A rising number of Democrats in Congress are expressing concerns about President Joe Biden’s ability to win the 2024 election against Donald Trump. Despite a series of private meetings, there has been no collective action plan to address these fears. Seven House Democrats have publicly urged Biden who is 81 years, to step aside and for the first time, a Senate Democrat has voiced doubt about Biden’s electability although he stopped short of calling for Biden to drop out.
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet warned that Trump could win by a landslide, potentially bringing Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress. This scenario would give Trump significant leeway to enact substantial policy changes. Currently, Republicans control the House with a slim majority and Democrats hold a precarious 51-49 majority in the Senate, defending several seats in Republican-leaning states.
The recent shift in Cook Political Report ratings for key states like Arizona, Georgia and Nevada from “toss-up” to “lean Republican” has heightened these concerns. Biden’s campaign is struggling to convince voters that his poor debate performance was an anomaly rather than a sign of incapacity, exacerbated by his age and declining approval ratings.
Despite these challenges, Biden continues to assert his capability to defeat Trump, framing the former president as a threat to American democracy. His campaign emphasizes achievements like climate and infrastructure spending, while targeting Trump’s controversial stances on issues like abortion and democracy. However, critics within the party argue that the campaign lacks a cohesive strategy and urgency, especially in mobilizing younger voters and addressing key issues like reproductive rights.
White House officials and Biden’s supporters maintain that he is healthy and capable, citing a clean bill of health from his latest physical examination. Still, the debate over his fitness and electability persists, with some Democrats feeling the need for a more compelling candidate to unify the party against Trump.