The Biden-Harris campaign is facing a crucial week on Capitol Hill as calls for President Biden to step down from the ticket grow louder. In an effort to address these concerns, Mr. Biden has been actively reaching out to lawmakers, making 20 calls to congressional members since last month’s presidential debate in Atlanta. Additional calls are expected as the campaign works to shore up support among key allies.
Last week, the White House announced that President Biden had spoken with several influential figures, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, and Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also confirmed that he had recently spoken with the president, highlighting the campaign’s efforts to engage with lawmakers and shore up support.
A memo obtained by CBS News, which was sent to Hill offices by the Biden-Harris campaign, details more than a dozen appearances by the president in “blue wall states” since the debate. This includes campaign events in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania over the weekend, where Mr. Biden spoke at a Philadelphia church, visited a field office with Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and joined Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at a coffee shop in Harrisburg.
The memo also outlines Mr. Biden’s upcoming schedule for the week, which includes the NATO summit, a meeting with union leaders at the AFL-CIO, and a campaign event in Detroit. The campaign points to a recent Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll showing Mr. Biden narrowing the gap to 45%-47% against former President Donald Trump in seven key battleground states. Additionally, the memo highlights the campaign’s successful fundraising efforts, citing June as the “best” fundraising month with a $127 million haul.
In response to the growing calls for President Biden to step down, the campaign is ramping up its efforts to rally support from grassroots donors and surrogates. The memo emphasizes the outpouring of grassroots support since the debate, indicating that Americans are fired up and ready to re-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
However, not all Democrats are on board with the campaign’s strategy. Following a Sunday afternoon leadership call with ranking members from various House committees, several senior House Democrats expressed concerns about the president’s re-election campaign in light of his recent debate performance. At least five House Democrats have called on President Biden to step down as the party nominee, adding to the pressure on the campaign.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner reportedly scrapped a meeting with a group of Senate Democrats to discuss the president’s bid, indicating the uncertainty and division within the party. House and Senate Democrats are expected to hold separate meetings on Tuesday where Mr. Biden’s embattled presidential campaign is likely to be a topic of discussion.
Despite the growing calls for President Biden to step down, some lawmakers are taking a wait-and-see approach. One House Democrat told CBS News that most people want to continue to monitor the president’s performance before making any decisions.
In conclusion, the Biden-Harris campaign is facing a pivotal week as they navigate calls for the president to step down from the ticket. With outreach efforts to lawmakers, campaign events in key states, and a focus on fundraising and grassroots support, the campaign is working to overcome the challenges and secure a path to re-election. The coming days will be crucial in determining the future of President Biden’s bid for a second term in office.
