With a series of national and battleground state polls showing former President Donald Trump maintaining his lead–and in some cases, extending it–President Joe Biden has reportedly begun contemplating his exit from the presidential race.
The latest rumors suggest Biden’s bow-out could happen as early as this weekend. Veteran journalist Mark Halperin broke news on X.com the potential path for Biden, including staying in the White House while ending his reelection bid, not endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, and an open convention for Harris and a handful of other candidates.
BREAKING NEWS: Multiples sources outline the apparent state of play on Biden at this time:
* plans to announce withdrawal from nomination as early as this weekend, with Sunday most likely
* Jon Meacham polishing up remarks
* Biden with NOT resign the presidency
* Biden will… https://t.co/l0LrfDTvOL
— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) July 18, 2024
Biden, who is currently in Delaware recuperating in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, is facing increasing pressure to leave the race as many leaders in the Democratic Party believe he no longer has a viable path to victory. The latest reporting as of the evening of July 18 suggests Biden now understands the situation is “soul searching” for a path forward.
Publicly, the latest prominent official to call for Biden to step down is Adam Schiff, congressman from California and Senate candidate known to be a close ally of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Privately, reports indicate the Democrats’ Congressional leaders, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer separately talked to Biden and gave a frank assessment that Biden risks wiping out Democrats down-ballot if he remains in the race.
JUST IN – Barack Obama says Biden "needs to seriously consider the viability of his candidacy."pic.twitter.com/JQ89p11FXL
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 18, 2024
Pelosi also confronted Biden in private, telling him the polling shows he cannot win and would drag down House Democrats with him. Former President Barack Obama, with whom Biden served as Vice President, told Biden shortly after his disastrous debate performance his chances of winning the election were “greatly diminished.”
Just hours before Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Biden held a Zoom call with a group of House Democrats in an attempt to shore up support and allay any fears of his inability to continue the campaign. The call was described as “tense”, particularly around an exchange between Biden and Congressman Jason Crow, who Biden angrily challenged and criticized. Biden reportedly told Crow, “Tell me who did something that you’ve never done with your Bronze Star like my son — and I’m proud of your leadership, but guess what, what’s happening, we’ve got Korea and Japan working together, I put AUKUS together, anyway!”
While reports that Biden may be pulling the plug on his campaign pile up, Axios’ Alex Thompson suggests the pile-up may “have the opposite effect and push Biden to stay in the race.”
Another headline/group of ppl that will probably have the opposite effect and push Biden to stay in the race. https://t.co/1LyWjIrAc4
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) July 19, 2024
