In recent days, there have been growing concerns about the performance of President Joe Biden in the Democratic debates. Two major sources, The Guardian and The Washington Post, reported on Monday that Biden's team was reaching out to skittish Democrats and donors to reassure them about his ability to continue in the race. According to these reports, Jen O'Malley Dillon held an urgent call with donors on Monday evening. Meanwhile, former Ohio congressman Tim Ryan called for Harris to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee.
The New York Times reported that two years ago, a majority of Democratic voters wanted a new standard-bearer for the party. However, despite these concerns and Biden's faltering debate performance on Thursday, he has remained determined to stay in the race. In an interview with CNN host Kasie Hunt on Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley urged President Biden to consider the impact of his performance on Democrats in Congress.
The Guardian reported that during a call with donors, senior campaign officials attempted to tamp down panic and emphasized that Biden has no plans to exit the race. The Washington Post added that party officials were finalizing a timeline for formally nominating Biden within weeks, which could limit talk of alternative candidates.
Despite these efforts to reassure supporters and quell concerns about his age, some Democrats have criticized the campaign's dismissive attitude towards those raising questions. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) called the campaign's approach inappropriate and urged a more open discussion on the topic.
The Biden campaign has faced criticism for its handling of concerns about his age, with some calling those who raise such concerns
