Joe Biden, the current occupant of the Oval Office, finds himself besieged on all sides, as rumors suggested that his own coterie was reportedly considering an exit strategy for him. The possibility that Biden could bow out of his reelection run was a topic of discussion amongst his family, as implied by sources known to NBC News. The intimidation of contending with Biden’s health, the pressure on his family and how his motives are perceived were all allegedly underlying factors leading to this decision, a way to potentially offer the Democrats a lifeline against Trump.
The suggestion is that the options for Biden abandoning his campaign, which would ideally give Democrats the best shot at warding off Trump, were among the topics mulled over. The decision-makers in this case would prominently revolve around Jill Biden, his wife, his controversial son Hunter, and his sister, and political advisor, Valerie Owens. The idea of Biden gracefully making this decision on his own couldn’t be overlooked.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, presumptuously titled Biden’s campaign manager, robustly declared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe that come what may, Biden would hitherto be the nominated representative of the party for its impending convention. The president’s cryptic response was less promising, although certainly veered towards the idea of him contesting against Trump, albeit without unambiguous confirmation.
In a statement though, Biden remarked that he was enthusiastic about resuming his campaign activities soon. Predictably, his rhetoric was aimed at condemning Trump’s agenda for Project 2025, while conversely arguing for his own track record and his supposedly idealistic vision for the nation: a democracy that prioritizes protection of rights, ensures maximum freedom, and supposedly carves out an ‘opportunity for everyone.’
Biden faced a daunting blow on Friday, as support among the Congressional circles began to wane. A cross-section of House representatives — including Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, notable for being the first African-American to disapprove of Biden — openly beseeched the President to terminate his rat race for the greater benefit of his own party and hence the nation.
In a jointly-authored letter, these legislators eloquently orchestrated their deference to Biden. They fondly remembered his stint as a public servant, acknowledging his presidential accomplishments, albeit wrapped within a plea urging Biden to concede his position to a more competent and youthful leadership within the party.
The anti-Biden sentiment was hard to miss, with more than 25 Democrats from Congress clamoring for him to relinquish his influence. A flurry of whispers suggested that by Friday, there would be more followers eager to join this cause. Foreseeing a potential loss in Senate control and harboring ambitions to win back the House, influential figures like Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and the former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, discreetly added their weight pushing against Biden.
To exacerbate the situation, a surprising voice came out from Biden’s past, questioning his capacity for victory – former President Barack Obama. Senators Jon Tester and Martin Heinrich, respectively from Montana and New Mexico and a part of the vulnerable faction, increasingly voiced their concerns.
Following his theatrical debate debacle with Trump, Biden was facing severe criticism on his age and mental capacity which put his candidacy on perilous ground. Yet, the stubbornly defiant Biden insisted that the role was his to vacate, unless directly called upon by a higher power. A cryptic reference to ‘God Almighty’ is worth noting here.
Biden took to hiding away in his home based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, following his declaration of a positive COVID diagnosis last Wednesday. As per the White House, the President had no public engagements lined up, further fueling speculation that he might be preparing to drop from the race.
During a recent chat, the President hinted towards the possibility of personally considering stepping out of the race if confronted by any serious health issues. His attending physician disclosed that Biden was suffering from mild symptoms, and was taking Paxlovid, while his vitals were still in check.
Towards the end, it seemed like some subtle signs were suggesting that the Bidens were not yet ready to throw in the towel. Nevertheless, the barrage of criticism and lack of support voiced by his own party make his continued pursuit of reelection look more like a foolhardy endeavor rather than a credible campaign.