Former US President Barack Obama (2009-2017) has told his close circles that the current president, Joe Bidenhas to “seriously reconsider” the future of his candidacy, according to a report by The Washington Post on Thursday.
According to the capital newspaper, Obama believes that Biden’s chances of victory “have been considerably reduced.”
Obama has spoken to Biden only once since the face-to-face debate with his Republican rival for the White House, former President Donald Trump, which set off alarm bells in the Democratic Party.
Obama has been in contact with influential Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who has been cryptic in her public statements about Biden’s future.
In fact, Pelosi has reportedly told Biden privately that he has no chance of beating Trump in November, CNN reported Thursday.
Obama reportedly expressed to those close to him his concern about the poll numbers, which clearly give Trump a victory, and about the fact that some donors are abandoning the president.
Biden is currently in isolation at his Delaware residence after testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, forcing him to cancel a campaign speech to the Latino organization UnidosUS in the crucial state of Nevada.
In an interview recorded for Univision before learning of his diagnosis, the president reaffirmed his intention to stay in the race and rejected calls from members of his party, donors and television commentators to pass the baton to a younger candidate to face Trump in November.
“With age comes wisdom. I know the difference between truth and lies, right and wrong. I know what needs to be done. We have accomplished more in four years for the American people and the Latino community than any other president in a similar period.”Biden argued in his defense.
Obama and other party leaders put pressure on Biden
The leak about Obama’s concerns comes at a time of renewed pressure for Biden to step down, with several media outlets suggesting he lacks support among leading figures in the Democratic Party.
Axios reported that several senior Democrats believe this mounting pressure could convince Biden to drop out of the presidential race, possibly as early as this weekend.
According to recent leaks to the media, Pelosi, and Democratic leaders in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, and the House, Hakeem Jeffries, spoke privately with Biden last week to express their concerns.
Schumer and Jeffries warned Biden that his candidacy jeopardizes the current Democratic majority in the Senate and makes it more difficult to take back the House of Representatives, according to The Washington Post.
In addition, 23 Democratic lawmakers (22 representatives and one senator) have publicly called on Biden to end his candidacy and pass the baton to another candidate.
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Source: Gestion
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