Obama’s Doubts About Biden’s Candidacy Adds to Pressure on US President
Pressure is mounting on Joe Biden to reconsider his re-election campaign following reports that former president Barack Obama believes his chances of winning have significantly decreased.
According to The Washington Post, Mr Obama has suggested that President Biden should seriously assess the viability of his candidacy, as stated by sources familiar with the ex-president’s perspective.
Meanwhile, Mr Biden has reportedly mentioned that he would contemplate dropping out of the 2024 race if he were diagnosed with a “medical condition” by a physician.
In an interview with BET News, the president remarked that he would reassess his campaign “if I had some medical condition that emerged”.
“If doctors informed me of certain health issues,” he added.
He also acknowledged that he ran for the presidency as a “transitional candidate” and had anticipated passing the torch to someone else.
However, he admitted he had not foreseen the level of division that would emerge in the US, saying: “There’s still work to be done, and I hesitate to step away from that.”
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Who could replace Biden and how?
Top Democrats call for Biden to drop campaign
Multiple top Democratic leaders have purportedly urged him privately to end his campaign.
US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi have expressed concerns to Mr Biden that he may not just lose the presidency but also jeopardize the party’s prospects of regaining control of the House of Representatives in the 5 November election, according to several reports.
Currently, 20 out of 264 Democrats in Congress have urged the 81-year-old president to withdraw following his lackluster performance during a debate against Donald Trump, 78, last month.
Mr Biden has maintained his stance that he will not give up, asserting that he defeated Mr Trump in the past and can do so again.
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Biden heard sounding unwell during interview
Responding to reports suggesting Mr Biden is considering stepping back from the race, his deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks told the Associated Press news agency: “He is not wavering on anything.”
This comes after Mr Biden tested positive for COVID-19 during a campaign visit in Nevada, leading to his return to his home in Delaware to isolate and work.
