An increasing number of Democrats are calling on the president to drop out of the presidential race
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), JD Vance, the newly chosen Republican vice presidential nominee, questioned President Joe Biden’s ability to continue in office if he is deemed unfit to run for re-election.
Vance stated, “If Joe Biden doesn’t have the cognitive function to run for re-election, then he certainly doesn’t have the cognitive function to remain as Commander-In-Chief.” He further challenged Democrats to justify keeping Biden in office if they believe he should step down from the re-election race.
Echoing Vance’s sentiments, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida addressed reporters at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Rubio questioned how Biden could continue to serve as president if he is considered incapable of running for another term.
“If there’s something wrong with you that doesn’t allow you to run for president, how can you still be there as president?” Rubio asked, emphasizing the potential implications for the country.
If Joe Biden doesn't have the cognitive function to run for re-election, then he certainly doesn't have the cognitive function to remain as Commander-In-Chief.
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) July 19, 2024
How can any Dem pushing him to drop out of the presidential race, argue in good faith that he should stay on as POTUS?
Prominent figures across the political spectrum have voiced similar concerns. Nate Silver, the founder of FiveThirtyEight, suggested that Biden should transition the presidency to Vice President Kamala Harris within the next 30-60 days. He expressed that something seemed “clearly wrong” with Biden’s current condition.
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez from Washington also urged Biden to step down, stating that Americans deserve a president who is fit for the job. She highlighted a growing crisis of confidence in Biden’s leadership, advocating for the president to prioritize national interest.
The calls for Biden to exit the re-election race intensified following a poor debate performance last month, with fears among Democrats that he might lose to Donald Trump. Historian Alexis Coe, writing for Rolling Stone, argued that Biden should resign to preserve his legacy.
This is a pretty incoherent answer including a non-sequitur complaing about a New York Times poll, which he incorrectly claims had him down 10 points before the debate (it was actually 3 or 4 points, depending on which version you look at). https://t.co/uV6acR43M6
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) July 5, 2024
Allan Lichtman, a presidential historian known for accurately predicting nine out of the last ten elections, also suggested that Biden stepping down and Harris taking over could be the Democrats’ best strategy to retain the White House.
Despite these mounting calls, Biden and his campaign have maintained that he is committed to winning the re-election. However, reports indicate that he might be reconsidering his decision in light of the growing pressure.