A new AP-NORC poll reveals that 65 percent of Democrats want President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race as confidence in his mental fitness plummets. This sentiment is particularly strong among younger voters, posing a significant challenge to Biden’s campaign as crucial deadlines approach.
AP-NORC’s latest polling, released Wednesday, finds that a strong majority of Democrats believe Biden should step aside and allow the party to choose a different candidate. Specifically, 75 percent of Democrats aged 18 to 44 think Biden should withdraw, while a strong majority of those older than 45 also favor a different candidate.
These findings come amid growing concern over Biden’s health and mental fitness. Only three in ten Democrats say they are “extremely” or “very” confident that Biden can effectively serve as president, a decrease of roughly ten percentage points since a February AP-NORC poll. The decline in confidence has been attributed to Biden’s disastrous debate performance at the end of June, compounded by ongoing concerns about his age and frequent public gaffes.
“While much of the media is focused on the drama of the U.S. presidential election, we must not lose sight of what is happening with Biden’s candidacy,” said an anonymous Democratic strategist. “Nine months into this campaign, concerns about his ability to lead are only growing.”
In recent weeks, Democratic lawmakers have intensified efforts to replace Biden with a different candidate. On Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California), who is running for Senate, publicly called on Biden to withdraw, expressing “serious concerns” about Biden’s ability to win against Donald Trump. Schiff encouraged Biden to “pass the torch” to a new leader. Schiff joins roughly 21 other Democratic members of Congress who have publicly urged Biden to step aside.
Schiff’s stance aligns with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), who has reportedly been making calls behind the scenes to figure out ways to get Biden off the ticket. Pelosi is concerned that Biden’s continued candidacy could harm the Democratic Party’s chances in the 2024 election, according to a report by Politico.
Key deadlines for those wishing to replace Biden are quickly approaching. Reports indicate that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been working to nominate Biden early in a virtual roll call vote ahead of the Democratic convention next month. However, DNC officials announced on Wednesday that the vote will not take place until August, later than previously planned.
The delay is believed to be a result of pressure from Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York). Both leaders have reportedly been reconsidering Biden’s candidacy in conversations with donors and lawmakers.
Recently, a group of over 30 Democrats signed a letter denouncing the DNC’s early nomination plans. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California), a supporter of the effort, said that the group decided not to send the letter to the DNC after successfully pressuring for a delay in the vote until August.
Biden, meanwhile, has become increasingly combative in his insistence on staying in the race. In a private call with moderate Democrats, Biden reportedly snapped at Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, who pointed out that the Biden campaign’s messaging on his strength as a world leader has not been resonating with voters.
“You oughta talk about it!” Biden said, according to a recording of the call obtained by Puck News. “On national security, nobody has been a better president than I’ve been. Name me one. Name me one! So I don’t want to hear that crap!”
The new AP-NORC poll underscores the challenges Biden faces as he tries to convince Democrats that he is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats think Biden should drop out, sharply undercutting his claim that “average Democrats” are still with him.
Younger Democrats, a key demographic for the party, are particularly dissatisfied. Three-quarters of Democrats under the age of 45 want Biden to drop out, compared to about six in ten of those older than 45. “I think he’s frankly just too old for the job,” said Andrew Holcomb, a 27-year-old Democrat from Denver.
Despite the growing discontent, some Democrats remain loyal to Biden. “Biden is the best candidate for president,” said Janie Stapleton, a 50-year-old lifelong Democrat from Walls, Mississippi.
The poll also found that Vice President Kamala Harris receives similar scrutiny amid discussions about Biden’s potential withdrawal. Her favorable rating is similar to Biden’s, with a slightly lower share of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of her.
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