Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau said Monday that “voters have been voicing concerns” about President Joe Biden for months as the 81-year-old has resisted calls to end his re-election campaign.
In a post on X, Favreau refuted Biden’s assertion that calls for him to withdraw came only from “elites.” He cited a pre-debate New York Times/Siena College poll that found 64% of voters wanted Biden to be replaced on the Democratic ticket, including 48% who planned to vote for Biden, and 69% who Biden is too old to be an effective president.
“This is not an elitist thing. This is not a media thing. This is not a bad debate crazy thing,” Favreau wrote. “Voters have been voicing these concerns for months. Denying or dismissing them is not the way to overcome them.”
Favreau, one of the hosts of Pod Save America, also said that 55% of black voters and 66% of Hispanic voters want Biden to be replaced as the nominee.
U.S. adults say poll compares whether Trump, Hunter Biden should be jailed
U.S. President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sunday, July 7, after returning from Pennsylvania. (AP/Susan Walsh)
In a surprise appearance on MSNBC on Monday morning, Biden challenged fellow Democrats to fight him for the nomination and dismissed widespread calls for him to drop out of the presidential race.
“I’m frustrated with the elites – not you – the elites in the party, oh, they know better. Anyone who thinks I shouldn’t run, come against me. Announce a run for president, challenge me at the convention ,” Biden said.
Biden calls him ‘Morning Joe’ but insists on not running
President Joe Biden stands at the podium during the presidential debate with former President Donald Trump at CNN Studios on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post, Getty Images)
Then, in a letter sent to congressional Democrats today, Biden urged the party to stop questioning whether he should end his reelection bid and “move forward as a unified party” in a 2024 election rematch. Defeat former President Trump.
Biden is facing growing calls to withdraw from the presidential race after his poor performance in the debates. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, left)
Click here to get the Fox News app
In the letter, Biden reiterated that he is “firmly committed to staying in this race” and believes any further doubts about his candidacy “will only help Trump and hurt us.”
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Patrick Ward contributed to this report.
