- President Joe Biden has been steadfast that he is not dropping out.
- In the meantime, some donors and elected officials are pushing him to step aside.
- If Biden were to change his mind, the final push is likely to come from his own small orbit.
President Joe Biden is clear that he is not leaving the 2024 race.
On Friday, Biden rallied with supporters in Wisconsin as he continued his effort to hold onto power amid a growing number of megadonors and Democratic officials questioning whether he is still the best candidate to beat former President Donald Trump.
“You voted for me to be your nominee, no one else,” Biden said at the rally. “You, the voters did that. And despite that some folks don’t seem to care who you voted for, well guess what, they’re trying to push me out of the race. Well, let me say this as clearly as I can: I’m staying in the race.”
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Biden’s disastrous debate performance has sharply highlighted voters’ biggest concern about reelecting the 81-year-old, who would be 86 if he left office in January 2029.
So far, influential voices like former President Barack Obama remain behind him. There’s still time for Biden to change course. Still, it’s unlikely that another current party leader would nudge him out of the race in a meeting like the famous 1974 meeting Sen. Barry Goldwater and top Republicans held with President Richard Nixon, letting him know that he would not survive the Watergate scandal.
Instead, Biden may only be swayed by someone within his insular orbit — many who have served at his side for decades. In the end, it may only be a fellow Biden who could change his mind.
