Democrats express concern about Biden’s electability

Several Democratic congressmen have begun publicly voicing their concerns about whether President Joe Biden is capable of sustaining himself in the presidential race after his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump last week.

House member Lloyd Doggett of Texas on Tuesday became the first Democrat in Congress to call for Biden to drop out of the race, saying Biden must “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw (from the race).”

Doggett said his “decision to publicize these serious concerns is not frivolous and in no way diminishes my respect for all that President Biden has accomplished.”

But Doggett noted Biden’s weak debate performance and his inability to “effectively defend his many accomplishments.”

Speaking at a campaign event in Virginia on Tuesday, Biden cited a lack of sleep and an intense travel schedule that included D-Day celebrations in France, a G7 summit in Italy and multiple campaign events in the United States.

“I decided to travel the world a couple of times, going through about 100 time zones … before … debate. Didn’t listen to my staff, came back and almost fell asleep on stage,” Biden said. – That’s not an excuse, but an explanation.”

Senior Democratic leaders, however, expressed support for Biden after the recent debate and said he must stand firm against growing irritation among his party colleagues.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said he believes the 81-year-old president is fit to serve.

“I’m with Joe Biden,” he said, echoing comments made by other senior party members.

The ABC News channel, which compiles polling, demographic and economic information to make its election predictions, noted that Biden had dropped slightly in national polls after the debate, but nonetheless concluded that four months before Election Day, the outcome is “a clear toss-up.”

There is no indication that Biden is seriously considering dropping out of the race. Still, the White House is taking steps to allay fears about Biden’s candidacy. On Wednesday, he scheduled a meeting, mostly virtual, with all Democratic governors to reassure them that he can handle the hard work of four months leading up to Election Day and that he can beat Trump again.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island told a local TV station that he was “horrified” by Biden’s debate performance and asked the White House to assure him that “Biden’s condition … that it was a real anomaly, not just the way he’s been lately.”

Vermont Democratic Sen. Peter Welch said Biden’s campaign was “dismissive of people who raise issues for discussion.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged in an interview with MSNBC that she has heard “mixed” comments from Democratic donors about whether Biden is capable of once again entering the race for president.

Biden, for his part, acknowledged that he performed poorly against Trump during the 90-minute televised bout, the first of two scheduled debates. The second debate is scheduled for Sept. 10.

But the day after the debate, he seemed upbeat at a political rally in North Carolina, though he acknowledged, “I know I’m not a young man. My gait is not as easy as it used to be. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I know: I know how to tell the truth!”

Biden added that he would not have run for a second term if he didn’t believe “with all my heart and soul that I could do it.”