Hello everyone! Buckle up, because we're diving into a whirlwind of political drama centered around none other than First Lady Jill Biden. She’s caught in a storm of criticism from Democratic donors who are urging her to advise President Joe Biden to step out of the 2024 presidential race.
Let’s set the stage. Jill Biden, married to Joe Biden since 1977, was scheduled to attend several fundraising events in New York with the President. However, some donors decided to skip an event in the Hamptons after what they called a disastrous performance by Mr. Biden during the first presidential debate last Thursday. One donor told the New York Post, “Lots of people are blaming his wife for not telling him to step aside.”
As the most influential voice in President Biden’s inner circle, Jill Biden is now under intense scrutiny. On Friday, she faced mockery for saying that Joe Biden did extremely well in the debate and “answered all the questions” at a rally. Privately, she believes his debate performance, which was marred by stumbling over words and losing his train of thought, was just a “bad night,” according to the New York Times.
The plot thickens! Several Silicon Valley megadonors attempted to reach the First Lady on Saturday, hoping to persuade her to convince Joe Biden to step down in favor of a younger candidate. Despite President Biden admitting he doesn’t walk as smoothly or debate as well as he used to, he insists he is still the best candidate to defeat Trump. His aides have echoed this sentiment.
The New York Times published an editorial urging Biden to step aside, suggesting that there are Democratic leaders better suited to present a clear and compelling alternative to a second Trump presidency. Meanwhile, aides have told Axios that Biden struggles to work past 4 PM and has difficulty rising before 10 in the morning, leading to growing anger among Democrat officials and donors towards Biden’s closest advisers.
“This is no longer about Joe Biden’s family or his emotions,” one adviser told Axios. “This is about our country. It’s an utter disaster that has to be addressed.” Frustrations are also directed at key advisers like Anita Dunn, Bob Bauer, and Ron Klain for not delivering the unwelcome message that Biden should quit.
Amidst all this, there’s concern about Vice President Kamala Harris’s popularity if she were to replace Biden. Other potential candidates like California Governor Gavin Newsom, who supports Biden, are also in the mix. Experts say it would be nearly impossible for Democrats to oust Biden at this late stage, leaving the decision squarely in the President’s hands.
Donors are also jittery. If funding dries up, panic could ensue. One donor told Politico, “The biggest problem is donors. If the money dries up, everybody will start to panic.” Biden’s debate performance, which included a bizarre argument about golf handicaps with Trump, has led to widespread concern about his ability to lead.
To cap it all off, a poll revealed that 60% of US voters believe Biden should drop out of the race. The Biden family, while rallying behind him, has also privately criticized his top advisers for not preparing him better for the debate. The family, including First Lady Jill Biden and Hunter Biden, are urging him to stay in the race, believing he can bounce back.
At a fundraiser on Friday, the First Lady shared a personal moment, recounting how Joe Biden expressed his uncertainty after the debate. She reassured him, saying, “Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that you’ve been president.”