TL/DR –
Concerns are growing among Democratic Party leaders over the impact of President Joe Biden’s recent weak debate performance and the reaction of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Biden’s campaign. Many donors, strategists, and DNC members are suggesting Biden, aged 81, step aside for a younger replacement, although Biden’s allies insist he remains well-positioned to compete against Donald Trump. Despite Biden’s weak performance, his campaign argues that the debate had no tangible impact on the election, with senior adviser Jen O’Malley Dillon stating that any changes in polling would be temporary and driven by overblown media narratives.
Concerns Rise Among Democratic Leaders Post Biden’s Debate Performance
Mounting unease is being felt within the senior ranks of the Democratic Party, fearing that the President’s troubled debate performance may not be taken seriously enough by Joe Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Despite an avalanche of criticism following Biden’s weak performance at the Thursday night debate, DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison and Biden’s campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez overlooked the issue during a Saturday call with influential party members.
Several committee members described the call as disheartening, feeling they were being gaslighted and asked to downplay the critical situation facing the party. The call possibly intensified a growing panic among elected officials, donors, and other stakeholders.
Contrary to expectations, Harrison painted a positive picture of Biden’s campaign. The chat function was disabled, and no questions were entertained.
Many donors, party strategists, and DNC members are voicing their concerns, both publicly and privately, urging the 81-year-old Biden to step aside for a younger replacement. However, Biden’s closest allies still believe he is well-placed to compete against Republican Donald Trump and have shown no signs of pushing him to end his campaign.
The potential replacements, including Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, reaffirmed their support for Biden post-debate.
Everyone is eagerly awaiting the first significant round of post-debate public polling. Notably, polls by CNN and 538/Ipsos found that most debate-watchers thought Trump outperformed Biden. Yet, their favorability ratings largely remained static, echoing the aftermath of Trump’s conviction on charges in New York.
Following the debate, the Biden campaign has been projecting confidence despite the President’s performance which raised concerns about his physical and mental stamina.
In the wake of Saturday’s DNC call, the Biden campaign released a memo from adviser Jen O’Malley Dillon insisting that the debate had no significant impact on the election.
Biden spent much of Saturday courting wealthy donors in New York’s prestigious Hamptons enclave. Acknowledging his lackluster debate performance, he stated, “I didn’t have a great night, but neither did Trump,” while also calling out Trump’s lies.
Discussion on the DNC call, which lasted about an hour, included Biden’s energetic appearance in North Carolina post-debate and a fundraising surge that netted over $27 million for the campaign. Harrison briefly acknowledged the debate in his remarks, stating Biden’s self-awareness about his debate skills and resilience.
However, party leaders’ insistence on the 2024 presidential contest being a close race frustrates some, like Joe Salazar, a DNC member. Salazar argues that given Trump’s criminal record and history of falsehoods, the Democrats should not be looking for a new nominee and believes that based on Thursday’s performance, this issue is now up for serious discussion.
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