US President Joe Biden’s campaign is standing firm in the face of mounting pressure from top Democratic leaders to step aside as the party nominee. Despite calls for him to withdraw, Mr. Biden’s re-election campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon reiterated on Friday morning that the president is staying in the race.
In an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, O’Malley Dillon stated, “Absolutely, the president’s in this race,” emphasizing that Mr. Biden is “more committed than ever to beat Donald Trump” and is the “best person” to take on the former president.
The conflicting reports of conversations within Mr. Biden’s circle and the larger party have added to the confusion surrounding the campaign. Over the past few weeks, the president has faced pressure to step down, including calls from party leaders, a loss of donors, and concerns about potentially costing Democrats control of Congress.
Despite being under quarantine at his home in Delaware after testing positive for Covid-19, Mr. Biden’s campaign memo released on Friday made it clear that he is not backing down. The memo stated, “Joe Biden has made it more than clear: He’s in this race and he’s in it to win it.”
As the Democratic National Convention approaches, with the Democratic National Committee expected to meet virtually in early August to nominate Biden officially, the pressure on Mr. Biden to make a decision is mounting. Calls for him to withdraw from the race have come from Democratic lawmakers like Senator Jon Tester and Congressman Jim Costa, as well as additional House Democrats.
Despite the challenges, some key supporters like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have expressed their support for Mr. Biden’s re-election bid. However, reports suggest that senior Democratic leaders, including former President Barack Obama, have raised concerns about Mr. Biden’s chances of winning the election.
With the clock ticking and the Democratic National Convention approaching, the future of Mr. Biden’s campaign remains uncertain as he faces increasing pressure to make a decision about his candidacy.
