Democrats Remain Unchanged as Biden Successfully Tackles Press Conference

President Joe Biden faced a testing time during his important NATO press conference on Thursday. While he didn't majorly falter, his reluctance to step back has left Democrats wondering about his ongoing race against Donald Trump.

A leading Democrat, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, suggested that Biden could consider reassessing his decision, amidst a consistent stream of Democrats from Capitol Hill opposing his candidacy. A recent poll shows the race remains tight between Biden and Trump, with potential Democratic replacements doing no better. Biden's campaign journeys to Michigan, Nevada, and Texas will keep the spotlight on him and any possible missteps. An interview with NBC scheduled for Monday will provide an alternative to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Two weeks following a debate that disrupted the 2024 presidential race projections, Biden still manages to avert a significant number of departures from officials and voters who have concerns regarding his stamina and mental sharpness. Post his NATO press conference, where he showed his foreign policy expertise but confused his VP for Trump, Democrats remain sceptical about the new phase of his campaign. The fear of losing control over the White House and Congress in November is growing.

Some Democrats, including Clyburn, argued that discussions around Biden's physical and cognitive fitness should cease and the focus should shift to the president’s record and opponent.

“I am all in,” Clyburn, a Biden ally, affirmed on NBC’s “Today Show” on Friday. “I’m riding with Biden, whatever the direction, whatever the method. I’m with Joe Biden.”

He also suggested that Biden should have the autonomy to “continue to make his own decisions about his future.”

Nevertheless, others on the Hill persist in pressuring Biden and his campaign, remaining unimpressed by the NATO press conference and pushing him to decisively act in the best interests of the party, despite his public insistence to remain in the race.

By Friday morning, there were 17 Democrats in the House and one in the Senate publicly requesting the president to withdraw from the race. This included quick responses from Reps. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Scott Peters of California, and Eric Sorensen of Illinois.

Right after Biden's NATO speech, Sorensen, a first-term Democrat from a swing district, publicly voiced his hopefulness for Biden stepping aside from his presidential campaign.

Former Biden chief of staff per a Friday morning post on X, Ron Klain stated it's time to unify behind the Democratic nominee. He linked an NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll showing Biden leading Trump by two points, though within the poll's margin for error.

The Marist poll demonstrated Biden leading with 50% of votes and Trump following close with 48%. Interestingly, the poll revealed 64% of registered voters don't believe Biden has the mental sharpness requisite for presidency, with 49% expressing similar concerns for Trump. Also, 60% anticipate Trump to win the general election.

Despite the surrounding concerns, Biden continues his election campaign, planning to tour Michigan, Nevada and Texas, in an attempt to counter the Republican National Convention. On Monday, he is scheduled for one-on-one with Lester Holt on NBC in Austin, Texas.

Last week, Biden managed well in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, though Stephanopoulos was caught afterwards expressing doubts about Biden's ability to serve another four-year term.

The Biden campaign is hopeful that his travel and media appearances will assuage the concerns over his capacity, staunch the stream of defectors on the Hill and shift focus away from the GOP convention.

However, Democrats are anxiously watching for any future poor performances, fuelled by rumours about which high-profile members of the party are strategizing together.

On Friday, indications of grassroots organizations also turning against Biden emerged, with Movement Voter Project becoming the first progressive fundraising and organizing group to officially call on the president to retire from the race.

Ex-Labor Secretary, Marty Walsh, rebuffed speculation that he might replace Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden opts out and she takes the lead.

The future of Biden’s campaign is yet uncertain. As reported by CNN, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama have had private conversations about it while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had a private meeting with Biden expressing Caucus's concerns about the path ahead. Amidst all this, the focus might temporarily shift away from Biden due to the GOP convention and Trump’s upcoming vice presidential selection.

Anna Muller for TROIB News