Biden campaign says he will remain on ticket, has voter support
- Biden's campaign has been battling increasing calls for him to withdraw
- The president is reported to be making a decision on the race soon
- The campaign's struggles come following a poor debate performance
(NewsNation) — In a memo, the Biden-Harris campaign said President Joe Biden will continue to be on the top of the Democratic ticket and said there is voter support for his run.
As Democrats continue to disagree over Biden’s candidacy, Vice President Kamala Harris conducted a call with top Democratic donors Friday afternoon, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to NewsNation. The meeting was requested by the president’s senior advisers.
“We know which candidate in this election puts the American people first: our president, Joe Biden,” Harris reportedly said, arguing Democrats would win the election, according to one attendee on the call.
On an all-staff call with the Biden campaign, advisers again emphasized that what they are hearing from people on the ground is not the same as what’s being said on cable news, according to a source.
The campaign memo, obtained by NewsNation, dismissed news stories reporting on President Joe Biden’s faltering support and increasing calls from within his own party to step aside.
“But on the ground, the view is different,” the campaign said before moving on to discussing Project 2025 and the need to defeat Trump.
The White House also denied media reports Biden’s family was considering exit plans, calling the reporting untrue.
What is Project 2025?
The email focused on the need to defeat former President Donald Trump in November, citing Project 2025, a controversial proposal for overhauling government that includes significant restrictions on abortion, mass firing of nonpolitical federal employees, overhauling the FBI and Justice Department into more political agencies and severely cutting or privatizing social services.
Recent headlines around Project 2025 have propelled it into focus, with the campaign email noting it has been searched for more than the NFL or Taylor Swift.
Trump has attempted to distance himself from Project 2025, but many of those involved in drafting the proposal have significant ties to his campaign.
Biden campaign woes
The memo comes as Biden has been struggling to convince Democrats he is still capable of campaigning, beating Trump and governing the nation for a second term.
Biden’s struggles began following the first presidential debate, where his performance sparked alarm among Democrats. The campaign excused the performance as an “anomaly,” blaming a cold and the president’s recent travel abroad.
The campaign worked to shore up support, meeting with Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill and across the country. The campaign also promoted several high-profile interviews, Biden’s appearance at a NATO summit in D.C. and campaign events.
Several of those events were marred by gaffes, adding to Democrats’ fears instead of soothing them.
Biden’s campaign also suspended political advertising following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The Biden camp hit another hurdle Wednesday when the president tested positive for COVID-19, leading to canceled events as Biden self-isolates in Delaware. On Friday, the White House shared a letter from presidential physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor stating the president’s vitals were good and his symptoms were improving, though he was still testing positive for COVID.
Shifting support for Biden
Even as top Democrats remain publicly supportive of the president, there are reports that some, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have been privately pressuring Biden to reassess.
Former President Barack Obama is also said to be shifting support away from his former vice president, reportedly telling allies that it’s time for Biden to take a hard look at his chances.
The number of Democrats openly calling for Biden to drop out has also grown, with an increasing number of House Democrats and a small but growing number of Democratic senators putting public pressure on Biden to step aside.
Voters have also been skittish about Biden’s chances, with a growing number of Democrats saying there should be another candidate.
However, Biden supporters are speaking out as well. At recent events, Biden was greeted by crowds chanting “Don’t you quit,” and on Friday, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Bold PAC endorsed the president.
Biden has maintained he will be the nominee and said in one interview only the “Lord Almighty himself” could convince him to step aside, though he later said a serious medical condition would also lead him to reconsider.
What happens if Biden withdraws?
Democrats have also pushed back a virtual vote to formally nominate Biden. The vote is being held ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August in order to meet a ballot deadline in Ohio.
Should Biden step aside or should delegates attempt to force a replacement at the DNC, it’s not entirely clear who would take over.
Vice President Kamala Harris is the obvious pick and one that would present the fewest logistical challenges, But recent polls suggest she could do even worse against Trump than Biden.
Other names that have been floated include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Should Harris top the ticket, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper have been mentioned as possible vice presidential nominees or even Biden replacements.