Top Dems believe Biden to withdraw from race soon: Axios
3 Min Read
Democratic donors have expressed concern that Joe Biden's refusal to step down is "drying up" money for the campaign.
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President Joe Biden walks down the steps of Air Force One at Dover Air Force in Delaware on July 17, 2024. (AP)
Several prominent Democrats have privately told Axios that mounting pressure from party legislative leaders and close associates would persuade President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign as soon as this weekend.
The Covid-stricken President has allegedly quietly accepted that rising pressure, poor polling, and unsustainable scrutiny would make it difficult for him to continue his campaign.
Top party officials, allies, and significant funders believe he cannot win, change public judgments of his age and intelligence, or deliver legislative majorities.
The President has been advised that if he remains, former President Trump might win in a landslide, wiping out Biden's legacy and Democrats' aspirations in November.
Democrats fully expect surveys following the Republican National Convention to show a potential blowout, which could also bring down Democrats in Congress. One close associate told Axios that he prays Biden "does the right thing," adding that "his choice is to be one of history's heroes, or to be sure of the fact that there'll never be a Biden presidential library."
A Wednesday Associated Press survey found that almost two-thirds of Democrats want Biden to resign from the presidential campaign.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Biden on Saturday — the day of Trump's assassination attempt — that he should get out, ABC News first reported.
US President Joe #Biden's recent comments about needing more sleep and less work have reignited discussions about his cognitive health. Amid a series of notable gaffes, from misstatements in interviews to tripping incidents, concerns are growing.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 17, 2024
High-profile figures, including… pic.twitter.com/l20tIPbo8N
Biden will 'not be dragged off stage'
Democrats on Capitol Hill want Biden removed and are concerned that if he remains, they will lose winnable seats. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned him that he may jeopardize Democrats' hopes of regaining control of the House. Reports say Pelosi is also concerned about a lack of donations.
Democratic donors have expressed concern that Joe Biden's refusal to step down is "drying up" money for the November election campaign, endangering the party's chances of defeating Donald Trump.
Top Biden allies, even those who initially pushed him to battle on after his catastrophic debate with Donald Trump, are increasingly suggesting it's now a matter of when, not if, Biden announces his decision to withdraw.
As per an earlier Axios report, a Democratic insider stated that Biden "will not be dragged off the stage... The goal is to let him walk off the stage."
However, with Biden refusing to take the hint, "he's forcing people who like and respect him to resort to trying to shame him," a well-known Democrat close to the White House told Axios.
A senior Biden aide told Axios that Biden has recently expressed even more commitment to win.
At a counterprogramming event outside the GOP convention in Milwaukee, deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks assured reporters that Biden "is not wavering on anything," despite now inquiring more about Vice President Harris' chances against Trump.
Axios notes that if Biden drops out and endorses Harris, she may be difficult to stop if she is backed by the Obamas, Clintons, and Congressional Black Caucus.
