In a letter addressed to congressional Democrats on Monday, President Biden firmly rejected suggestions that he drop out of the presidential race. He argued that stepping down would undermine the will of the voters and disregard his record of accomplishments.
The president, in a letter shared by his campaign, directly addressed the turmoil that has recently engulfed the Democratic Party following his disappointing debate performance on June 27. He called upon lawmakers to get and stay behind his candidacy amidst growing calls for him to step down as the party’s nominee in 2024, and doubts about his ability to defeat Trump in the upcoming election.
While some within the party have openly questioned his campaign’s energy and vigor,
President Biden has stated that he’s not backing down. In a new statement Biden said, “Now that you have returned from the July 4th recess, I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.”
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The president expressed his understanding of the weight and responsibility that comes with being the party’s nominee, having experienced it firsthand during the 2020 election when the fate of the nation was at stake.
“I have had extensive conversations with the leadership of the party, elected officials, rank and file members, and most importantly, Democratic voters over these past 10 days or so. I have heard the concerns that people have – their good faith fears and worries about what is at stake in this election. I am not blind to them. Believe me, I know better than anyone the responsibility and the burden the nominee of our party carries. I carried it in 2020 when the fate of our nation was at stake. I also know these concerns come from a place of real respect for my lifetime of public service and my record as President, and I have been moved by the expressions of affection for me from so many who have known me well and supported me over the course of my public life.”
He continued, “I’ve been grateful for the rock-solid, steadfast support from so many elected Democrats in Congress and all across the country and taken great strength from the resolve and determination I’ve seen from so many voters and grassroots supporters even in the hardest of weeks. I can respond to all this by saying clearly and unequivocally: I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”
With this letter, President Biden seeks to dispel doubts and reaffirm his commitment to the presidential race.