TL/DR –
President Biden has vehemently affirmed his decision to remain in the presidential race, sending a clear message to Democrats that any further criticisms could harm the party’s chances against Donald J. Trump. Biden has stated he will stay in the race unless there’s an intervention from “the Lord Almighty”, moreover, he has won every state in the Democratic primaries, gaining approximately 14 million votes and the majority of delegates. Despite concerns about his age, Biden insists he is the best candidate to defeat Trump, framing his campaign as a stand against the establishment elites of his own party.
President Biden commits to staying in the presidential race
President Biden’s declarations to remain in the presidential race are sending a strong message to Democrats: any future criticisms could hurt the party’s chances against Donald Trump.
Biden has consistently stated he will remain his party’s nominee and took decisive actions to assert this on Monday.
His day began by sending an open letter to Democrats saying he was definitely running, and also involved a video call with top campaign financiers and a virtual meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.
“I am not going anywhere,” Biden told his donors.
The actions represent a show of defiance, setting a tone that the Biden team hopes to gain some deference from uneasy Democrats. It’s also a move to counter the pressure campaign for him to step aside as a work of elite party establishment rather than grass-roots voter fears about his age and acuity.
Support and concerns from lawmakers
As lawmakers returned to Washington, Biden received key words of support but also faced concerns from influential lawmakers.
He made it clear, both in private and public, that he holds all the cards for his political future—he has won every state in the Democratic primaries and 14 million votes.
“I’m going to be the Democratic nominee,” Biden said in an MSNBC interview.
Biden is refocusing on Trump: “We’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in the bull’s-eye,” he said during a call with top campaign financiers.
Questions arising from allies
Some allies wondered why Biden’s PR blitz followed the debate by more than 10 days. Biden reframed the race as a battle against elites, despite the perceived risks of party division. “Strategically, it is what I would be advising him to do if he wanted to hold on to the nomination at all costs,” said Democratic strategist David Doak.
Biden’s stance on age and party establishment
Despite concerns about his age, Biden sees himself as the party’s best chance to defeat Trump. “I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t believe that I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024,” he said.
Even as the head of the party, he positions himself as an outsider battling his party’s establishment, expressing frustration with the “elites” in the party.
Backlash from party and public opinion
Biden’s attempts to frame the race as a battle against elites have not been well received by all quarters of the party. Furthermore, a recent New York Times/Siena College poll showed that 74 percent of voters said Biden was too old to be effective.
Biden’s future steps
The next steps for Biden will be discussed on Tuesday at a House Democrats briefing. One of the central concerns is Biden’s ability to handle unscripted appearances. A White House spokesman announced that the president would participate in a press conference on Thursday.
Despite challenges ahead, former chief of staff Ron Klain affirmed on X that, “Only one person has beaten [Trump]”.
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