US President Joe Biden on Friday vowed to continue his campaign for re-election even as more fellow Democrats in Congress urged him to end his floundering campaign. His statement came after reports said that he was considering dropping out of the race.
“Together, as a party and as a country, we can and will defeat him at the ballot box,” Biden said. “The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win,” Biden said.
“I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week to continue exposing the threat of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda while making the case for my own record and the vision that I have for America,” he said in a statement, referring to a policy plan developed by Trump’s conservative allies.
Media reports also said Biden’s family members have begun contemplating what the latter’s exit from his floundering campaign would look like.
According to news agency Reuters, more than one in 10 congressional Democrats have now publicly called on Biden to drop out.
However, Biden, who has insisted he can beat Republican Donald Trump, remained defiant, saying he would resume campaigning soon.
Biden, 81, tested positive for Covid-19 while travelling in Las Vegas earlier this week and experienced “mild symptoms” including “general malaise” from the infection, the White House said.
His disastrous June debate against Trump raised questions about his ability to win or to carry out his duties for another four years.
So far, 32 of the 264 Democrats in Congress have openly called for Biden to end his campaign, while other senior Democratic leaders have pushed him behind the scenes to do so, Reuters quoted sources and media reports.
Democrats are increasingly worried about a Republican sweep in the November 5 election that could leave Trump and his allies not only in charge of the White House but also with majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Among the democrats expressing worries to allies about Biden’s chances were former President Barack Obama and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who has privately told Biden the party could lose the ability to seize control of the House if he doesn’t step aside.
New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich called on Biden to exit the race, making him the third Senate Democrat to do so.
Amid the turmoil, a majority of Democrats think Vice President Kamala Harris would make a good president herself.