President Joe Biden has written an open letter to congressional Democrats saying that he is not leaving the race for President in November.
Biden said that they had 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election and there should be no weakening of resolve or lack of clarity. He said that it was time to move together and forward as a unified party in order to defeat Donald Trump.
Democrats who supported Biden against Trump four years ago now worry that they may be making it easier for Trump to return with Joe Biden running.
“President Biden has got to prove to the American people – including me – that he’s up to the job for another four years,” said Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat to reporters on July 8.
Senior House Democrats Reps. Jerry Nadler of New York, Mark Takano of California, Adam Smith of Washington and Joe Morelle of New York said on Sunday during a Zoom meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that Mr. Biden should leave the race.
Well, look, I think he should step aside,” Smith told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead.” “I think it’s become clear that he’s not the best person to carry the Democratic message. And here’s the thing: We have an incredibly strong message and record to run on. And all respect to the president, he’s done a great job. We’ve got a good message. The president has shown he is not capable of delivering that message in an effective way.”
Biden tried to allay fears in the letter in response to calls from house Democrats to step aside.
“I have had extensive conversations with the leadership of the party, elected officials, rank and file members, and most importantly, Democratic voters over these past 10 days or so. I have heard the concerns that people have — their good faith fears and worries about what is at stake in this election. I am not blind to them.
“I feel a deep obligation to the faith and the trust the voters of the Democratic Party have placed in me to run this year. It was their decision to make. Not the press, not the pundits, not the big donors, not any selected group of individuals, no matter how well intentioned,”
“The voters — and the voters alone — decide the nominee of the Democratic Party. How can we stand for democracy in our nation if we ignore it in our own party? I cannot do that. I will not do that,” added Biden.
Biden also hosted a donor call on July 8. The call had more than 300 participants and was led by campaign chair Jen O’Malley.