Biden will drop election if ‘health concerns’ arise
U.S. President Joe Biden looks on during his visit at the Chavis Community Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S., March 26, 2024. (Reuters Photo)
US President Joe Biden has hinted for the first time that if he is diagnosed with a serious illness, he may reconsider running for reelection in 2024. The remarks came after Representative Adam Schiff, a prominent Democrat, publicly encouraged the 81-year-old president to “pass the torch.”
In an interview with Black media outlet BET, Biden remarked, “If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if the doctors came and said, ‘you’ve got this problem, that problem,'” he would reconsider his campaign. This was Biden’s first public admission that health issues could have influenced his decision to withdraw from the contest.
Despite these remarks, Biden justified his decision to seek a second term, citing a deeply polarized political atmosphere. “I said I was going to be a transitional candidate, and I thought I’d be able to move on from this, pass it on to someone else,” he told me. “But I didn’t anticipate things getting so, so, so divided.”
Biden’s statements come after growing scrutiny of his candidacy, notably following a recent debate with former President Donald Trump, in which Biden’s performance raised concerns about his age and stamina.
Representative Schiff, a major ally and probable Senate winner, was the first prominent Democrat to demand for Biden’s resignation following the latest murder attempt on Trump. Schiff was concerned about Biden’s capacity to defeat Trump, saying, “A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
In response to rising pressure, Biden plans to meet Latino voters in Nevada later Wednesday, hoping to boost support in a critical battleground state.
The Democratic Party is divided within, with perhaps 20 House Democrats and one senator calling for Biden to go. Despite this, Biden is adamant about his ability to compete effectively with Trump.
Polls show Biden losing in critical swing states, but there has been no substantial change in voter opinion since the recent debate or shooting event. Biden rated his mental acuity as “pretty damn good” in a Monday NBC interview, aiming to allay worries about his fitness for office.
To strengthen his position, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) intends to hold a virtual nomination for Biden in the first week of August, ahead of the Democratic National Convention on August 19. This virtual nomination is meant to satisfy Ohio’s nomination filing date on August 7.
However, the idea has drawn criticism from within the party, with some politicians accusing the DNC of avoiding a complete debate on alternative candidates. Despite legal changes that provide extra time for nominations, the DNC has expressed worries about potential further difficulties.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, over two-thirds of Democratic voters want Biden to step down. The DNC’s rules committee has stated that the nomination process will not be rushed, highlighting their commitment to a thorough and transparent procedure.
