Joe Biden struggles to contain mounting pressure to drop out of 2024 US election race
- White House denies president told ally he could reconsider run, as governors emerge from crisis meeting and say they back Biden
The drumbeat of pressure on Joe Biden to drop out of the US presidential race intensified on Wednesday with a bombshell report in The New York Times that he had conceded the possibility to a key ally, as well as movement within his own party to demand his withdrawal.
The White House and Biden’s campaign quickly denied the Times report suggesting the president had vocalised to a supporter that he could ill-afford another misstep that would irrevocably damage his campaign. Biden himself insisted to campaign staff he intended to remain in the race.
“I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win because when Democrats unite, we will always win,” Biden said in a call alongside Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Yet time is running out for the beleaguered president to convince anxious Democratic officials, donors and voters that he remains viable in his effort to keep former US president Donald Trump from returning to office.
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US presidential debate: Biden and Trump spar over economy, war in Ukraine
In another blow, dozens of Democratic lawmakers are considering signing a letter demanding Biden withdraw from the race, a senior party official said.
