House Intel Democrat Urges Biden to Halt Campaign

(LibertySociety.com) – Democrat Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, believes President Joe Biden should suspend his re-election campaign following a recent presidential press conference.

Biden attended a press conference in Washington, D.C, after the NATO summit on Thursday, July 11. During that conference, the president was questioned by reporters about his intentions to stay in the presidential race despite widespread calls for him to withdraw. Like the interviews preceding it, Biden adamantly insisted that he was fit enough to serve another term and “determined” to continue his campaign.

The calls from within Biden’s party for him to step aside began immediately after he stepped off the debate stage on June 27. During that first debate performance, Biden appeared generally confused most of the time and struggled to keep his cool at times in the face of a rather stoic Trump.

Moments after Biden’s recent press conference, Himes joined other Democrats breaking ranks and sounded the alarm about the president’s lack of viability as a candidate. He began by stating that Biden’s public service record was “unrivaled,” that the president’s “accomplishments are immense,” and that Biden secured “his legacy as a great president.” Himes then continued by saying that Biden should not “risk” his legacy, accomplishments, or “American democracy” by soldiering on against “the horrors promised by” Trump.

Himes said he was honored to work with Biden and to be a part of his achievements and securing the president’s “remarkable legacy,” but that it was “because of those traits” and out of “consideration of that legacy” that he hopes Biden will withdraw from the race.

Another Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Scott Peters of California, made a similar announcement shortly after Himes. Peters said the stakes of the next election “are high” and that Biden’s candidacy is a “losing course.” He said he could not in good conscience continue to endorse Biden despite his personal “affection” and “loyalty” to the president.