Demand for withdrawal

Internal letter puts Joe Biden under pressure

Joe Biden is coming under considerable pressure within the party.

(Bild: Getty Images/Andrew Harnik)

For many Democrats, US President Joe Biden no longer has a chance of re-election after his TV debacle. A letter is already circulating within the party calling on the 81-year-old to renounce his candidacy. Dozens of Democrats are said to be considering signing the letter.

Bloomberg reports on the internal mutiny, citing a "high-ranking party official". According to the source, Democrats currently running for re-election in "traditionally safe Democratic districts are circulating the letter". Many of them also see their chances of success diminishing in the shadow of the US president.

After Biden's lackluster performance at last week's presidential debate, the internal pressure and disappointment of Democratic donors and lawmakers on the US president and his campaign team is growing almost by the minute.

Concerns about an election defeat are also likely to have already reached the Oval Office. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Biden himself was doubting his chances of success. The report was rejected by the White House as "false".

Spokesman rejects reports
US Presidential Office spokesman Andrew Bates wrote on social media following the publication of the article: "This claim is absolutely false." He added: "If the 'New York Times' had given us more than seven minutes to comment on this, we would have told them so."

Shortly after the "New York Times" report appeared, the US broadcaster CNN also published a report with similar content, citing an ally. It was unclear whether the person was the same source. 

Biden would "by no means" withdraw from the race, press spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre also told journalists on Wednesday. "He's continuing as president, he's continuing with his campaign," the spokeswoman continued. Everything else "that we hear or that is reported is completely false".

TV debate as a stumbling block
The Democrat's appearance in the first live debate against Republican Donald Trump had raised concerns about his mental and physical fitness. The best-known faces of the party have so far held back with harsh criticism and publicly backed Biden.

Almost fell asleep on stage.

Joe Biden

Bild: AP

Biden himself has publicly stated that he will stick to his candidacy. The US President put his fidgety appearance down to jet lag after two trips abroad at the beginning of June. 

He had decided to travel around the world several times before the debate, crossing around 100 time zones in the process. "I didn't listen to my staff and almost fell asleep on stage." That's no excuse, but it is an explanation.

Next appearances are crucial
Biden plans to meet with Democratic governors on Wednesday to secure their support. On Friday, he plans to give an interview to the ABC channel. In addition, campaign appearances are planned in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the coming days. Next week, he plans to hold a press conference at the NATO summit in Washington.

A survey conducted by pollsters from Siena College on behalf of the New York Times put Trump at 49% and Biden at 43%. This is "the largest lead" Trump has ever had in a poll conducted by the institute, the newspaper reported.