Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) couldn’t have been clearer in her disdain for the idea of asking President Biden to resign. When pressed about the internal Democratic pressure following Biden’s cringe-worthy debate performance, Pelosi practically rolled her eyes. “I don’t know who’s doing that,” she quipped, dismissing the idea that anyone with sense would think such a thing. “I’m not doing it,” she stated bluntly, leaving no room for ambiguity.
Pelosi made the comment on MSNBC when asked about the calls for Biden to step aside to make room for another challenger against former President Trump. It appears that Pelosi isn’t interested in joining the chorus of anxious Democrats who are losing their minds over Biden’s less-than-stellar showing on the debate stage.
Biden’s debate performance, complete with a hoarse voice and a stumbling delivery, sent his party into a tailspin, with many questioning if he’s really up for the job. Even the Democratic elite, including Obama’s closest allies, couldn’t hide their disappointment with Thursday night’s spectacle. It was like watching a reality show audition gone horribly wrong, and nobody’s buying Biden’s act.
Prominent Democrats, who usually rally behind the party line, were left openly cringing. Jon Favreau, former Obama speechwriter and co-host of “Pod Save America,” couldn’t contain his frustration, taking to social media to vent. “Obviously, that debate was a disaster,” he fumed, capturing the collective facepalm of the Democratic base. He emphasized the need to defeat Donald Trump and having a nominee who can do that, subtly indicating that Biden might not be the right person for the job.
David Axelrod, another Obama confidant and seasoned Democratic strategist, was no less scathing in his assessment. Axelrod noted that there appeared to be a real sense of surprise at the way he began the debate, particularly with his voice and apparent disorientation. According to Axelrod, Biden seemed to become stronger towards the end of the debate, but the overall impression of him remained negative. He hinted at behind-the-scenes murmurs, where there will undoubtedly be discussions about Biden’s future, although Axelrod believes it’s unclear where the discussion will lead.
The fallout didn’t stop there. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) tried to calm the storm, telling his fellow Democrats to “chill the f— out” and stop acting like Biden’s political career was over because of one bad night. Fetterman said he refuses to join those circling-like vultures after the debate. “No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record,” Fetterman declared, defending Biden with the passion of someone who’s been through the wringer himself.
Despite these efforts, the debate debacle left a lingering sense of unease within the party, as many grappled with the reality that their frontrunner appeared anything but invincible.
