President Joe Biden is digging in and vowing to get “back on the campaign trail next week” despite growing calls from Dems to back down — even snapping at leaders of the party and accusing them of assisting in getting Donald Trump elected in 2016 when they discarded him to promote Hillary Clinton.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator from New York Chuck Schumer, and former President Barack Obama are only three powerful Democrats who have counseled the president to toss in the towel.
“Can we all just remember for a minute that these same people who are trying to push Joe Biden out are the same people who literally gave us all Donald Trump? said a source close to the president to NBC News.
“In 2015, Obama, Pelosi, Schumer pushed Biden aside in favor of Hillary; they were wrong then, and they are wrong now,” added the source.
The source noted that polls in the 2016 presidential election lead-up showed former Secretary of State Clinton leading by as many as nine points.
“How did all this work out for everyone in 2016? Perhaps we should learn a few lessons from 2016; one of them is polls are BS — just ask Secretary Clinton. And two, maybe, just maybe, Joe Biden is more in touch with actual Americans than Obama-Pelosi-Schumer?” ranted the source.
Clapback from the Biden camp comes after increasing speculation that the president’s party could turn on him because of concerns about his physical and mental fitness.
On Thursday, Axios’ Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei reported that “several top Democrats” believe Biden is now under significant pressure to step back and might eventually concede.
Friday, Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico became the third senator to call on Joe Biden to “pass the torch” to a different candidate.
“Joe Biden is one of the most accomplished presidents in modern history,” said Heinrich. “However, this moment in our nation’s history calls for a focus that is bigger than any one person.”
Democratic senators Jon Tester from Montana and Peter Welch of Vermont, along with two dozen Democrats in Congress, have also urged the president to withdraw.
Democratic Representative Seth Moulton from Massachusetts revealed in an op-ed Friday in the Boston Globe that Joe Biden didn’t recognize him during a small gathering in France for D-Day’s 80th anniversary last month.
“Of course, that can happen as anyone ages, but as I watched the disastrous debate a few weeks ago, I have to admit that what I saw in Normandy was part of a deeper problem,” explained Moulton as he joined the ranks of former supporters now calling on the president to drop out.
The flood of doubt over Biden’s leadership abilities escalated after the debate
Doubt over Biden’s ability to carry out the duties of his position as commander-in-chief picked up immediately following the presidential debate, during which he muttered incoherently and frequently lost his train of thought.
Two people close to the conversations told NBC News this week that even Biden’s family has discussed what an exit from the campaign trail could look like.
However, speculation surrounding private family talks was shut down by Andrew Bates, White House spokesman.
“That is not happening, period,” said Bates. “The individuals making those claims are not speaking for his family or his team — and they will be proven wrong. Keep the faith.”
The campaign staff for Biden has frequently insisted he won’t step off the ticket.
“We are built for the close election that we are in, and we see the path forward,” said campaign lead Jen O’Malley Dillon on Friday’s “Morning Joe” show.
“The president is the leader of our campaign and the country, and he is clearly in our impression and what we’ve built and in our engagement with voters, he’s the best person to take on Donald Trump and prosecute that case and present his vision,” added Dillon.
President Biden stepped away from campaigning this week when he tested positive for Covid-19, although he allegedly plans to return to the campaign trail next week.
Biden looked frail while disembarking Wednesday evening in Delaware from Air Force One and appeared to need physical assistance getting into the motorcade.
By Friday, President Biden had completed his fourth round of PAXLOVID, and his symptoms had “improved meaningfully,” according to Dr. Kevin O’Connor, White House physician.
If Biden steps aside, Vice President Kamala Harris is widely believed to be the most likely replacement on the top of the ticket.
The Post told a source, “She has been a loyal VP,” and Joe Biden is likely to back Harris if he bows out.
A different source close to the president said, “Remember, he himself was passed over by Obama, and it stung. I don’t think he’d do that to Harris.”
VP Harris was set to call Dem donors at the last minute on Friday afternoon.
According to a New York Times report, the call’s specific purpose remains unclear.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-chair of the Biden campaign and co-founder of the DreamWorks film studio, warned Biden reportedly Wednesday that donor funds were drying up amidst increasing concerns about his candidacy’s viability.
