Following Joe Biden‘s catastrophic debate performance last week, Democrats remain in a state of panic, as insiders report that the president’s presence on the ticket could sink vulnerable lawmakers in the House and Senate.
A growing number of House Democrats, governors, and senators are now desperately ramping up calls for Biden to step down.
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) is currently trying to gather a coalition of Democratic senators to demand that Biden not seek re-election.
Meanwhile, five House Democrats have already called for Biden’s removal from the ticket.
Others are voicing concerns about the damage Biden is doing by refusing to step down.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told “Meet The Press” on Sunday that “There are concerns with the impact on down-ballot races if the President doesn’t do well.”
Schiff is currently locked in a U.S. Senate race with former baseball star Steve Garvey.
“At present, our down-ballot candidates in the Senate and House are doing well,” Schiff continued, highlighting polls showing Democrats outperforming Biden in several key Senate races.
“They are running well ahead of the President, but you can only run so far ahead of the President.”
However, Schiff did not acknowledge voters’ concerns about Biden’s age and fitness.
Other House Democrats strongly criticized President Biden on the condition of anonymity.
“The sh*t is going to hit the fan on Monday when Congress returns,” one Democrat insider told Axios.
Biden’s recent ABC News interview, which many hoped would quell fears about Biden’s deteriorating mental health, only made things worse.
One top Democrat strategist said that “Every single person not named Biden” understood that Biden’s sinking poll numbers could sink the party.
Former Obama advisor David Axelrod called on Biden to step down in a scathing opinion piece, writing “Denial. Delusion. Defiance,” while describing the president.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) will be holding a meeting with ranking members of congressional committees to discuss replacing Biden.
Democrats now hope Biden will exit the race by Friday, giving them time to plot a strategy to defeat Trump with a new candidate.
However, the move to replace Biden comes with hurdles.
Due to campaign finance laws, Democrats will not be eligible to transfer to a new candidate unless they opt to go with Vice President Kamala Harris.
However, polling suggests Harris and other potential replacement candidates would also lose to Trump in November.
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