Major Biden ally secretly revealed he’s open to ditching the president on the ticket if he tanked at first debate
A longtime Biden ally secretly signaled to other Democrats that he would be open to supporting another candidate if the debate went poorly.
After Biden’s abysmal performance in the first presidential debate Thursday night, the old friend’s worst fears likely came true.
For two decades, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer served alongside Joe Biden in the upper chamber of Congress, but this did not stop Schumer from reportedly telling other allies that he would be open to dumping Biden if the debate did not go well.
The new information shows that behind closed doors, Schumer was painfully aware that the night could be a disaster for Democrats.
A longtime Biden ally secretly signaled to other Democrats that he would be open to supporting another candidate if the debate went poorly
After Biden’s dismal performance during the first presidential debate Thursday night, the ally’s worst fears likely came true
According to Axioswho heard Schumer’s sentiments through two people familiar with the matter, the Senate majority leader was keen on early debate for a number of reasons.
First, it would give Biden more time to repair his image after a weak performance.
The other reason was that it would give the Democratic Party more time to chart a path forward and consider other options.
Now that Schumer’s fears have come true – Biden’s performance is being called a disaster by experts and politicians of all persuasions – it is unclear what steps the senator from New York will take.
Publicly, Schumer is of course still in Biden’s corner.
On X.com, the senator wrote: “Tonight’s debate made the choice clear. Four more years of progress, or four more years of attacks on our fundamental rights and our democracy.’
For two decades, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer served alongside Joe Biden in the upper chamber of Congress, but this did not stop Schumer from reportedly telling other allies that he would be open to dumping Biden if the debate did not go well.
He continued, “We must ensure that the vote is for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and a Democratic Senate and House of Representatives.”
A spokesperson for Schumer doubled down on the senator’s support for Biden in a statement Axios: ‘Leader Schumer has always supported and continues to support President Biden as a candidate and believes he will be re-elected.’
Democratic pundits, however, are unhappy with Biden’s performance, saying the debate confirmed many voters’ fears that the president was too old and weak for the nation’s highest office.
Several op-eds have been published in liberal publications calling on Biden to end his campaign for the White House.
On Friday, the New York Times editorial board urged the president to withdraw from the race.
The publication put it bluntly: “Mr. Biden cannot continue this race.”
But elected Democrats have closed ranks and are not publicly withdrawing their support for Biden.
However, Democratic experts are not satisfied with Biden’s performance, as they believe the debate confirmed many voters’ fears that the president was too old and weak for the country’s highest office.
If the Democratic Party decides to heed the calls of several political analysts, the move to exchange presidential candidates will have to be initiated by Biden himself, or by a high-ranking member of the party.
Given his stature within the Democratic organization, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, who first took office in 1999, will likely be asked for some direction.
Schumer’s position as party leader in the Senate makes him painfully aware of the potential negative implications of a weak presidential candidate at the top.
The Senate majority leader, a shrewd strategist, has worked closely with Biden in the past to champion and pass several pieces of legislation.
Publicly, of course, Schumer is still in Biden’s corner
Ultimately, though, Schumer’s loyalty is not tied to Biden, but to the party and its senators.
In November, Democrats will need a top-tier performance to secure victories for their Senate candidates in battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Nevada.
It is unclear whether elected Democrats think Biden will help them vote.
Biden, for his part, announced at a rally in North Carolina on Friday that he had no intention of dropping out of the race.
The president used the event to manage some of the fallout from his disastrous debate performance.
President Joe Biden has no plans to withdraw from the presidential race after Thursday night’s poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump
“I know I’m not a young man. To state the obvious,” the president said, standing next to First Lady Jill Biden, who wore a Christian Siriano dress emblazoned with the word “vote.”
“But I know what I know, I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done,” the president argued.
He then promised the audience that he was still the ideal candidate for the nomination.
“I give you my word as Biden. “I wouldn’t run for re-election if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job.”