US President Joe Biden faces another significant setback in his bid for re-election as Democratic lawmakers held a crisis call to discuss his viability.
The meeting took place on Sunday afternoon, July 7, amid growing concerns about their political futures in the upcoming November elections.
During the call, at least five more Democratic lawmakers urged Biden, 81, to step aside, with most agreeing that Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, should be the nominee instead.
Among those expressing their desire for Biden to end his White House bid were Judiciary Ranking Member Jerry Nadler and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano. Reps. Don Beyer, Adam Smith, and Joseph Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, also voiced their opinion that Biden should step down.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries scheduled the call with caucus members as they prepared to return to Washington, D.C., on Monday after the July 4 holiday break.
A House Democrat commented, “The sh*t is going to hit the fan on Monday when Congress returns,” adding that people are concerned about their own races, the country, and democracy.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is also organizing a group of Senate Democrats to discuss Biden’s future, aiming to meet on Monday evening.
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In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) stated, “The performance on the debate stage, I think, rightfully raised questions among the American people about whether the president has the vigor to defeat Donald Trump. This is an existential race.”
Schiff added, “He should be mopping the floor with Donald Trump. Joe Biden is running against a criminal. It should not even be close. And there is only one reason why it is close – and that’s the president’s age.”
Schiff advised Biden to seek opinions from trusted individuals and objective pollsters before making a well-informed decision on whether to continue his campaign. “If the judgment is to run – then run and beat that SOB,” he concluded.