A spokesperson for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has dismissed a report suggesting that Biden’s team is anticipating his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. The report, published by Axios, claimed that top aides, who initially encouraged Biden to continue after a poor debate performance on June 27, are now seeing his departure as inevitable due to increasing pressure from Democrats and close friends.
In response, Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo refuted the claim on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Biden is the party’s nominee and is running for reelection. Ducklo criticized the report as “baseless conjecture from anonymous sources” and urged focus on the upcoming political challenges, specifically referencing former President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Despite these assertions, Biden’s poll numbers have been struggling since the debate, and he faces mounting calls from prominent Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to step aside. Schumer has argued that Biden’s withdrawal would benefit him, the Democratic Party, and the country, while Pelosi has warned that Biden’s continued candidacy could harm the Democrats’ chances in the upcoming elections.
“Joe Biden is his party’s nominee. He’s the President of the United States. He’s running for reelection. Baseless conjecture from anonymous sources isn’t a scoop,” wrote Ducklo. “Tonight a convicted felon will talk about how he’ll make people’s lives worse if he gains power. Let’s focus.
“Schumer forcefully made the case that it would be better for Biden, better for the Democratic Party, and better for the country if he were to bow out,” ABC News’ Jonathan Karl said Wednesday, and Pelosi warned Biden that he might “destroy Democrats’ chances of winning the House in November if he continues seeking a second term.”
