Current:Home > MyPeter Welch becomes first Senate Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from presidential race-LoTradeCoin
Peter Welch becomes first Senate Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from presidential race
View Date:2024-12-23 22:00:10
Washington — Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont on Wednesday became the first Senate Democrat to publicly call for President Biden to end his reelection bid.
"We cannot unsee President Biden's disastrous debate performance. We cannot ignore or dismiss the valid questions raised since that night," Welch wrote in an op-ed published by the Washington Post. "For the good of the country, I'm calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race."
Welch urged Mr. Biden to reassess whether he is the best candidate to beat former President Donald Trump, adding that the growing concerns about his age and ability to do the job have shifted focus away from Trump's flaws.
"Trump is a felon. He is a pathological liar. He is a menace. And he is sure to be emboldened by his activist Supreme Court, which granted him near total immunity," Welch wrote. "But the national conversation is focused on President Biden's age and capacity. Only he can change it."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, reaffirmed his support for Mr. Biden on Wednesday night.
"As I have made clear repeatedly publicly and privately, I support President Biden and remain committed to ensuring Donald Trump is defeated in November," Schumer said in a statement after Welch's piece was posted.
Doubts about the 81-year-old president's capacity have swirled since his debate flub nearly two weeks ago. Mr. Biden has blamed the poor performance on being tired and having a cold.
Mr. Biden has remained firm that he's staying in the race, while a number of Democrats in Congress have offered tepid support for his continued candidacy. Nearly a dozen House Democrats have publicly called for him to step aside, though Senate Democrats other than Welch have not gone as far. However, Democrats who have publicly called on Mr. Biden to withdraw say there are many more in the party who agree with them behind closed doors.
Those who have stopped short of calling for the president to end his candidacy have expressed doubt about whether he can beat Trump. Before Welch's plea, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado gave the most critical public assessment of Mr. Biden by a Senate Democrat in the aftermath of the debate.
"Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election, and maybe win it by a landslide, and take with him the Senate and the House," Bennet said on CNN, adding that the White House has "done nothing" post-debate to demonstrate a plan to win the election.
Mr. Biden faces two big tests in the coming days as he tries to calm the alarm within his party.
The president will hold a rare solo news conference — his first since November — on Thursday to conclude the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. Then on Monday, NBC's Lester Holt will interview Mr. Biden. The network said the interview would air in its entirety during primetime.
Another misstep by Mr. Biden in either appearance could further erode his support.
- In:
- United States Senate
- Joe Biden
- Donald Trump
- 2024 Elections
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
TwitterveryGood! (21196)
Related
- UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight card, odds, how to watch, date
- Charlie Woods attempting to qualify for 2024 US Open at Florida event
- Florida man charged with murdering girlfriend’s 13-year-old daughter
- Biden grants clemency to 16 nonviolent drug offenders
- Rita Ora Says Liam Payne “Left Such a Mark on This World” in Emotional Tribute
- It's Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day: How to help kids get the most out of it
- FTC sends $5.6 million in refunds to Ring customers as part of video privacy settlement
- Fifth arrest made in connection to deaths of 2 Kansas women
- Republican Gabe Evans ousts Democratic US Rep. Yadira Caraveo in Colorado
- Tough new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down
Ranking
- Joel Embiid injury, suspension update: When is 76ers star's NBA season debut?
- Christina Applegate Explains Why She’s Wearing Adult Diapers After Sapovirus Diagnosis
- Key moments in the Supreme Court’s latest abortion case that could change how women get care
- Inflation surge has put off rate cuts, hurt stocks. Will it still slow in 2024?
- Could trad wives, influencers have sparked the red wave among female voters?
- Arkansas panel bans electronic signatures on voter registration forms
- Machine Gun Kelly Celebrates Birthday With Megan Fox by His Side
- Bear cub pulled from tree for selfie 'doing very well,' no charges filed in case
Recommendation
-
New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
-
Jennifer Love Hewitt Shares What’s “Strange” About Being a Mom
-
Nasty Gal's Insane Sitewide Sale Includes Up to 95% Off: Shop Tops Starting at $4 & More
-
Biden just signed a bill that could ban TikTok. His campaign plans to stay on the app anyway
-
Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo a 'child' over fake handshake
-
Imprisoned man indicted in 2012 slaying of retired western Indiana farmer
-
Charles Barkley, Shaq weigh in on NBA refereeing controversy, 'dumb' two-minute report
-
Maple Leafs' Sheldon Keefe: Bruins' Brad Marchand 'elite' at getting away with penalties