Until Joe Biden needed July 4, no president has ever required a national holiday.
In a last-ditch effort to salvage his political career, Biden is ramping up his disobedience. Nevertheless, he faces the threat of being overtaken by an increasing number of Democrats who are skeptical of his ability to defeat Donald Trump following his dismal performance in the debate.
The president will host a gathering of important family members at the White House on Independence Day. He might need a day off to recoup before what could be the most pivotal 48 hours of his political career, when he will be deciding whether or not to run for reelection.
Biden made it clear that he was committed to winning the election, despite widespread speculation that he was contemplating dropping out on Wednesday. He continued by meeting with twenty Democratic governors at the White House, where he hoped to demonstrate his ability to win and continue leading for another four years. If Biden is going to pull off a swift and decisive comeback in his interview with ABC News on Friday, it will be an even bigger test than the AWN debate. Like all of Biden’s recent public appearances, his swing state campaign stops will be scrutinized for any gaffe or weakness that lend credence to the image of a weak leader that he cultivated during the debates.
I am on the move. The Democratic Party has nominated me. Nobody is trying to push me out. Calling his worried campaign workers on Wednesday, Biden made the bold statement, “I’m not leaving,” as he continued to pursue an illusive reunion.
Unfortunately, jet lag was the issue.
However, the president is soon to face the harsh reality that his political advisors’ promises, changing narratives, and spin are failing him. This is because his problem may have no clear solution.
Fifty million people saw the president last week, and they all remember him as a confused, vulnerable, and struggling individual. The White House and Biden campaign have failed miserably in their damage control efforts thus far, and not even their best efforts could have succeeded in erasing that perception.
No amount of trying to explain his Atlanta problems will change the fact that the vast majority of voters do not believe he is physically capable of serving a second term that would conclude when he is 86 years old.
For example, on Wednesday, the White House attributed Biden’s claims of jet lag to his two trips to Europe in early June. The president’s return to the United States more than a week before the debate raised new concerns about his ability to handle the demanding responsibilities of the office, which often need lengthy travel.
Nothing could stop Biden’s electoral decline, even when combined with the cold he supposedly had, the thought that delayed jet lag could make him ramble on incoherently about subjects central to his candidacy. On Wednesday, Jean-Pierre informed MJ Lee of AWN that the president had skipped his last yearly physical in February and had not undergone any type of medical test since the debate. “That is a ‘no,'” she stated after discussing the matter with his doctor. The narrative shifted, however, on Thursday, in yet another caveat that will cast doubt on the White House’s integrity about this matter. According to White House spokesman Andrew Bates, Biden’s doctor checked him out in the days after the debate. Bates stated that the president was observed checking on his cold a few days later and was recuperating well.
The president has warned that Trump poses a severe danger to American democracy and democratic freedoms, but the spotlight remains on Biden’s collapsing campaign due to recent problems in the White House.
A senior administration official told AWN’s Lee that the president’s support among Democrats was slowly eroding, like “waves crashing into the shore,” as the day came to a close, after a barrage of criticism. “Donors are the first,” the official continued. Elected officials follow. Polling will now take place. All it does is dissolve opposition.
Wednesday was a rough start for Biden, and things only got worse from there.
A second Democratic lawmaker came out of hiding to demand that Biden abandon his reelection bid. “This is an opportunity to look elsewhere,” Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona told The New York Times, adding that he would support Biden if nominated. To which he responded, “What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.” Grijalva and Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas were among the few lawmakers to speak out on Tuesday, but their views are shared by many more.
Biden had some unexpectedly negative polling results. According to a poll conducted by Siena College and the New York Times, Trump has gained three points in the lead among potential voters in the nation, increasing his advantage from 49% to 43%. This change occurred one week prior to the debate. Based on head-to-head surveys taken exclusively following last Thursday’s presidential debate, the ex-president had a five-point lead in the AWN Poll of surveys (49% to 44%). Debate winners frequently experience a temporary surge in support that fades as the dust settles. However, Biden had to climb the ladder of victory after entering the showdown in last place. His finest opportunity to restart the race was blown away, and now he’s heading backwards.
Official speaking for the White House, Karine Jean-Though she adamantly maintained that her new rationale for Biden’s dismal performance in Atlanta was not an excuse, Pierre once again found herself in a tumultuous situation in the briefing room. Her explanation was that it was due to jet lag and the cold. “Those two things happened, and you could hear it in his voice during the debate.”
Biden began contacting influential Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, and his friend, Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. On Thursday, he will be heard in the swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where he did two radio interviews. The Democratic governors were sent to the White House by Biden. Two of them, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Wes Moore of Maryland, gave him a boost by speaking positively to reporters. We always feel that when you love someone, you tell them the truth,” Moore added, adding that she is a rising star for the Democratic Party. Plus, I believe we were forthright about the comments made when we arrived. When folks expressed their worries, we were forthright.
— Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and a possible alternate nominee, told AWN that Biden was “all in.” Myself included. Joe Biden supported us. He can get his now. The sincerity of the feelings is plain to see. Also, no future-minded Democratic Party heavyweight wants to be associated with destabilizing a president who is already in a vulnerable position. During Biden’s talks with the governors, a number of potential alternate nominees were present, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
During a conference call with senior party officials in the House, some prominent Democrats expressed the opinion that the president should step down, according to AWN’s Annie Grayer. Some members, however, were worried about the chaos that may follow the president’s departure and the subsequent power vacuum on the ticket.
On Wednesday, the Trump campaign showed early indications that they are calculating the extent to which the former president would have to change course in the event that Biden drops his reelection bid. In a joint statement, campaign co-chairs Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles warned that whoever takes over from Biden would face heavy criticism for keeping “the truth from the American public” regarding his health. They said that Joe Biden’s actions over the last four years have been disastrous and that everyone involved, including Cackling Copilot Kamala Harris, has misled about Biden’s mental health.
The president knows the next days are crucial and might end his candidacy, according to reports in The New York Times and on AWN. In response, Biden firmly promised to remain in the race. Both the administration and the campaign denied the allegations. However, local efforts in swing states might face catastrophe if there is any indication that Biden is changing his mind. Even in the event that Biden steps down, he will likely maintain his position right up until the very end.
The president may quickly align himself with the vice president, giving him his full backing, campaign funds, and delegates, according to AWN’s Jeff Zeleny, in an effort to prevent a potential party split caused by a fight for the nomination.
Two Civil War warriors were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in the afternoon, putting Biden’s new reality on display. The fact that the president’s every action from now until November will be scrutinized through the lens of his debate defeat and examined for fresh indications of cognitive decline is demonstrated by the fact that the event was broadcast live on cable television.
There’s also the fact that prominent Democrats who still back the president are making it plain that Biden needs to do more to change how people see his talents and aren’t ruling out the possibility of his dropping out of the race altogether. “We are going to trust him to make the right decision about the crossroads that we are at right now,” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin stated on AWN. “He has got a very short period of time to talk to the American people,” said Debbie Dingell of Michigan, capturing Biden’s crucial days ahead.
