The discussion about US President Joe Biden’s withdrawal after his weak performance in the first TV debate before the presidential election continues. On Tuesday, the first US Democratic congressman called on the head of state to give up his candidacy. “I respectfully ask him to do so,” said congressman Lloyd Doggett from the state of Texas. Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said that a test of Biden’s cognitive abilities was “not necessary.”
Biden – at 81 years old, the oldest president in US history – spoke with a hoarse voice during the TV debate with his likely challenger Donald Trump on CNN on Thursday evening, repeatedly getting tangled up in his formulations and not finishing sentences.
So far, the heavyweights in the Democratic Party have publicly expressed their support for Biden, but since the TV debate, the nervousness of supporters and donors has increased. Some accuse the president’s inner circle of a lack of transparency about Biden’s abilities.
Doggett, a Democrat, is now the first lawmaker from Biden’s party to publicly call on the president to abandon his candidacy in favor of another candidate. In a statement, he expressed hope that Biden would make “the painful and difficult decision” to “drop out” of the race.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, told news channel MSNBC on Tuesday that it was “legitimate” to raise concerns about Biden’s suitability for the presidency after the debate. She thought it was “legitimate” to ask whether the debate disaster was an isolated incident or whether the performance pointed to a deeper problem, the 84-year-old said.
Pelosi praised the president’s vision and “strategic thinking” – but acknowledged that he had had a “bad night.” It was fair to question the “mental acuity” of both candidates, she continued.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from the US state of Rhode Island also demanded assurances. Voters must know that there will be no repeat of Biden’s appearance in the TV debate, Whitehouse said. The senator told WPRI-TV that he was “quite appalled” by the president’s performance.
The president’s medical team said a test of Biden’s mental faculties was “not justified and not necessary,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday. Biden knows how to get back on track, she said.
Since the TV debate, Biden has not given any live interviews or press conferences, meaning he has not had to answer questions spontaneously and under pressure. That is set to change on Friday: ABC News announced an interview with Biden for Friday. The first excerpts will be published on the same day, but the entire conversation will not be broadcast until Sunday.
A change in the Democratic presidential candidate would be politically sensitive. Biden himself would have to decide to withdraw to make room for another candidate before the party convention this month. The incumbent won the Democratic primaries with an overwhelming majority, and the total of 3,900 delegates are committed to him. If Biden were to drop out, they would have to choose a replacement.
