In a surprising turn of events, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont has become the first Democratic senator to publicly call for President Joe Biden to step down as the party’s presidential nominee for the 2024 election.
Welch expressed his views in a Washington Post op-ed, highlighting growing concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden’s electability against former President Donald Trump.
Disastrous Debate Performance
Welch’s statement comes in the wake of what he described as Biden’s “disastrous debate performance,” which has sparked widespread discussion about the president’s fitness for office. The Vermont senator acknowledged his respect for Biden but emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming election. He wrote,
“The stakes could not be higher. We cannot unsee President Biden’s disastrous debate performance. We cannot ignore or dismiss the valid questions raised since that night.”
While recognizing Biden’s past success in defeating Trump, Welch argued that the president should reconsider his candidacy:
“I understand why President Biden wants to run. He saved us from Donald Trump once and wants to do it again. But he needs to reassess whether he is the best candidate to do so. In my view, he is not. For the good of the country, I’m calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race.”
Biden’s campaign team seemed unfazed as the messaging targeted Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, calling it “extreme and dangerous.”
Vermont Loves Joe Biden
Welch’s call for Biden to step aside is particularly noteworthy given Vermont’s strong support for the president in the 2020 election, winning 66.4% of the vote. The senator noted this paradox, stating,
“Vermont loves Joe Biden. President Biden and Vice President Harris received a larger vote percentage here than in any other state. But regular Vermonters are worried that he can’t win this time, and they’re terrified of another Trump presidency.”
The Vermont senator’s statement adds to a growing chorus of concern within the Democratic Party. He joins nine House Democrats who have already called for Biden to step aside.
Additionally, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado recently expressed doubts about Biden’s ability to win reelection, though he stopped short of calling for the president’s withdrawal.
Welch’s op-ed also highlighted potential alternatives to Biden, praising Vice President Kamala Harris as “a capable, proven leader” and mentioning the presence of,
“Other electable, young, energizing Democratic governors and senators in swing states.”
Several influential Democrats in June, had called for Biden to drop down and floated Kamala Harris’ name as a capable candidate. According to the Democrats, Harris’ brings relative youth to the ticket compared to Biden.
This development underscores the mounting anxiety among Democrats about the 2024 election, with some party members, including vulnerable incumbents like Senators Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, reportedly voicing concerns about Biden’s electoral prospects.