Andrea Sharal
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) – Embattled U.S. President Joe Biden faced escalating pressure from fellow Democrats over his candidacy by campaigning in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Sunday. Allay people’s concerns.
Biden, 81, faces growing calls to end his re-election bid after a poor performance in a June 27 debate with Republican Donald Trump, 78, raised questions about his ability to serve another four years. campaign calls. He has vowed to stay in the race and dismissed calls for him to withdraw as “nonsense” in a fundraising email on Saturday.
The Democratic president received a warm welcome at a black church in Philadelphia on Sunday before traveling to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to attend an event with union members. Black voters are a significant part of Biden’s support base, and recent polls have shown their support for him waning.
During a leadership call held by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday, some House Democrats said Biden should resign as presidential candidate, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
According to media reports, Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Adam Smith, Mark Takano and Joe Morrell, who sit on the House Judiciary, Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and House Administration Committees, have all called on Biden to step down.
Democrats also said Vice President Kamala Harris, considered the most likely candidate to replace Biden in the Nov. 5 election, might do well if he drops out.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the coming week is crucial. He encouraged the president to hold town halls or press conferences to convince voters that he was “Old Joe Biden.”
“The president needs to do more,” Murphy said. “I do think the clock is ticking.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Biden needed to act quickly to calm concerns.
He added that he believed Harris “could win in a landslide, but the president needs to decide if it’s him before we decide who else should be elected.”
Asked in Harrisburg if Democrats supported him, Biden told reporters “yes.”
“Never count on Joseph”
In Philadelphia, members of the Mount Airy Church of God gave Biden a warm welcome. Bishop Louis Felton praised him as “a man of vision and integrity.”
The bishop, referring to Biden’s Republican challengers without naming them, rebuked those who “asked questions about the president – who has a habit of stuttering and at certain times being unable to get the words out – while another then lie fluently and you never challenge” his lies. “
“Never count Joseph out,” Felton growled. “Go ahead, Joseph, you can do it.”
“We have to unite America again. That’s what I’m going to do,” Biden said, speaking to the congregation for just over six minutes.
Philadelphia resident Kara Green said she hopes Biden feels supported, adding, “We believe he is the best person for the job.”
In an interview with ABC News on Friday, Biden said only “God Almighty” could persuade him to withdraw and dismissed the possibility that Democratic leaders might join forces to persuade him to withdraw.
Democratic National Committee member Ellen Clendenin of Florida on Sunday joined calls urging Biden to step down.
“Joe Biden will be remembered by historians as one of the best presidents in American history, but this election is about the next four years, not the past three and a half years,” Clendenin said.
The Democratic National Committee has been staunchly supportive of Biden since his debate troubles, so any defection could mean a deepening crisis. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison said Sunday that Biden remains the party’s nominee. “The primaries are over,” he said.
Critical state
Biden stopped at a local campaign headquarters after church and told supporters there, “Pennsylvania is an extremely important state.”
Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who accompanied Biden, roared: “There is only one person in this country who has ever defeated Trump in an election, and that’s your president.”
Biden also met briefly with Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Pennsylvania is one of half a dozen states that could sway Democrats or Republicans, along with Wisconsin and Michigan, and is expected to determine the outcome of the tight race.
Sunday’s visit is Biden’s 10th trip to Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign and is part of the Democratic Party’s July voter outreach blitz, which includes a $50 million media campaign aimed at hosting events such as the Olympics and the president, The first lady’s travels took Harris and her husband to multiple battleground states.
Pressure from Congress is expected to intensify in the coming days as lawmakers return to Washington from holiday recess and donors consider whether they want to continue funding Biden’s campaign.
Biden is also preparing to hold a NATO summit in Washington this week, hosting dozens of world leaders and holding a rare solo news conference.
Five U.S. lawmakers have publicly called on Biden to end his re-election bid, including Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, the first House Democrat from a battleground district, and others are said to be preparing to join.
Two letters calling on Biden to step down are circulating among House Democrats, House Democratic sources said.
Virginia U.S. Sen. Mark Warner invited other senators to a meeting Monday to discuss Biden’s campaign.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, 82, who has campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in the past, firmly aligned himself with Biden on Sunday and said the Democratic Party’s focus should be on policy.
“This is not a beauty pageant,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
