President Joe Biden has reportedly begun to accept the possibility that he may not be able to secure victory in the upcoming November 5 election and might have to drop out of the race, according to a report by the New York Times on Thursday.
The report cites several individuals close to the president who indicate that Biden is coming to terms with the reality of his situation.
One source noted that it would not be surprising if Biden soon endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate to replace him. “Reality is setting in,” the individual said.
However, Biden’s campaign has pushed back against these claims. Cedric Richmond, Biden’s campaign co-chair, told MSNBC, “The New York Times reporting is absolutely wrong. The president has said that he is running and it’s the end of story.”
Despite these denials, multiple media outlets have reported on Biden’s contemplation of his re-election campaign’s future amidst growing opposition within the Democratic Party.
Axios cited party figures suggesting that Biden could drop out as soon as this weekend, while NBC quoted a person close to Biden as saying, “We’re close to the end.”
Former President Barack Obama has also advised Biden to “seriously consider the viability of his candidacy,” according to the Washington Post. However, Obama’s office has not commented on this report.
Adding to the growing chorus of voices within the party, Jon Tester of Montana became the second Democratic senator to publicly call for Biden to quit the race.
“While I appreciate his commitment to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek reelection to another term,” Tester said.
Biden’s candidacy has been under scrutiny for the past three weeks following a challenging television debate against former President Donald Trump, which reignited concerns about Biden’s age and fitness for office.
Vice President Harris has remained silent on the crisis, choosing instead to focus on praising the president in a recent speech in North Carolina.
“The contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it’s like night and day,” Harris remarked. She also criticized Trump’s new running mate JD Vance, pointing to the significance of the upcoming election as “the most existential, consequential and important election of our lifetime.”
Political analyst Richard Mullaney, speaking on CNA’s Asia First program, noted widespread speculation about Biden’s potential exit from the race, suggesting it has become “close to a foregone conclusion.” He identified Harris as the likely successor, citing her vice-presidency and competitive nature, as well as her status as the first woman of color to serve in the role.
“I think Republicans are making a big mistake if they underestimate her,” Mullaney added. “And I do think that there’ll be a rallying effect if and when the Democrats have a new (presidential) nominee and vice-presidential nominee.”
As the situation develops, the Democratic Party and its supporters are watching closely to see if President Biden will indeed step aside and what implications this will have for the upcoming election.