Top Democrat Jamie Raskin says there is a ‘serious conversation’ within the party about whether Joe Biden will remain the presidential candidate
Congressman Jamie Raskin, one of Joe Biden’s biggest defenders in Congress, said Democrats are having “serious conversations” behind the scenes about whether the incumbent president will top the Democratic ticket in November.
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee said there was “a major problem with Joe Biden’s performance during the debate,” but also that there was “a tremendous well of love for Joe Biden in our party, which made the situation difficult.”
Raskin, D-Md., continued: “We’re having a serious conversation about what we need to do. One thing I can tell you: No matter what President Biden decides, our party will be united.”
“And whether he is the candidate or someone else, he will be the keynote speaker at our convention, he will be the figure that unites us to move forward and defeat the forces of authoritarianism and reaction in the country.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin, one of Joe Biden’s biggest defenders in Congress, said Democrats are having “serious conversations” behind the scenes about whether the incumbent president should top the Democratic ticket in November.
Raskin has been Biden’s chief attack dog on Capitol Hill, having thwarted the impeachment inquiry of Supervisor James Comer and demands for audio of Biden’s interview with the special counsel. He has almost never shown any distance between himself and Biden.
Days ago, the New York Times editorial board called on Biden to “serve his country” and drop out of the race. Biden spent the weekend at Camp David and plans to return to the White House on Monday.
The Democratic finger-pointing began immediately after Thursday night’s debate, with Biden at times struggling to get his words out and digressing into unintelligible babble.
Republicans have accused First Lady Jill Biden, 73, of “elder abuse,” while Democratic insiders insist the only person Biden, 81, would listen to on the matter is his wife of 50 years.
But the Biden family reportedly believes that Biden’s top advisers are to blame for not properly preparing for the evening. The Biden team had spent nearly a week at Camp David preparing the president for the debate.
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee said there was a “major problem with Joe Biden’s debate performance” but also “a tremendous well of love for Joe Biden in our party, so this makes it a difficult situation.”
Biden reportedly held crisis talks with former President Barack Obama and his former White House chief of staff after the debate.
But key Democratic Party leaders, including Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, continue to publicly voice support for Biden, despite reports that a different voice is being heard behind the scenes.
Some donors skipped Biden’s $250,000-a-person Hamptons fundraiser last weekend at hedge fund manager Barry Rosenstein’s 45-acre beachfront property after his performance in a car crash debate.
“A lot of people are blaming his wife… for not telling him (to step aside),” one of them told the New York Post.