U.S. President Joe Biden faced fresh doubts about his re-election chances from prominent figures such as Nancy Pelosi and George Clooney, raising concerns among Democratic lawmakers and donors.
Former House Speaker Pelosi, a longtime Biden ally, indicated on MSNBC that Biden must quickly decide whether to stay in the 2024 White House race but declined to explicitly support his candidacy.
Hollywood star Clooney, who co-hosted a fundraiser for Biden last month, withdrew his support in a New York Times opinion piece, criticizing Biden's current performance compared to 2020.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has privately expressed openness to a Democratic candidate other than Biden, although he publicly reiterated his support for the president. Senator Peter Welch became the first Democratic senator to call for Biden to withdraw, adding to the pressure.
One major donor mentioned that Democratic leaders might issue statements of concern after the NATO summit, suggesting internal party tensions.
The Abandon Biden Campaign, critical of Biden's handling of the Israel-Gaza war, called for Biden to step aside. For nearly two weeks, the 81-year-old president has sought to address concerns from Democratic lawmakers, donors, and allies worried about his chances against Republican Donald Trump. Pelosi advised colleagues to withhold public criticism until after the NATO summit, praising Biden's performance at the event.
Biden's campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon and senior advisers will brief Senate Democrats, reinforcing Biden's commitment to staying in the race. Despite this, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal voiced concerns about Biden's ability to win. In Dallas, Vice President Kamala Harris, the leading contender to replace Biden if he steps aside, emphasized the election's importance at an event.
Clooney's opinion piece described Biden as no longer the dynamic leader of the past, warning that Democrats risk losing the House and Senate. Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer joined eight other House members calling for Biden to end his re-election campaign. Public defections remain limited, but the party is divided over Biden's candidacy due to concerns about his health and acuity. Senator Michael Bennet also expressed doubts about Biden's ability to defeat Trump.
In response, Biden has sought support from loyal communities, including Black Democratic lawmakers and voters. He received enthusiastic applause from labor leaders at an AFL-CIO executive council meeting, highlighting shared goals and commitments to addressing key issues like high rents, expensive groceries, and housing shortages. Labor votes were crucial to Biden's 2020 victory in states like Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
