US President Joe Biden visited a black church in Pennsylvania and rallied union members on Sunday, trying to quell a growing clamour from within his own party for him to bow out of the race. Speaking from the stage at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ in northwest Philadelphia, the 81-year-old Mr Biden urged supporters to stay unified behind him, joking about his age and saying he has never been more optimistic about America’s future if the country sticks together.
The visit comes after Mr Biden joined a Saturday call with campaign surrogates, during which he reiterated that he has no plans to step aside, while urging unity among top Democrats. However, he also listened to concerns and feedback from those on the call, according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Mr Biden’s appearance at the church was attended by Pastor Louis Felton, who likened him to Joseph in the Bible, saying that “never count Joseph out.” Felton also blamed jealousy for intensifying pressure from some Democrats to abandon his re-election bid. The pastor’s remarks echoed that of Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat who won a tough 2022 race while recovering from a stroke, who offered a forceful endorsement of Mr Biden, saying that “there is only one guy that has ever beaten Trump and he is going to do it twice and put him down for good.”
Despite his efforts to rally support, Mr Biden’s political situation remains precarious. Five Democratic lawmakers have called on him to abandon his re-election bid ahead of November, and more could do so in coming days as Congress reconvenes. Director Rob Reiner, who has helped organise glitzy Hollywood fundraisers for Mr Biden in the past, also posted on social media that “it’s time for Joe Biden to step down.”
The president’s campaign has announced a 50 million-dollar ad blitz throughout the month to target large-audience moments such as the upcoming Olympics in Paris. However, his campaign team is quietly bracing for the chorus of those calling for him to leave the race to grow in coming days, holding calls with surrogates and calling and texting politicians to try to head off more potential defections.
US President Joe Biden (Via Joe Biden/Twitter)
Mr Biden’s campaign has also faced questions about his ability to withstand the remaining four months of the campaign, not to mention four more years in the White House. Some have urged him to undergo a cognitive test to address concerns about his potential decline, but Mr Biden has rejected the idea, arguing that the everyday rigours of the presidency are proof enough of his mental acuity.
Despite these challenges, Mr Biden has insisted he is not yielding to any other Democrat, saying he is the Democrats’ best shot to beat former Republican former president Donald Trump. His visit to the black church gives him a chance to energise African-American voters, who are Democrats’ largest and most loyal bloc of support. It could also send a message to members of the Congressional Black Caucus, whose endorsement the president will need as he works to quell potential rebellion on Capitol Hill.
In an effort to shore up support, Mr Biden is also expected to receive a weekend boost from other key Democrats who had raised previous questions but now have moved to support him, led by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina. However, with the Democratic convention approaching, the short term is especially critical, and Mr Biden’s interview on Friday with ABC has not convinced some who remain sceptical that he can resurrect his campaign.
Appearing on CNN on Sunday, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said that Mr Biden “needs to answer those questions that voters have.” However, he added that if Mr Biden does that this week, he will be in a very good position and the party can get back to what the campaign needs to be. Mr Murphy also said he did not know if a cognitive test “would be impactful” for voters worried about Mr Biden’s potential decline.
California Democratic Representative Adam Schiff told NBC that he would be “happy if both the president and Donald Trump took a cognitive test.” Mr Schiff added that the president opting to stay in the race “is going to come down to what Joe Biden thinks is best” and that he could “run hard” to beat Mr Trump or “if his decision is to pass the torch, then the president should do everything in his power to make that other candidate successful.”
As Mr Biden navigates these challenges, he must also contend with the fact that the Democratic Party is increasingly divided on the issue of his re-election bid. Some are urging him to step aside, while others are publicly stating their support for him. The president’s ability to quell this division and rally his party behind him will be crucial in the coming weeks and months as the election season heats up.
