A group of House Democrats is hesitant about rushing to nominate President Joe Biden as the party’s candidate for reelection. They have drafted a letter expressing “serious concerns” about the plan for an early virtual roll call on July 21 before the Democratic National Convention in August. The letter, not yet sent to the Democratic National Committee, warns against stifling debate on the nominee.
According to the letter obtained by a source, conducting the roll call vote prematurely could harm Democrats’ unity and morale. Despite Biden’s vigorous campaign efforts in battleground Nevada to secure a second term, doubts persist following his lackluster debate performance against Republican Donald Trump.
Approximately 20 congressional Democrats have called for Biden to withdraw from the race, yet public demands for his resignation have subsided since the recent attack on Donald Trump. Discussions within the party regarding Biden’s candidacy remain ongoing despite this pause in public pressure.
Congressional Democrats are divided over Biden’s campaign and chances of winning re-election, with concerns about potentially losing the White House and Congress to Republicans. The planned early roll call, initially intended for Ohio’s ballot deadline on August 7, is now deemed irrelevant due to changes in the state’s rules.
Representative Jared Huffman of California is among those expressing reservations. During a recent call with progressive lawmakers, Huffman questioned Biden about potential strategic changes and suggested meeting with past presidents and Democratic congressional leaders. Huffman believes significant adjustments are necessary for the campaign’s success. The conversation reportedly had a tense atmosphere.
The Democratic National Committee has not confirmed a specific date for the virtual roll call. Nevertheless, discussions are ongoing, and the rulemaking committee is scheduled to meet soon to potentially establish a timeline for virtual activities. Biden’s campaign insists on completing the roll call by August 6 to meet Ohio’s original ballot deadline.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison has denied claims of an accelerated timeline for the virtual roll call, asserting that the schedule remains consistent with the decision made in May. Biden’s deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, maintains that the virtual roll call is vital to ensure the president’s ballot access in Ohio, despite the state’s adjusted deadline.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s office has declared the ballot access issue resolved and criticized Democratic proxies for attempting to blame Ohio for internal party disputes. The planning for virtual activities may span multiple days, potentially starting on July 22 and concluding around July 29.
