In a forcefully worded letter to congressional Democrats, President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the 2024 presidential race, addressing growing concerns and calls for his withdrawal from within his own party. “Despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,” Biden stated emphatically.
Biden’s letter comes at a critical juncture, as both the House and Senate reconvene after the July 4th recess. He highlighted his extensive conversations with party leaders, elected officials, and Democratic voters, acknowledging their concerns about his candidacy. “I have heard the concerns that people have—their good faith fears and worries about what is at stake in this election. I am not blind to them,” he wrote.
The president’s message is clear: unity is essential for victory. “We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump. We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election. Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us,” Biden emphasized.
Biden’s decision to remain in the race has sparked mixed reactions among Democrats. While some high-ranking officials, like Reps. Jerry Nadler, Mark Takano, Joe Morelle, and Adam Smith, have called for his withdrawal, others, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ritchie Torres, have voiced their support for Biden. “Weakening a weakened nominee seems like a losing strategy for a presidential election,” Torres remarked.
Biden’s resolve was further underscored in a spirited phone call to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” where he challenged his critics within the party. “If any of these guys don’t think I should run, run against me. Go ahead—announce for president. Challenge me at the convention,” he declared.
In his letter, Biden also made a compelling case for respecting the inner-party democratic process, asserting that the nomination made by the voters’ choice must be respected. “Do we now just say this process didn’t matter? That the voters don’t have a say? I decline to do that. I feel a deep obligation to the faith and the trust the voters of the Democratic Party have placed in me to run this year,” he wrote
