Media outlets and key donors are beginning to jump ship all while his family reportedly encourages him to stay in the race. Whether Joe Biden can remain in the race is ultimately up to him since, at least at this point, senior Democrats aren’t breaking ranks.
Among them is Governor Phil Murphy who hosted Biden for a fundraiser this Saturday at his palatial Middletown, New Jersey mansion.
“There are very few people who can span the broad interests of our party and country the same way @JoeBiden can,” Murphy posted on X late Sunday evening. “He’s proven it once before by beating Trump. And he’ll do it again as our Democratic nominee for President in November.”
There are very few people who can span the broad interests of our party and country the same way @JoeBiden can.
He’s proven it once before by beating Trump. And he’ll do it again as our Democratic nominee for President in November.
— Phil Murphy (@PhilMurphy) July 1, 2024
Senior Democrat reaction has ranged from the Murphy approach – extolling Biden’s alleged virtues – to the reaction of former President Barack Obama who owned Biden’s crappy performance but sought to downplay the affair as an isolated bump in the road weighed against the tremendous stakes of the cycle.
“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself,” Obama opined on X. “Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November.”