President Joe Biden’s campaign reaffirmed his commitment on Thursday to remain in the presidential race, despite media speculation that top Democrats privately asked him to reconsider his 2024 candidacy.
“President Biden has given us the answer that he’s staying in the race, and we’re supporting him,” Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), campaign surrogate, told reporters at a news conference in Milwaukee.
Ms. Beatty said she is confident that Democrats will unite behind President Biden, referring to the calls for him to step down as “family discussions” among the Democratic coalition.
“I am very comfortable that we will be more unified because we understand that diversity is our strength and we are a party of diverse individuals, but we also recognize greater than that, that unity is our power,” she said.
On July 17, media reports revealed that top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), had spoken separately with the president to raise concerns about the possibility of Democrats losing control of Congress in 2024 and advise him to reconsider his reelection bid.
In response to these reports, campaign surrogate Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said the party will eventually unite behind President Biden at the Democratic National Convention, which starts on Aug. 19.
“We will unite. Our convention is still a few weeks away, but it'll be here before you know it,” he said. “Then you’re going to see the unity during the Democratic National Convention.”
The senator was asked about reports suggesting that Mr. Schumer asked the president to drop out of the race during a private discussion on July 13.
Mr. Padilla said that as Democrats, “of course, there’s going to be a little diversity in what folks are thinking and feeling,” but stressed a difference in strategy between Senate and presidential campaigns.
“Yes, our incumbents in some of the tougher states are facing tougher elections, but they’re doing well,” the senator said.
“And I do think there is a difference between the presidential campaign politics and strategy and state-by-state Senate campaign politics and strategy.”
T.J. Ducklo, senior adviser for communications for the Biden campaign, referred to the media reports as “baseless conjecture from anonymous sources.”
Andrew Bates, the White House senior deputy press secretary, also responded to the reports about Mr. Schumer and Mr. Jeffries.
“The President told both leaders he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100 days agenda to help working families,” he said in a statement.
On July 18, Mr. Bates responded to another report, which stated that President Biden is under pressure to reconsider his reelection bid and could drop out of the race as early as this weekend.
He also shared a post stating that, on the contrary, the president is “preparing to hit the campaign trail again next week.”
Speculation has started to build since Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) issued a surprise statement on July 17, asking President Biden to pass the torch.
Mr. Schiff told the Los Angeles Times in a statement that he now has “serious concerns” about President Biden’s chances of defeating former President Trump in November.
He said that although the decision to drop out of the race ultimately lies with the Democratic incumbent, he believes “it is time for him to pass the torch.”
Amid growing concerns, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), in a July 17 social media post, urged Democrats to stop attacking President Biden.
“Fellow House Democrats, can we in this moment unify, show some decency, and simply wish @POTUS a speedy and full recovery?” he wrote on X after the president tested positive for COVID.
“Please do not use this moment to advance your own political agenda by launching more private or public attacks on Biden.”
