President Joe Biden is facing an unprecedented revolt within his own party as senior Democrats and political experts publicly urge him to abandon his re-election bid following his calamitous debate performance against Donald Trump.
Growing Calls for Withdrawal
Multiple prominent figures within the Democratic establishment have broken ranks to suggest the 81-year-old president should step aside for a younger candidate. The concerns centre around Biden's visibly shaky performance during last week's televised debate, which has sparked alarm about his ability to withstand the gruelling campaign ahead.
Expert Opinion Turns Against Biden
Political analysts and veteran strategists are increasingly vocal about the potential disaster facing Democrats if Biden remains atop the ticket. David Axelrod, former senior adviser to Barack Obama, noted that while Biden may survive the immediate fallout, the debate "reinforced concerns about his age and capacity" that have persistently dogged his presidency.
Meanwhile, Professor James Thurber of American University delivered a more blunt assessment, stating that Biden's performance was "disastrous" and that the president now finds himself in "very, very serious trouble" with voters.
The Replacement Dilemma
While calls for Biden to withdraw grow louder, Democrats face a complex logistical challenge. Replacing a presumptive nominee at this stage would be historically unprecedented and would require Biden's voluntary withdrawal from the process.
Potential alternatives include Vice President Kamala Harris and several Democratic governors, though no clear consensus candidate has emerged. The party remains deeply divided between loyalty to the sitting president and pragmatic concerns about electoral viability.
White House Response
The Biden campaign has pushed back vigorously against suggestions the president should withdraw, dismissing criticism as overblown media narrative. Campaign officials point to Biden's successful fund-raising efforts following the debate and insist he remains committed to seeing the race through to November.
However, with continuing donor anxiety and growing unease among congressional Democrats facing their own re-election battles, pressure on Biden may prove impossible to ignore as the Democratic National Convention approaches.
