The 81-year-old president’s performance at his debate with Donald Trump has left his supporters “dismayed,” the media outlet has said
According to a report published on Saturday by Bloomberg, US Democrats and their financial backers are exploring the possibility of replacing their presidential candidate before the August convention. This follows President Joe Biden’s performance at this week’s debate, which the media outlet described as “catastrophic.” During his first election face-off with Trump, the 81-year-old appeared frail and confused, struggling to complete his sentences and misusing words.
Bloomberg stated that this development has left Democrat donors “dismayed,” and they have been exchanging “furious emails” since the debates. “From Washington to Wall Street,” many Democratic Party members and supporters have concluded that replacing Biden is “the only hope for Democrats.”
“Finger-pointing and recriminations have gripped every level of the party,” Bloomberg reported, noting that “down-ballot Democrats will spend the rest of the campaign justifying their support” for the candidate widely perceived as unfit for office.
Mark Buell, a prominent Democrat donor from San Francisco, referred to Thursday’s debate as a “wakeup call.” If the incumbent president were to step down, “the responsible thing that would happen is that the money in campaign coffers would be given to another candidate who we think is plausible and exciting and can get behind, but that’s above my pay grade,” he said.
Another Democrat supporter, billionaire Mark Cuban, labeled Biden’s debate performance “awful” and stated he was “open to the discussion” about replacing him in the race. Some executives have requested that other prominent Democrats, including the Obamas, the Clintons, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, advocate for an alternative to Biden, according to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, president of the Chief Executive Leadership Institute at Yale University, who spoke to Bloomberg.
According to the media outlet, conversations among Democrats in Washington have mentioned Vice President Kamala Harris as well as governors Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan as potential replacements for Biden.
Former President Barack Obama appears to be continuing his endorsement of his former vice president in the aftermath of the debate. “Bad nights happen. Trust me, I know,” he said on Friday. Biden’s campaign also reported raising more than $27 million between debate day and Friday evening. The Trump campaign reported receiving $8 million on Thursday.
Earlier, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed that the debate revealed Biden was “not up to the task” and stated that his condition placed the US in a “very dangerous situation.” The Republican politician argued that the president should not only withdraw from the race but also be immediately removed from office.
The New York Times editorial board also urged Biden to step down on Friday, arguing that there was “no longer a sufficient rationale” for him to remain the Democratic nominee.
Biden himself pledged to continue the campaign in the wake of the debate. On Saturday, he reinforced his position by stating at a fundraiser in New York’s Hamptons that he would not be running if he did not believe he could win.