Biden ‘receptive’ to pleas to step down

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is becoming more receptive to the idea of stepping down and allowing another Democratic candidate to run against Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. The article outlines claims that some of Biden's closest allies, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have expressed concerns about Biden's chances of winning and have urged him to consider stepping aside. The article also notes that Biden has become more open to the idea of stepping down, though he has maintained that he plans to remain in the race.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Reports of Biden Becoming More Receptive to Stepping Down

1. What are the key claims made in the article about Biden becoming more receptive to stepping down?

• The article reports that:
  • Biden's tone has changed behind closed doors, and he is now "willing to listen" to those making the case for him to end his campaign.
  • Some of Biden's closest allies at the top of the Democratic Party, including Schumer, Jeffries, and Pelosi, have told Biden that he is likely to lose the presidential election.
  • Biden has become more open to the idea of stepping down and has begun to ask his aides how well Vice President Kamala Harris would perform if she were to replace him.
  • Sources say Biden is "more receptive" to hearing pleas for him to step aside, though he has not been as "defiant" about it publicly.

2. What are the reported reasons for Biden's allies urging him to step down?

• The article cites concerns about Biden's age and health, as well as recent polling that shows him trailing Trump in battleground states and performing worse with voters than Vice President Kamala Harris.
• There are also concerns that a weak performance from Biden could not only cost the Democrats the White House, but also both branches of Congress.

3. How has Biden responded to the calls for him to step down?

• The article notes that Biden has maintained that he will stay in the race, arguing that he is the only Democrat who has beaten Trump in a presidential election.
• However, his reluctance to leave the election race has softened in recent days, as he has set out various conditions for his campaign to end, such as saying he would step back if his team told him "there's no way you can win."

[02] Reactions and Responses from Biden's Allies

1. What are the reported reactions and responses from Biden's allies regarding the calls for him to step down?

• The article states that the claims were not directly denied by either Biden's team or the three Democrats named (Schumer, Jeffries, and Pelosi).
• Schumer confirmed that he had visited Biden and said they had a "good meeting," but a spokesman for Schumer said the claim that he had asked Biden to stand down was "idle speculation."
• Both Schumer and Jeffries have said they conveyed the thoughts of Democratic congressmen to Biden in private meetings.
• Pelosi's team said she had been in California since Friday and had not spoken to Biden since then, but declined to comment on whether she had expressed concerns about his campaign before that day.

2. How have other Democrats responded to the calls for Biden to step down?

• The article mentions that more than 20 sitting Democrats have gone public with concerns about Biden's age and chances of re-election.
• Adam Schiff, a prominent Senate candidate from California, became the latest Democrat to call on Biden to stand down, saying "it is time for him to pass the torch."
• Some of Biden's supporters in the Democratic National Committee have suggested bringing forward his nomination, which is due to take place in late August, in light of the criticism of his campaign.