US election campaign: Pressure on Biden increases enormously – President in corona isolation

Just days after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the debate about the suitability of Democratic US President Joe Biden for a second term is back – stronger than ever. In front of and behind the scenes, the 81-year-old is facing new calls to drop out of the presidential race.

According to US media, the very first row of Democrats is now trying to persuade Biden to withdraw. Former President Barack Obama also expressed concerns. To make matters worse, the ailing president was infected with the coronavirus. The Democrat had to cancel his election campaign for the time being. Meanwhile, the Republicans are demonstrating unity at the party convention in Milwaukee and are rallying around Trump.

Biden is under massive pressure from his own ranks because of his advanced age and doubts about his mental state. After the assassination attempt on Republican Trump during a campaign appearance at the weekend, the debate about Biden’s candidacy was briefly pushed into the background. Now it is back with full force.

Concerns from the very top of the party

Following several other lesser-known party colleagues, prominent Democratic member of the House of Representatives Adam Schiff publicly called on his party colleague Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Schiff is considered a close confidant of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who continues to have great influence in the party and maintains a close relationship with Biden.

CNN reported that Pelosi herself had told the president in a personal conversation that he could not beat Trump in the race for the White House. While she has not openly opposed him publicly, she has also notably not backed him, instead responding to questions in an evasive manner.

In addition to Pelosi, other top Democrats are said to have given Biden the thumbs down in confidence. According to consistent media reports, the two leading Democrats in the US Congress, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, warned Biden against sticking to his presidential bid. And Obama – Biden’s former boss and still one of the most important people in the party – is also said to have spoken out. The Washington Post reported that the former president, whose vice president Biden was at the time, had told trusted people that Biden’s chances of winning the election had fallen sharply and that he should reconsider his candidacy.

It is probably no coincidence that these non-public statements by the most influential Democrats in the country are leaking out at the same time. The pressure on Biden is now enormous.

An interesting interview statement

The incumbent has so far rejected all calls for his resignation and made it clear that he has no intention of quitting. However, the New York Times, citing informed sources, wrote that Biden has been open to such warnings in recent days and has listened to the arguments.

In a TV interview broadcast on Wednesday evening (local time), Biden was again asked whether there was anything that could make him give up his presidential bid. He said: “If I had a medical problem that would come out if someone came to me and said, you have this or that problem.” This also caused a stir.

The interview had already been recorded on Tuesday. On Wednesday, of all days, the White House announced that Biden had been infected with the coronavirus. He then retreated to his private home in Rehoboth, Delaware, with mild symptoms, where he is isolating himself for the time being.

Forced break in the election campaign

Biden had previously been in Las Vegas in the state of Nevada to canvass for votes, especially among the Hispanic population. After the positive test, two campaign appearances were canceled. And other appointments are on hold for the time being.

The president’s doctor said Biden had come to see him with respiratory problems, a runny nose and cough. He had received his first dose of the Covid drug Paxlovid. On Thursday, the doctor said Biden still had mild symptoms. He did not have a fever. Biden is in the high-risk group because of his advanced age. He last tested positive for the virus in the summer two years ago.

The forced Corona break should give Biden time to think. His party colleagues, who have doubts about his suitability for another term, are worried not only that the Democrats could lose the White House, but possibly also control of both chambers of Congress.

In addition to the presidency, many seats in parliament will also be reallocated in the US election at the beginning of November. The entire House of Representatives will be re-elected, and a third of the seats in the Senate will be filled. Many parliamentarians are worried that the lack of support for Biden could also cost them re-election.

Celebratory mood among the Republicans

The mood among the Republicans is currently very different from that of the Democrats. At the party convention in Milwaukee on Monday, Trump was officially chosen as the party’s presidential candidate. Since the spectacle began in the huge event hall, Trump has appeared there every evening to the cheers of his party colleagues.

Trump’s vice presidential candidate JD Vance faced his first major test on Wednesday evening (local time). In his speech, he portrayed Trump as a man of moderation who called for unity after the assassination. At the same time, the celebrated author and lawyer presented himself as a man of the people. In his speech, the 39-year-old tried to appeal particularly to white workers in the most politically contested states.

The Republicans have been presenting themselves as united in Milwaukee for days and are extremely optimistic about the election in November.