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In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure from within his own party to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. This internal push comes in the wake of the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, which has temporarily united Republicans and further divided Democrats.
Despite the calls for Biden to step down, he has remained steadfast in his decision to run for re-election. However, a recent Politico report reveals that Democratic leaders are working behind the scenes to create more pressure on the 81-year-old president to exit the race. The report, written by journalist Jonathan Martin, delves into the Democratic Party’s apparent agenda to stop Biden from running against Trump.
Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House, has been particularly vocal about the need for Biden to make a decision. Earlier this month, during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, co-host Jonathan Lemire asked Pelosi if she still supported Biden’s bid for a second term despite his debate debacle with Trump.
The 84-year-old responded, “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. I think overwhelming support of the caucus — it’s not for me to say, I’m not the head of the caucus anymore — but, he’s beloved, he is respected, and people want him to make that decision.”
While Pelosi’s open-ended response didn’t explicitly reveal her personal stance on Biden’s re-election, the Politico article suggests she is working behind the scenes to persuade Biden to step aside. The report claims that Biden has lost the trust of his congressional allies, who are quietly working “to oust him from their ticket.” This plan is allegedly orchestrated by a longtime ally whom Biden referred to as “my Catholic sister.”
Pelosi, convinced that Biden will lose, has reportedly been contacting fellow Democrats to halt his re-election bid. Although Martin clarified that he was not fully aware of the “extent of Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes role,” his sources indicated that she was calling key figures like Jeffries and plotting strategies to prevent Biden from “destroying the party.”
Adding to the internal dissent, former President Barack Obama is also reportedly concerned about Biden’s competence. Obama, a longtime friend and ally of Biden, is skeptical of Biden’s ability to lead, citing his declining cognitive stamina. Despite being one of the party’s best-kept secrets, one longtime Democrat told CNN, “They are watching and waiting for President Biden to reach a decision on his own.”
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the pressure on Biden from within his own party underscores the deep concerns about his ability to secure another term in the White House.
