U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the 2024 presidential race during calls with his campaign team and meetings with Democratic lawmakers and governors on Wednesday. This comes amid rising calls for him to withdraw following a shaky debate performance last week.
Biden addressed concerned campaign members in a call, stating emphatically, "No one is pushing me out. I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end." He echoed this sentiment in an email to supporters, urging them to contribute financially to help defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in the upcoming election on November 5.
On Wednesday evening, Biden met with 24 Democratic governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C., both virtually and in person, to reassure them of his capability to lead the party despite his recent debate performance. Only three governors—New York’s Kathy Hochul, Minnesota’s Tim Walz, and Maryland’s Wes Moore—spoke to reporters afterward, expressing their continued support for Biden. Moore emphasized, "The president has always had our backs. We're going to have his back as well."
Walz, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, acknowledged Biden's poor debate performance against Trump but asserted his belief in Biden's fitness for office. Concerns about Biden's age and mental sharpness surged after the debate, during which he mumbled, lost his train of thought, and made confusing statements. Biden attributed his performance to fatigue from recent international trips and a cold.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed the idea of Biden stepping down, saying, "Absolutely not." However, two national polls soon indicated a decline in Biden's standing against Trump. A Wall Street Journal survey showed Trump leading Biden 48% to 42%, while a New York Times/Siena poll found Trump’s lead had increased to 49% to 43%.
Within the Democratic Party, Arizona Representative Raúl Grijalva called for Biden to withdraw, while Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton cited Biden's age as a significant issue. Moulton stated, “The unfortunate reality is that the status quo will likely deliver us President Trump. President Biden is not going to get younger.”
Despite the campaign highlighting fundraising successes, major Democratic donor Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, also called for Biden to step aside. Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered support as a potential replacement. Dmitri Mehlhorn, adviser to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, expressed enthusiastic support for a Harris-led ticket if Biden were to step down, noting her resilience against attacks from Trump's supporters.
Democrats and donors critical of Biden's viability are closely watching an upcoming interview with ABC News, expected to be taped and aired Friday during Biden’s campaign visit to Madison, Wisconsin. The White House confirmed Biden has been in touch with Democratic leaders in Congress and Representative Jim Clyburn, a key figure in Biden's 2020 victory. Clyburn, supportive of Harris as a potential candidate, suggested the party should hold a "mini-primary" if Biden withdraws.
Potential rivals who met with Biden on Wednesday, such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, could emerge if pressure on Biden increases. However, many continue to campaign on his behalf.