president has a speech impediment, a cold, and he's 81 years old."
Reflecting on the debate, a senior aide to top Democratic officials offered a scathing assessment, saying: "It was bad on the message, bad on the substance, bad on the counterpunch, bad on the presentation, bad on the nonverbal. There was no positive point in this debate for him."Looking ahead, the Democratic Party faces a critical juncture as it grapples with the consequences of Biden's performance in the debate. The debate has laid bare deep-seated concerns about Biden's candidacy and raised questions about the party's strategy heading into the 2024 election cycle, Politico reported.
