One House Democrat said he spoke for others in the wake of the president’s stunningly feeble debate performance on Thursday: “The movement to convince Biden to not run is real.”

The House member, an outspoken defender of the president, said that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should consider “a combined effort” to nudge President Joe Biden out of the race.

Crestfallen by the president’s weak voice, pallid appearance and meandering answers, numerous Democratic officials said Biden’s bet on an early debate to rebut unceasing questions about his age had not only backfired but done damage that may prove irreversible. The president had, in the first 30 minutes of the debate, fully affirmed doubts about his fitness.

A second House Democrat said “reflection is needed” from Biden about the way ahead and indicated the private text threads among lawmakers were even more dire, with some saying outright that the president needed to drop out of the race.

  • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Newsom; Whitmer; Pritzker; Buttigieg; Shapiro; Khanna; Klobuchar; Walz; Booker.

    I even saw someone mention Wes Moore and I was reminded that he’s a pretty good moderate governor of Maryland now instead of “only” a West Point graduate and author.

    • tamal3@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      No mention anywhere of Warren… Did she fail too hard in the primaries?

      Gosh I’d love to see her debate Trump. He would never agree to it though, as she’d rip him to logical pieces.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        No, in an election where age would be a larger issue than it already is I’m assuming anyone who would hit 80 in office is a non starter.

        We need to be training up some younglings.

      • rwhitisissle@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Warren is a woman and economically progressive and America hates people who are either of those things, let alone both.

    • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Well, half of those were people who ran against Biden, so that makes sense.

      I remember being impressed with Klobuchar, and incredibly impressed with Buttigieg (though sadly he’d lose a lot of the religious vote, sigh). I wish I liked Booker more… But yeah there are some acceptable options there, that’s a relief.

      So yeah, lightning primary?

    • ZombiFrancis
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      5 months ago

      Pritzker is the only name on there with the chops for it. Maybe Walz, but he is DFL so I can’t see the DNC even looking at him.