Biden Spokesman Shoots Down ‘Baseless’ Axios Story On Dropping Out
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
A spokesman for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign shot down a report suggesting that his team believes that “it’s now when, not if” the president announces he’s dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
In a bombshell report that dropped Thursday morning, Axios’s Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei wrote “We increasingly hear top Biden aides, including ones who initially urged him to fight on after his disastrous debate on June 27 — 21 days ago — are saying it’s now when, not if, Biden announces he’s not running.” The pair reported that “rising pressure” from elected Democrats and “close friends” was leading some members of Biden’s team to conclude that his stepping aside is an inevitability.
But on X, formerly Twitter, Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo insisted that that was not the case.
“Joe Biden is his party’s nominee. He’s the President of the United States. He’s running for reelection. Baseless conjecture from anonymous sources isn’t a scoop,” wrote Ducklo. “Tonight a convicted felon will talk about how he’ll make people’s lives worse if he gains power. Let’s focus.”
Joe Biden is his party’s nominee. He’s the President of the United States. He’s running for reelection. Baseless conjecture from anonymous sources isn’t a scoop. Tonight a convicted felon will talk about how he’ll make people’s lives worse if he gains power. Let’s focus. https://t.co/RZBb9k6g9d
— TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) July 18, 2024
Biden has continued to perform abysmally in the polls since last month’s disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump and he faces growing pressure from prominent Democrats to pass the torch. Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have reportedly urged Biden to end his candidacy.
“Schumer forcefully made the case that it would be better for Biden, better for the Democratic Party, and better for the country if he were to bow out,” ABC News’ Jonathan Karl said Wednesday, and Pelosi warned Biden that he might “destroy Democrats’ chances of winning the House in November if he continues seeking a second term,” per CNN.
